Plant Butter

What is Plant Butter?

Plant butter, or plant-based butter, is butter alternative made with oils from plants such as almonds, olives, and avocados. Gluten-free and dairy-free, plant butter is a perfect substitute for regular butter and can be swapped out one-for one in any recipe. This makes it a great option for anyone with a gluten or dairy intolerance, as well as vegetarians and vegans. But what is plant butter made of? Here's a list of common ingredients:

  • Plant-based Oils
    • Palm Kernel
    • Canola
    • Palm Fruit
    • Almond
    • Olive
    • Avocado

  • Water
  • Salt
  • Pea Protein
  • Sunflower Lecithin
  • Citric Acid
  • Natural Flavor
  • Vitamin A Palmitate
  • Beta Carotene (Color)

Keep reading as we discuss the differences between plant butter and more traditional spreads such as margarine and regular butter. Are there instances when you should use one over another? And, more importantly, is plant butter healthy for you?

Plant Butter vs. Margarine

Widely regarded as a healthy alternative to butter due to lower levels of saturated fat, margarine was originally created in France in the late 1860s, and the exact ingredients have varied over the years. For example, most margarines up until the 1970s and 1980s contained fat from lard and other animal sources, but most margarines today contain no animal products. Instead, the fat is sourced from canola, sunflower, corn, olive, or soybean oils.

If you're thinking that list of ingredients sounds familiar, you'd be right. Plant butter and margarine are actually fairly similar. When comparing plant butter and margarine, the largest difference is that the primary ingredient in plant butter is oil, while margarine’s primary ingredient is water. Nutritionally, they are also very similar, with both containing roughly the same number of calories and plant butter having slightly more saturated fat.

Plant Butter vs. Butter

On the other hand, looking at the differences between plant butter and butter comes down to one fundamental ingredient: dairy. Butter is made by churning cream or milk, making it dairy-based, while plant butter is a combination of vegetable oil and water. As a result, butter is often higher in calories, fat, and saturated fat.

Plant Butter vs. Margarine

Plant Butter vs. Butter

The main ingredient in plant butter is oil, although it may contain more saturated fat than margarine.

Plant butter is a dairy-free alternative to butter that usually has fewer calories, less fat, and less saturated fat.

Is Plant Butter Healthy?

Unfortunately, no form of butter spread, plant-based or otherwise, is exactly "healthy" for you. While it's true that both plant butter and margarine contain fewer calories and less fat, they also don't offer substantial nutritional value. If you cook with butter often, switching to plant butter or margarine can be a more heart-healthy choice to reduce your saturated fat and cholesterol intake.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if plant butter is a good option for your diet. As mentioned above, all three can be equally substituted for one another in any dish, so try it out with your favorite recipes and see if you have a preference. While the taste will largely be the same, you might notice some small changes in texture or appearance. This is especially common with baking, since regular butter is the only one that will result in the classic golden-brown look.

Sources

  1. "Which spread is better for my heart — butter or margarine?" Mayo Clinic. Accessed 30 September 2020.
  2. Plant Butter Sticks with Almond Oil. Country Crock. Accessed 30 September 2020.
  3. Margarine. ScienceDirect. Accessed 30 September 2020.
  4. Country Crock Plant Butter. Kroger. Accessed 30 September 2020.