How much salt is in salted butter?

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “How much salt is in salted butter?” advantages of using salted and unsalted butter as well as whether salted butter can be used by hypertensive individuals.

How much salt is in salted butter?

According to National Dairy Council (NDC), there is generally 1.6 to 1.7 percent of salt present in salted butter. Depending on the salt brand though, the amount of salt present in the butter would differ.

The salt present in some of the brands are given below:

Looking at the above table, we can safely assume that a pack of butter would contain an average of 80 to 90 milligrams of sodium per 10 grams. This would mean that for 1 gram of butter, there would be 8 to 9 mgs of sodium.

According to Chatelaine, A cup of butter would contain approximately ¾ tsp of salt. 2 cups of butter would contain 1 to 1 ½ tsp of salt. 1 stick or ½ a cup of salt would contain ⅓ tsp of salt.

What is the alternative to salted butter?

Unsalted butter is the alternative to salted butter. Unsalted butter is an excellent alternative for preparing desserts or baked goods as baked goods would generally require a sweeter taste. Excess salt added to deserts can also provide it with a savory taste.

If you are adding unsalted butter to your foods, you can then add salt separately and check the amount of salt that you need to add. This will help you in controlling the amount of salt you wish to consume.

If you are adding salted butter instead of unsalted butter, make sure to reduce the content of salt you add by at least ¼ tsp for every stick of butter. If you are using unsalted butter instead of salted butter then you would need to add ¼ tsp of salt for every stick of butter.

What can salted butter be used for?

If you are about to prepare a savory dish, salted butter would come in handy. Salted butter can also be added to pasta or for sauteing veggies. It can be also be added to bread or to prepare sauces too.

What are the advantages of using salted butter?

Salted butter might not be a healthier alternative but there are definitely advantages to using them too.

The salt added to salted butter can function as a preservative. This can help in extending the shelf-life of salted butter. Salted butter can last for 4-5 months in the fridge. In the freezer, it can last for nine months. 

That being said, unsalted butter has a shorter shelf-life but is much fresher.

Salted butter is also more flavorful than unsalted butter. It can be added to bread, biscuits, waffles, or muffins. 

Can salted butter be consumed by individuals with hypertension?

Yes, salted butter can be consumed by individuals with hypertension but it is important to have a look at the amount of salt being consumed.

Certain brands contain high amounts of butter according to Action On Salt which you would need to watch out for.

If you have been asked to cut down on your salt intake, it would be wise to look at the labels provided on the back of the butter. 

According to Action on Salt, there are certain terms used like “slightly salted” or “salter” but these products contain salt as much as fully salted products do. As a result, it is better to read the nutrition labels than fall prey to such terms and buy them.

You can also switch to buying unsalted butter if you are unsure of reading the nutrition labels on salted butter.

Other FAQs on salt that you might be interested in.

What are the advantages of adding butter to recipes?

Butter can help in improving the flavor of foods. When added to foods, it improves the creamier consistency of the foods. It also acts as a leavening agent for preparing baked food items and is often the main ingredient in preparing baked foods.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered the question, “How much salt is in salted butter?” advantages of using salted and unsalted butter as well as whether salted butter can be used by hypertensive individuals.

References