Saturday, April 12, 2008

Is butter better?

Roger and I have done more cooking and baking in the last year than we did in the previous 6 years combined. This has definitely been a good thing. As I've gotten a bit better at cooking, I am finding what types of things I prefer over others. For example, I like extra virgin olive oil over regular olive oil and for the most part we don't mind using the generic brand of items. I do like Campbell's soup instead of a generic. I just try to find whatever is the cheapest. This brings me to the point. As I have been reading recipes there are some that definitely call for butter. I have always used margarine, mostly because it's cheaper. But am I missing something? Is butter better than margarine. I know there are some people that feel quite passionately about the subject, I wanna hear about it. So vote in the poll and comment to let your voice be heard. Maybe I'll be convinced to shell out the extra $1.20 for butter.

Margarine, my brand of choice.



But is butter better?

Roger just informed me that perhaps it depends on what you are making if it matters. Then let me know what butter is better for too...

10 comments:

Mandy said...

Butter is definitely better for homemade mashed potatoes. Other than that, I couldn't really tell you. (I'm waiting for the rest of your answers 'cause we buy the cheap stuff too!)

Kevin said...

This is Kelly, not Kevin:

BUTTER, BUTTER, BUTTER!! It tastes better and is better for you, no hydrogentated oils and or trans fats, I forget which one or maybe it's both or maybe they're the same thing. The real deal is healthier for you as is extra virgin olive oil.
I buy my butter in bulk at costco and freeze it. I also get the unsalted butter, don't need the extra sodium.

Heather said...

Butter Baby! Brad tried to convince me once that I couldn't tell the difference & he brought me toast with plastic spread, um I mean, margarine on it. I knew something was wrong immediately, it was just staring back at me! It didn't melt into the bread or anything. Yuk! Besides, your body knows what to do to process the natural stuff, it's always a good rule of thumb that the fewer ingredients the better it is for you.

Nancy Sabina said...

I've always been a fan of the cheap comes-in-a-tub kind of margarine because it's so much easier to spread. And I always maintained that while I could tell the difference in taste, I didn't really care all that much. Then when I had my Gallbladder out and had to remove all trans fats from my diet I started using real butter all the time and got addicted. Darn it. Now we splurge for the good stuff every time.
In cooking, I believe butter is a little heavier than margarine (I mean literally heavier - of more weight). I almost always use half butter and half Crisco, no matter which it calls for in the recipe. Cookies especially will be much fluffier if you try this trick.

The Powells said...

i would have to say butter is better...

Lyndsie and Daniel said...

I can't say that I've used butter enough to say which is better. I can't tell the difference. I always buy margarine because it is cheaper. BUT--when making frosting, margarine IS better--at least in my opinion.

Brynn said...

Butter is definitely better for say grilled cheese sandwiches because it doesn't make the bread soggy. Also for homemade garlic bread for the same reason. I normally use tub margarine because of the price but we always have butter in the house (that is Sean's doing not mine :0) Oh also homemade popcorn mush have real butter! Other then that I don't cook much with it.

Jolie said...

I vote for butter! My specialty dessert is choc. chip cookies...I'm convinced the secret is butter! It is more $, but you pick and choose what you want to spend a little extra on. It's worth it in my opinion.

Kari said...

No question. Butter is definitely better!!!

Kari Cole said...

Okay.. I am a little bit of a health freak- I buy ONLY butter! Over this past year I have really tried to elimate certain things from our diet- hydrogenated oils is one.....I would keep expanding as I am pretty passionate about the subject, but I think you get the idea!!!