Many recipes call for unsalted butter, which allows you to better control the amount of salt in a dish.
However, if you only happen to have salted butter on hand, though, you may be wondering if you can use that instead of unsalted butter.
Let’s find out right away!
If you’re out of unsalted butter and need to bake something, you can use salted butter instead. Just keep in mind that since salted butter already has salt in it, you’ll need to adjust the amount of other salt in the recipe. Otherwise, your dish will surely turn out too salty.
This means either omitting any salt called for in the recipe, or reducing the amount of salt.
You can do this by simply decreasing the amount of salt called for in the recipe by about 1/4 teaspoon for every 1/2 cup (1 stick) of salted butter used.
So, if for example a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of salt and you’re using salted butter, you’ll want to use only 3/4 teaspoon of salt.
Is It Better To Use Salted Or Unsalted Butter?
Whether it is better to use salted or unsalted butter depends entirely on the recipe and your personal taste.
Some people think that salted butter gives baked goods a richer flavor, while others prefer the taste of unsalted butter.
I personally like to use unsalted butter whenever I have the choice, as I find it the best way to regulate the amount of salt I put in the dish, but necessity knows no law!
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which type of butter you want to use in your recipes.
Now let’s go ahead and look at some specific dishes and see whether you can use salted butter instead of unsalted butter if that is the only type of butter you’ve got on hand.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter In Banana Bread?
If you’re making banana bread, you can absolutely use salted butter.
In fact, some people actually prefer to use salted butter in their bread recipes because it adds a nice flavor.
Remember to decrease the amount of salt called for in the recipe, as described above.
Most banana bread recipes call for a teaspoon or so of salt. So if you’re using salted butter, you would want to use 3/4 teaspoon of salt, or even less.
It is always better to be cautious when adding salt, and you can always add more later if needed.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Cookies?
Cookies are another sweet treat where you can use salted butter.
Whether you’re making chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, or any other kind of cookie, salted butter will work just fine.
As with banana bread, you’ll want to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
Again, most cookie recipes call for a teaspoon or so of salt, so you would want to use 3/4 teaspoon of salt maximum.
With cookies, it is especially important to be careful with the amount of salt since it is such a small recipe.
Too much salt can easily ruin a batch of cookies.
Finally, keep in mind that some people actually prefer the flavor of cookies made with salted butter.
So if you’re feeling a little adventurous, go ahead and give it a try!
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Pies And Pastries?
Pies and pastries are another area where you can use salted butter.
Once again, just make sure to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
If you’re planning to make a sweet pie such as apple pie or cherry pie, you can use salted butter.
If you’re making a savory pie such as chicken pot pie or quiche, you can also use salted butter as it will give the crust a nice flavor.
For pastries, such as croissants, cinnamon rolls, biscuits or any other type, you can use salted butter (as long as the recipe doesn’t already call for salt). The salt will add a nice flavor to the pastry.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Cake?
Cakes or cupcakes are another baked good where you can use salted butter.
As with the other dishes, just make sure to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
If you’re making a cake or cupcakes from scratch, you can use all salted butter and leave out the salt (of the recipe calls for it) entirely.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Frosting?
Salted butter can absolutely be used for frosting! In fact, many people prefer the flavor of salted butter in their frosting.
If you use salted butter, you may want to start with half and then taste the frosting before adding more.
This will ensure that your frosting isn’t too salty.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Pie Crust?
You can use salted instead of unsalted butter for pie crust, but the flavor will be slightly different.
The saltiness of the butter will change the flavor of the crust and may not be to your liking.
You may want to try using a little less salt in your recipe if you go this route.
Using salted butter will still work though.
Just be aware that the flavor may not be exactly what you’re going for.
Can You Use Salted Instead Of Unsalted Butter For Brownies?
Brownies are a delicious dessert that can be made with either salted or unsalted butter.
Generally speaking, when you use salted butter in place of unsalted butter, you will want to reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe by 1/4 teaspoon.
Doing so helps to ensure that your brownies are not too salty.
If you find yourself in a bind and only have salted butter on hand, go ahead and use it in your brownies.
Other Questions You May Have
Do Chefs Prefer Salted Or Unsalted Butter?
Most chefs like to use unsalted butter as it allows them to control the amount of salt in their recipes.
That being said, some chefs do prefer to use salted butter because they think it gives food a more complex flavor.
What Is The Difference Between Margarine And Butter?
Butter is made from heavy cream, while margarine is a non-dairy product that is made entirely from vegetable oils.
Butter also has a higher fat content than margarine.
In Conclusion
So to sum things up, yes, you can use salted butter instead of unsalted butter.
Just keep in mind that since salted butter already has salt in it, you’ll need to adjust the amount of other salt in the recipe in order to avoid overdoing it.
When in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and start by using less salt.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe by 1/4 teaspoon if you’re using salted butter.
Start with that and then taste the dish before adding more salt.
That way, you can be sure that your food won’t turn out to taste like you’ve just went for a swim in the ocean.