Everything You Need
to Know About Butter

From Breakfast to Dessert and Everything in Between...

As the original founders of sweet cream butter, we are America's butter expert. At Land O' Lakes, we love helping cooks and bakers elevate their foods by cooking and baking with quality butter. Explore our best butter recipes from breakfast to dessert and everything in between, learn about cooking with butter from our team of culinary experts, and get a taste for everything butter.

The butter’s served

Show us your homemade buttery goodness. From the sweet to the savory, use the social icons to see our fans latest creations to find some rich, creamy and delicious inspiration for your table. Tag us at @Landolakesktchn to see your creations here.

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Cooking with butter, better

Find the step by step tutorials on all the different ways you can use butter, so you can spread, top, cut in, clarify, brown, cook and bake with butter and get perfect results every time.

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Butter questions, Butter answers

After more than 100 years of working with butter, it’s fair to say that we know a thing or two about it. And if you don’t see your question here,
send us a message. We’re always here to help. And we love a challenge.

What is butter?

Q. What is butter?

A. Butter is a dairy product made from churning cream. All butter sold commercially in the US must be made from pasteurized milk and be at least 80% milkfat.

How is butter made?

Q. How is butter made?

A. Butter is made from churning cream until the butterfat separates from the buttermilk. Butter consists of milkfat, milk proteins and water, plus added salt for salted butter.

What’s the difference between milkfat and butterfat?

Q. What’s the difference between milkfat and butterfat?

A. There is none. Butterfat is also called milkfat. It’s the fatty part of cows’ milk that’s used to make butter.

What’s the difference between butter and margarine?

Q. What’s the difference between butter and margarine?

A. We’re a little biased here, but butter definitely tastes better. That’s because butter is made from milkfat while margarine is made from vegetable oil. Margarine still needs to contain 80% fat, any less and it’s considered a spread.

What’s the best way to store butter?

Q. What’s the best way to store butter?

A. Store butter in its original package. Keep it in the coldest part of the refrigerator (not in the refrigerator door) until the date printed on the package.

Can butter be frozen?

Q. Can butter be frozen?

A. Yes, but to protect its delicate flavor, keep it in the original carton and place it in a freezer bag. Butter sealed in this manner can be frozen for up to four months, so long as it is placed in the freezer prior to its best by date. Once removed from the freezer, it should be used within a month.

Can unsalted be substituted for salted butter?

Q. Can unsalted be substituted for salted butter?

A. Yes, salted and unsalted butter can be used interchangeably, so it’s a matter of personal taste. Land O’Lakes recipes are developed with salted butter unless written otherwise.

What’s the best way to cook with butter?

Q. What’s the best way to cook with butter?

A. Medium heat is best to allow the butter to enhance the flavors and perfectly brown the food you’re cooking. High heat needs to be watched closely and may result in burned butter.

What’s the best way to soften refrigerated butter?

Q. What’s the best way to soften refrigerated butter?

A. These three options work well: 1.) Let the butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. 2.) Cut the butter into small chunks and let it sit at room temp for 15 minutes. 3.) Place the butter between parchment paper and flatten with a rolling pin.

Can butter be left out so it’s always soft?

Q. Can butter be left out so it’s always soft?

A. We recommend keeping butter refrigerated, which follows USDA and FDA guidelines. For butter that is spreadable right out of the refrigerator, try Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil, available in a variety of tub sizes.