What spread/butter/margarine do you use?

[OpalQuartz]

Is it still called margarine? I'm looking for one that is spreadable, tastes like butter and not too unhealthy. Any suggestions are welcome.

[VerityHabitat]

weanamadl
Kerrygold isn't the only grassfed butter on the market in the UK -
Have a look at
Isigny Sainte-Mère

[VerityHabitat]

Kerry gold here too because it is grass fed.

But I'd also love the French butters.

[midsomermurderess]

Butter, preferably Buerre D'Isigny.

[weanamadl]

Regarding butter/versus spreads:

THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO KERRYGOLD BUTTER. IT IS THE ONLY GRASSFED COW BUTTER ON THE MARKET IN THE UK. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A PRIVATE FARM PRODUCING SAME, I'D BE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO PURCHASE IT. IT MAKES A MARKED DIFFERENCE AS GRAINFED COW'S BUTTER HAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT AND UNHEALTHY COMPOSITION.

[lljkk]

"Interesterification. "
I'm not a chemist, but see if you can follow explanation here.

There may be some hydrogenated fats still in the form of mono-diglycerides (also present in most breads and many other foods).

[LondonMother]

The way it's churned/mixed? Butter doesn't melt at room temperature, after all. In a cool room, butter stays pretty solid.

[lljkk]

Butter contains a small % of transfats, too, most animal fat sources have some.

It's very 1980s to think that margarine is just hydrogenated fats. I read that Flora hasn't been made with hydrogenated fat for the last 20 yrs. Most margarines in UK don't contain hydrogenated fats (look for yourself). The other ingredients are things like vitamins, carotenes (what makes carrots orange) and a tiny amount of flavourings.

[LondonMother]

Artificial sweeteners are vile! Much better to re-train the taste buds not to expect so much sweetness in the diet.

[firesidechat]

Change 4 Life has almost zero credibility as far as I can see. Swop butter for low fat, swop sugar for artificial sweeteners. Ahhh. Apparently it is funded at least in part by large global companies such as Nestle.

[LondonMother]

I like Pure spread. It doesn't have any trans fats in it. Here are the ingredients for the sunflower version:

Ingredients
Sunflower Oil (40%), Water, Vegetable Oils, Salt (0.75%), Natural Flavouring, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Colour (Natural Carotenes), Vitamin D as D2, Vitamin B12.

Dietary Information
Free From Genetically Modified Ingredients
Free From Artificial Colours
Free From Artificial Preservatives
Free From Emulsifiers
Free From Dairy
Free From GM Ingredients
Free From Hydrogenated Oils
Free From Soya
Free From Gluten

We do also have butter (British, unsalted, not the spreadable type because it's got lots of vegetable oil in it) but when I use butter I spread it thicker because it tastes so lovely! Using a thin smear of Pure on a sandwich or toast when it's going to have something else spread on it too (e.g. Marmite, jam, marmalade) is an easier way to keep the calories down and doesn't really affect the overall taste.

Flora has negligible trans fats too. This is an interesting overview of the history of all this.

[Snowdown]

Last time I checked they had taken the trans fats out of most marg. Not that I'm promoting its consumption, but those with a diary allergy don't have much choice.

[lljkk]

ooh, thanks for the no-veg-oil link. Problem with veg oils is the solvent residues, I try to minimise.

We have been buying Pure because it was the lowest salt. We don't have a warm house so no way butter on counter will spread except in hot weather.

There are a lot of myths here about what's in margarine. Read thread critically.

[StrawColoured]

Change 4 Life is all about reducing calorific intake (very misguided policy IMHO, it's too many carbs that make people fat, not calories). Low fat spreads have fewer calories than butter.

[OpalQuartz]

Hmm it would seem the NHS hasn't caught up with the latest thinking on butter being healthier than spreads. Just saw a Change 4 Life ad on TV where they were recommending people swap butter for low fat spread and had a look at the Change 4 Life leaflet my dd came home with last week and it says the same thing. Wonder why they are saying that.

[OpalQuartz]

Just found one that is British, softer, no veg oil
www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Loseley-Naturally-Softer-Butter/50078011?from=search&tags&param=butter&parentContainer=SEARCHbutter_SHELFVIEW

[OpalQuartz]

Quite a lot to choose from in Waitrose!
www.ocado.com/webshop/getSearchProducts.do?clearTabs=yes&isFreshSearch=true&entry=butter

[OpalQuartz]

Going to order one of these butter dishes.

[OpalQuartz]

Might try some of the ones belledejour mentioned in a butter dish if not spreadable.

[OpalQuartz]

I had a look at the ingredients of some softer butters and the only well known ones that didn't have veg oil were the spreadable President, which as Wildthong mentioned above only has Butter, Cream, Salt and also Kerrygold Softer butter which contains only butter but apparently is spreadable because of the way it has been churned to make it softer.

[PigeonPie]

I don't think that our butter has ever gone off. We probably get through at least a pound a week just on toast, sandwiches etc and much more when I'm baking.

[OpalQuartz]

If butter is left out in a butter dish, how long before it goes off? (My kitchen is cool in winter but warm in summer.)