Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

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Substituting unsalted butter for salted (and vice versa) can be helpful depending on what your recipe calls for and what is in the fridge! I'm going to show you some simple conversions to help your use them interchangeably! Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know!

Using Salted & Unsalted Butter

Butter is used in a ton of different recipes all the way from baking to cooking. You may have noticed at the store that there are two distinct kinds: salted and unsalted. In fact, some recipes just ask for butter, while some specifically request salted or unsalted butter.

Of course, you may only have unsalted butter on hand and don't want to run to the store for some salted butter (or the opposite). Don't worry, I'm going to show you a quick and simple way to swap them out!

Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes (1)
Jump to:
  • What's The Difference
  • Swapping Butters
  • Unsalted To Salted Chart
  • Salted To Unsalted Chart
  • 📖 More Baking Guides
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

What's The Difference

Obviously, the difference between salted and unsalted butter is, of course, salt. Some recipes call for salted and some require unsalted, but do you know why?

Many bakers prefer to have unsalted butter on hand as it gives them complete control over the amount of salt that goes into the dish (which can make a major difference in desserts and other baked goods).

In fact, the exact amount of salt in butter can vary among brands, making it hard to replicate recipes exactly if you aren't consistently using the same brand of butter.

Salted butter, on the other hand, can last much longer in the fridge which makes it more convenient.

If you want to know more about the differences between these two kinds of butter, I have an entire post dedicated to salted vs unsalted butter! Check it out!

Swapping Butters

As a general guideline, for every half cup (or 1 stick) you have of unsalted butter, simply add in ¼ teaspoon of salt for the salted butter equivalence!

If working backward, and you only have salted butter on hand but the recipe calls for unsalted, simply reduce the extra salt added to the dish by ¼ teaspoon per every half cup. It's really that easy!

Unsalted To Salted Chart

Unsalted ButterSalted Butter
¼ cup (½ stick)Add ⅛ teaspoon of salt
½ cup (1 stick)Add ¼ teaspoon of salt
¾ cup (1½ sticks)Add ⅜ teaspoon of salt
1 cup (2 sticks)Add ½ teaspoon of salt

Salted To Unsalted Chart

Salted ButterUnsalted Butter
¼ cup (½ stick)Reduce ⅛ teaspoon of salt from the recipe
½ cup (1 stick)Reduce ¼ teaspoon of salt from the recipe
¾ cup (1½ sticks)Reduce ⅜ teaspoon of salt from the recipe
1 cup (2 sticks)Reduce ½ teaspoon of salt from the recipe

Now you know how to substitute unsalted butter for salted! Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think!

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Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes (2)

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Substituting Unsalted Butter for Salted Butter: Homemade Powdered Milk Butter

Substituting unsalted butter for salted (and vice versa) can be helpful depending on what your recipe calls for and what is in the fridge! I'm going to show you some simple conversions to help your use them interchangeably! Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know!

Author | Angela

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 78kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 0 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup powdered milk (whole, not non-fat)
  • cup water
  • ¼ cup oil (olive, avocado, coconut, etc)
  • 1 pinch salt (optional for salted butter)
  • yellow food coloring (optional)
  • butter flavoring (optional)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • In your food processor (or mason jar) add powdered milk, water, oil, and salt, if using. Also, add in the optional butter flavoring and food coloring, adjusting it to taste.

  • Blend (or shake), making sure to check occasionally to test the consistency. It will take a few minutes- you want it to be thick and creamy.

  • Once the butter has reached your desired consistency (*see note), it can be served immediately. Place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • You have to use whole fat powdered milk (Nido brand). If you use a non-fat variety, it will not have a very good flavor.
  • This butter will not be quite as thick as typical butter, but it will be super creamy and easier to spread!
  • Once the butter spends some time in the fridge, it will firm up considerably.
  • The yellow food coloring and butter flavoring are not necessary- your butter will still be delicious without them! It is all personal preference.
  • To store: Put your butter into an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 78kcal (4%) | Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 7g (11%) | Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg (3%) | Sodium: 33mg (1%) | Potassium: 106mg (3%) | Sugar: 3g (3%) | Vitamin A: 75IU (2%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 73mg (7%) | Iron: 0.04mg

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

DIY butter, how to make butter, how to swap salted and unsalted butter, salted to unsalted butter conversions, substituting unsalted butter for salted butter

Course Condiments, Substitutions

Cuisine American

Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes (3)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Substituting Unsalted Butter For Salted: How To Swap Them In Recipes? ›

However, sometimes a recipe calls for salted butter, but all you have is unsalted butter. So here's a simple rule of thumb to use so you can make the recipe with unsalted butter. Just remember, for every half cup (1 stick or ¼ lb) of salted butter required, you can add ¼ teaspoon of salt to Challenge Unsalted Butter

Challenge Unsalted Butter
Challenge Unsalted Butter, also known as “sweet butter,” is 100% real cream butter but with no salt added. In cooking, many recipes call for unsalted butter to give the cook greater control over the flavor and savoriness of their dishes. It's also a delicious way for people to reduce their intake of sodium.
https://challengedairy.com › butter
.

