Butter has been a staple in kitchens for centuries, yet there are still plenty of misconceptions about it. From “butter is bad for you” to “margarine is healthier,” we’ve heard it all. That’s why we’re setting the record straight! Our butter expert (and co-owner), Venae, is here to debunk five common butter myths and reveal the truth
Myth #1: Fat is Bad for You
The reality is that not all fats are bad, and alternatively, research confirms there are lower health risks from consuming dairy fat than consuming items that have trans-fat. In fact, there are no links between heart disease risk and dairy products. Although butter is high in calories and fat, it contains a variety of important nutrients as well. Butter is a great source of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin needed for skin health, immune function, and stronger eyes. It also contains vitamin E, which we know supports heart health and acts as an antioxidant to protect your cells against damage caused by “bad guys” called free radicals.
Additionally, butter contains very small amounts of other nutrients, including riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and phosphorus. Big words, big health! The key takeaway is: fat is not bad for you.
Myth #2: Butter Doesn’t Last Long
Assuming you keep butter in the refrigerator, butter can last about 6-9 months. If there is a best by date stamped on the package, butter can last at least a month past that date. It’s also important to know that butter is freezer safe. We’re not kidding, we promise.
Butter is totally OK to freeze. Simply keep the additional butter in its original packaging, place it in a freezer-safe bag, and put it in the freezer. In case you were curious, salted butter can last up to 12 months in the freezer, while unsalted usually lasts about six.
Myth #3: Buttery Spreads Are Healthier
Butter-like spreads or items lauded as healthy butter substitutes are heavily processed. Margarines typically are made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, also known as trans-fats. These oils are formulated when hydrogen is added to liquid oil to become solid at room temperature and, therefore, mimics butter texture.
Today, scientists recognize that trans-fat is worse for your heart than saturated fat because, in addition to raising your bad LDL cholesterol, trans fats also reduce your good HDL cholesterol.
Myth #4: Butter Comes from Bad Ingredients
False. False. False. We hear this all of the time and it makes our butter-loving hearts ache. On the contrary, people have been enjoying and eating butter for thousands of years. Today, butter is made from one simple ingredient: cream. Occasionally we throw in Sea Salt or Garlic & Herbs, but it also stems from cream supplied by pasture-raised cows.
Myth #5: You Should Avoid Butter Altogether
Eating any food in abundance will lead to health risks. According to the American Heart Association, you should restrict the amount of saturated fat you eat to less than 7% of your total daily calories. If you eat approximately 2,000 calories a day, you can easily and healthily eat 16 grams of saturated fat because there are 7 grams of saturated fat in a tablespoon of butter.
Like our Co-Owner Venae always says, “In my humble opinion, you can never know enough about butter!”
Got More Butter Myths? We’d Love to Hear Them!
If you’re curious about our products or have additional myths you’d like debunked, please contact us today! In a family of six generations of butter lovers, we know that great meals bring people together. So, grab your loved ones, get in the kitchen, and remember: when in doubt, just add butter!
We hope you enjoyed our Butter Myths Debunked blog. For some delicious recipes featuring Minerva Dairy’s better butter, head to our Recipes page. Be sure to keep up with our latest creations through our Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram page and our top tips through our blogs.
