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How To Salt Unsalted Butter

How To Salt Unsalted Butter In 4 Steps (Updated)

Last Updated on October 19, 2024 by Lori Walker

Get ready for some delicious fun! When making **pasta**, **soup**, or yummy baked goodies like **butter rolls**, **cookies**, or **biscuits**, it’s often a good idea to use salted butter.

If your recipe needs salted butter but you only have regular unsalted butter at home, fret not – we’ve compiled easy ways on how to salt unsalted butter.

4 Steps To Salt Unsalted Butter

Butter on a Wooden Board

1. Soften the Butter at Room Temperature

From the fridge, bring the butter out, cut it into cubes, and leave it at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes or until the butter softens.

Pro tip: Cut it into cubes rather than leave it in a stick if you want it to soften faster.

2. Put The Butter In a Bowl & Add Salt 

Afterward, add 1.5% salt based on the total weight of the butter you will use. For instance, if you are using 100g of butter, add 1 ½ grams of salt to it.

How Much Salt Should You Add

ButterTotal Weight of Salt (1.5%)
25 grams / 0.88 ounces 0.375 grams / 0.013 ounces 
50 grams / 1.7 ounces 0.75 grams / 0.026 ounces
100 grams / 3.5 ounces 1.5 grams / 0.052 ounces
150 grams / 5.29 ounces 2.25 grams / 0.079 ounces
200 grams / 7.05 ounces 3 grams / 0.1 ounces
250 grams / 8.81 ounces 3.75 grams / 0.13 ounces

3. Mix It Together

After adding salt to the butter, mix it thoroughly using a fork until the consistency of the mixture becomes the same as salted butter.

Ensure there are no lumps and that the mixture is smooth.

4. Melt the Mixture (Optional)

If your recipe requires melted salted butter from the bowl, transfer it to a pan and set the heat to a medium-low temperature while continuously stirring until it melts.

But what is the distinction between whipped butter and regular butter?

What Type of Salt To Use in Unsalted Butter?

Using fine table salt is recommended when salting unsalted butter [1].

You cannot just add any type of salt to the unsalted butter, as you’ll need to use a salt that will not affect the aroma and flavor of the finished product.

If you’re using flakey salts like sea salt and kosher salt, the result may be too crunchy (and not in a good way) [2]. But is salted butter better for pie crust than unsalted butter?

Rule of Thumb When Making Your Own Salted Butter 

Butter on a Plate

In making your own salted butter at home, you just have to remember that in every ½ cup of salted butter, you must only add ¼ teaspoon of salt.

The reason behind this is simple – most of the time, regular butter already has a very small amount of salt, so adding too much will make your butter too salty.

To be safe, you can always conduct a taste test – just make sure to avoid using the spoon you use for tasting in mixing the butter. 

Why Do You Add Salt To Unsalted Butter?

Salt is added to unsalted butter to give it a saltier taste that could also act as a preservative to prolong the shelf life or lifespan of the butter. 

“There is nothing better on a fresh loaf of bread than salted butter. It’s great on bread or as a finishing ingredient to steamed veggies.”

– Kim Canteenwalla, Restaurant Group Principal

Aside from that, salted butter is better used for dishes like chocolate chip cookies and butter rolls and as a spread to waffles or pancakes when compared to unsalted butter.

Related Post: Top 10 Baking Recipes Using Lots Of Butter

FAQs

Is salted butter just butter with salt?

Yes, as the name suggests, it is regular butter with salt added to it. 

You can make your own salted butter at home as long as you know the type and exact measurement of salt that must be added to regular butter. 

But is it better to use butter instead of oleo?

Why is there salt in butter?

There is salt in butter because it acts as a preservative that can help prolong its shelf life.
 
Salted butter also tastes better when used in some recipes (or even as spreads) when compared to using unsalted butter, which sometimes lacks the proper flavor.

How do you reduce salt in salted butter?

To reduce salt in salted butter, add equal water to the butter and heat it until the butter melts. Mix it thoroughly and let the mixture cool.

Check to see if the butter and water have already separated, and when they already did, bring the mixture to a cool and remove the butter from the water. 

Find out if it is okay to bake using I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter here.

In Conclusion

Turning your unsalted butter into salted butter is quite simple. 

The only key to achieving the perfect taste of salted butter (like the one sold in stores) is the amount of salt you will add to the butter and the type of salt you will use. 

The next time you run out of salted butter – don’t rush to the nearest store just yet. First, check your fridge for unsalted butter, and simply follow the procedure we’ve laid out for you.

References:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/sea-salt/faq-20058512
  2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/different-types-of-salt
Lori Walker
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