How to substitute unsalted butter for salted butter in a recipe? ›

The same holds true if substituting unsalted butter for salted: for every 1/2 cup of salted butter, you can substitute 1/2 cup of unsalted and add an additional 1/4 teaspoon to the amount of salt for which the recipe calls.

What happens if I use salted butter instead of unsalted? ›

Both salted butter and unsalted butter can be used interchangeably in any recipe, but if the recipe calls specifically for unsalted butter, it's probably because the recipe has been tested with it and is preferred for that particular recipe.

How much salt to add to 1 cup unsalted butter to make it salted? ›

1/16 teaspoon of salt for 2 tablespoons of butter. ⅛ teaspoon of salt for 4 tablespoons of butter. ½ teaspoon of salt for 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of butter.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted for cheesecake? ›

For cheesecake, it's best to use unsalted butter. This is because salted butter contains varying amounts of salt, and the exact amount can be difficult to predict. Using unsalted butter allows you to have more control over the amount of salt in the cheesecake, as you can add the desired amount of salt separately.

How much butter to add to unsalted butter to make it salted? ›

The flavor of different brands of butter will vary somewhat, but a good rule of thumb is to start with the addition of ¼ teaspoon of salt per ½ cup of butter — that's a standard stick of butter in the United States.

How does salted vs unsalted butter affect baking? ›

UNSALTED BUTTER has less salt and lower water content. In baking, butter with a low water content is preferred, since excess water can interfere with how the gluten develops. You may notice a positive difference in baked goods that use unsalted butter, specifically in taste and texture.

Does it really matter if you use salted or unsalted butter? ›

It all comes down to what you're cooking. If you're sauteing vegetables, toasting bread, basting pork chops, scrambling eggs, or making a sauce, chances are you can use salted butter and that added sodium will also add some flavor enhancement to whatever you're making.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted for cake mix? ›

Melted butter serves the same purpose as oil, while also adding richness and depth to the cake. Unsalted butter is the best choice, unless you have a salt tooth, like me, and prefer desserts with a little extra salt to balance out the sweetness. In that case, you can use salted butter.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted for frosting? ›

You can use salted or unsalted butter and opinions are divided on which is best. Many recipes for this icing suggest unsalted. However a little salt brings out the flavour so they then often add salt.

Can you use salted butter for baking cake? ›

Baking is a science, so you've got to respect the measurements. The general rule for using salted butter instead of unsalted butter is to decrease the recommended salt amount by 1/2 tsp salt per 1/2 cup butter. So if you were to use a cup of butter, you should reduce the added salt by 1tsp.

Can butter be frozen for later use? ›

Properly stored butter can be frozen for up to four months if frozen prior to the USE BY date on the package. Butter may begin to lose its fresh butter taste and pick up flavors and odors from the freezer if stored for longer than four months. Once the butter is removed from the freezer, use it within 30 days.

Which butter is best for cheesecake? ›

To make a digestive cheesecake base, you'll need 250g of digestives and 125g of unsalted butter. First place your digestive biscuits into a food processor until they are finely crushed. Then mix in your melted unsalted butter and process until it's well combined.

Which butter is best for baking cakes? ›

The best butter for your baked goods depends on what type of recipe you're whipping up. Unsalted, American-style butter works well in goods like cookies, pound cakes and pancakes that require the high-fat content of conventional butter and more flexibility with salt and flavor content.

How many cups is one stick of butter equal to? ›

One stick of butter is 1/2 (half) cup. Two sticks of butter is 1 cup. Four sticks is one pound, and you'll see a lot of pound cake recipes call for four sticks, or a whole box of butter.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted for pie crust? ›

Dry days require more water, and humid days require less. The dough seems to feed off the humidity in the air. Also, I use salted butter so I do not add salt to my recipe for pie crust. If you use unsalted butter, a pinch of salt would be good, half a teaspoon or so.

How much salt do you need to make salted butter? ›

When you make your own butter, you can add just the amount of salt you prefer. (To replicate the salt level of store-bought butter, use a scant 1/4 teaspoon table salt per 4 ounces (113g) of homemade butter.)

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