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Hi Bold Bakers!
I know this may seem like a no-brainer, but there is lots of question in the baking community about using salted or unsalted butter when baking. I’m here to drop some knowledge and clear things up for all you Bold Bakers who may be wondering if you can use the butter you have in the fridge or do you need to go out and get something different before you start baking things like Pie Crusts or Homemade Chocolate Croissants.
Well, guess what! I am not personally a purist when it comes to butter — you really can use both. Really!
Why I Use Salted Butter
A lot of bakers use unsalted butter so they can have more control over the total amount of salt used in a recipe. I, however, have always used salted butter in my baking while still adding whatever amount of salt is called for in a recipe. Unless your recipe calls for a great deal of butter, salted or unsalted won’t make or break the recipe. At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal preference, so feel free to use whichever type you prefer — and if you are on a low sodium diet, then absolutely use unsalted butter.
[ Get my Best-Ever Buttercream Frosting recipe! ]
My personal and unbiased opinion is that Kerrygold Irish butter is some of the best on the market, and is available worldwide.
Are There Recipes Where you Absolutely Cannot Swap Them?
While I like having the control of using unsalted butter then adding in the salt on its own, you can swap unsalted for salted. If you do use salted butter just be aware of the salt the recipe calls for and adjust accordingly. If all you have salted butter, try cutting the instructed salt amount in half.
So no, there really isn’t an occasion where you can’t swap the two, as long as you stay aware!
How Long Does Butter Last?
Both salted and unsalted store-bought butter will last up to 3 months in the fridge. Salted butter can last even longer as salt is a preservative. With this, keep in mind that unsalted butter is typically fresher. Also, I keep butter in the freezer for baking emergencies.
How to Store Butter in the Freezer
If wrapped up correctly, butter can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. For long-term storage wrap the butter tightly with cling wrap then again with foil and freeze. To use from frozen, set out to thaw at room temperature than used as directed.
Frozen butter just so happens to be the secret ingredient in my Easy Rough Puff Pastry recipe.
Can I Store Salted Butter at Room Temperature?
If you like your butter on hand for spreading, greasing pans, and of course baking, it can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. I like to keep mine in a glass or ceramic butter dish with a lid to make sure it’s not out in the open air, but still at room temperature.
Why is Salt Used in Sweet Baking?
Some of you might be wondering if salt is even important and if it can be left out altogether. Well, believe it or not, the sweets we all love often have the tiniest bit of salt and it’s the ever-so-slight contrast here that our taste buds read as a depth of flavor. The salt should never be detected (and taste “salty”), but when used in the correct amount it really just further enhances all the sweetness and flavors of whatever you’re making.
Just as in savory cooking, salt is also a seasoning for your sweets treats.
Can You Make Your Own Salted/Unsalted Butter?
One of my most popular Bold Baking Basic recipes is for Homemade Butter. This rich homemade version is so easy to make and never fails to wow me. It is arguably better than store-bought and can be made as salty as you like just by adding salt during the making process.
After You Make Butter, Try These Other Ingredients
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About Us
Meet Gemma
About Us
Meet Gemma
Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.
If I used salted butter I just leave the salt int he recipe out as I don’t like to use a lot of salt anyway. it still taste the same to me with or without the added salt. so salted butter no extra salt unsalted butter then, of course, I will add the amount stated.
I love all your tips. I enjoy watching you demonstrate and I love learning from you
Thanks for the sharing.Now I understand that it make no difference either way.I was very confused sometimes.Thanks
We usually buy butter at Costco. Not the same, I know! We are on our last stick of butter, and are not ready to make a trip to Costco, so I told my husband that I would just make butter, as I had the heavy cream on hand. Love that I can just put it into the food processor and in a few minutes, have fresh, preservative free butter!
I just made my own homemade butter yesterday. My family loves the way it tastes and prefer it to most store bought butters.
I’ve always used salted butter, even in recipes calling for unsalted and wondered what cardinal rule of baking that I was breaking…. Lol… Glad to know it’s not that big of a deal.
Also, my favorite sweet baked goods (I. E. Cookies) are the ones with a little crunch of discernible sea salt. Yum! I love chocolate with sea salt, too!
Tried the 3 ingr. peanut butter cookies before, so easy – and taste great! Why cook any other way? can’t wait to try the short breads and oatmeal cookies too!
Thanks for the salted/unsalted butter info too. I always wondered on that one – was just going to leave out all the salt if the recipe called for it. I only buy salted! 🙂
I have always wondered about this. Thanks for the info.
Have always used salted butter. My mother was an excellent baker and always used salted butter.
Can you make a substitute chart for butter, please? Is coconut oil a good substitute in bread making? Thanks.