Margarine or Butter | Blue Flame Kitchen (2024)

When can I use margarine instead of butter?

There are two main categories of margarine in stores today – tub margarine and stick margarine.

Margarine sold in plastic tubs has a somewhat similar taste and texture to softened or whipped butter. Beyond the texture, a key difference between tub margarine and butter is that the former tends to be lower in saturated fats and higher in water. These days, companies have developed many different types of margarine for various dietary needs – low-sodium, low-fat, dairy-free, olive oil, vegan – just to name a few. Virtually all tub margarines are trans-fat free, but check the label for verification.

Tub margarine can easily be substituted for butter at the table for spreading, and some people use it on the stovetop for cooking, though we typically favour using oil over margarine in cases like this. In baking, melted margarine could work in recipes that call for melted butter, but in recipes that call for softened butter, swapping in tub margarine may change the texture; for example, cakes will be less tender, and cookies will generally spread out more and be less crisp.

Tub margarines are too soft for pies, pastries and other recipes that call for cold butter, and don’t stand up in icings and frostings, either. Low-fat/light margarines tend to be inappropriate for cooking and baking due to a high water content – be sure to read the label!

Stick margarine, also known as block or hard margarine, has the same texture as butter, and is therefore a better substitute for baking and cooking than tub margarine. However, stick margarines are generally high in trans fats, which have been shown to be bad for our heart. In our test kitchens, we develop and test our recipes using butter instead of margarine in cases where either one could conceivably work. Similarly, in cases where either oil or melted margarine could be used, we choose to use oil. Using margarine instead of butter in a recipe tested with butter may yield unexpected results.

Margarine or Butter | Blue Flame Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Which melts first margarine or butter? ›

The melting point of margarine is slightly higher than butter because of the presence of hydrogenated fats. It melts at 94-98 °F. Like butter, there is no set point at which it will solidify; it will usually solidify around 65-70°F.

Does butter burn easier than margarine? ›

Melting point: butter melts at approximately 93 degrees F and burns easily, whereas margarine melts at a slightly higher temperature, making it a good choice for baking things such as puff pastry.

Is Rama butter or margarine? ›

Margarine will often also have added yellow colour to imitate the appearance of butter, as margarine is naturally a pale white colour. Examples of kinds of margarine are Rama Original and Stork. A product called “margarine” must be at least 80% fat content.

Why have we used margarine instead of butter in class when cooking and baking? ›

Though most bakers and cooks prefer butter for its unparalleled taste, margarine does have its place. Because of its high water content, baked goods made with margarine will often have a softer texture.

Can I use melted margarine instead of melted butter? ›

In baking, melted margarine could work in recipes that call for melted butter, but in recipes that call for softened butter, swapping in tub margarine may change the texture; for example, cakes will be less tender, and cookies will generally spread out more and be less crisp.

When to use margarine instead of butter? ›

Margarine can be used as a substitute for butter, and it is particularly useful in baking, since it gives baked goods a softer texture than butter, which some people prefer.

Is country crock butter or margarine? ›

Country Crock® is a spread made with oils from plants, whereas butter is made with milk or cream from cows. Country Crock® has less saturated fat per serving than dairy butter, but still has a delicious buttery taste. Country Crock® products also tend to be softer out of the fridge for easy spreading.

Is Land O' Lakes butter or margarine? ›

Stick margarine made with 80% vegetable oil, i.e. Land O Lakes® Margarine, can be substituted for butter in most baking applications, except pastry recipes and candy made from boiled syrup. Margarine will produce a softer dough than one made with butter, and it will not have the same flavor as recipe made with butter.

Is blue bonnet butter or margarine? ›

Blue Bonnet is an American brand of margarine and other bread spreads and baking fats, owned by ConAgra Foods. Original owner Standard Brands merged with Nabisco in July 1981, but Nabisco ultimately sold Blue Bonnet to ConAgra, along with a number of other food brands, in 1998.

What is margarine called now? ›

Spread products

In the mid-1960s, the introduction of two lower-fat blends of butter oil and vegetable oils in Scandinavia, called Lätt & Lagom and Bregott, clouded the issue of what should be called "margarine" and began the debate that led to the introduction of the term "spread".

What is the healthiest butter to eat? ›

Grass-fed butter offers some health benefits to counteract the health risks it poses. It appears to have lower levels of saturated fats and more unsaturated fats than standard butter. This is because grass-fed butter is made from the milk of cows that are allowed to graze instead of being fed high-grain diets.

What brands real butter? ›

  • Editor's Choice. Finlandia Unsalted. This creamy, rich butter—both the unsalted and salted versions—is premium in every way, from aroma to flavor. ...
  • Runner-Up. Isigny Ste Mère Unsalted. ...
  • Budget Pick. Breakstone's Unsalted. ...
  • Best for Baking. Land O'Lakes Unsalted. ...
  • Best Salted. Kerrygold Salted. ...
  • Best Cultured. Vermont Creamery Unsalted.
Dec 22, 2023

Is it better to bake cookies with butter or margarine? ›

But when you're baking, butter triumphs over margarine every time. For cakes, cookies, and pastries, butter (unsalted, that is) provides richer flavor. (It begins as cream, after all, and margarine is made from vegetable oil.) Butter's high fat content is also what gives baked goods their texture.

Is shortening the same as butter? ›

Butter contains 80% butterfat and about 20% (naturally occurring) water. Shortening is 100% hydrogenated vegetable oil and contains no water.

Is crisco margarine? ›

No, margarine and Crisco are different products. Margarine is a butter substitute made from vegetable oils, while Crisco is a vegetable shortening made from soybean oil.

How long does it take for butter and margarine to melt? ›

It took 22 seconds for the butter to melt, and 40 seconds for the margarine to melt the first time when the temperature was 400 degrees, I heated the stove on the highest temperature.

What happened to margarine or butter when heated? ›

Once melted, the fat and water content in both margarine and butter start to separate. 5. If heated further, the water content will evaporate, and the fat content will start to break down, leading to the production of various compounds, such as acrolein, which can give off an unpleasant smell.

Is it better to bake with butter or margarine? ›

Margarine often has a lower saturated fat content and higher water content than butter does causing it to be much softer when cold. Because of it softer property, margarine can cause cakes to be less tender and cookies will generally spread out more and be less crisp when compared to the same recipe using butter.

What is the best method for melting butter? ›

Microwave the butter for 10-second intervals until it's fully melted, stirring after each interval. You can also melt butter on the stovetop by cutting it up into small pieces and heating it on low until it's nearly melted. Then, turn off the heat and stir the butter until it's fully melted.

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