Butter

Butter is a fatty food made from the milk of livestock, such as cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. It is produced by churning milk or cream—the portion of fat that rises to the top—until the fat globules aggregate and separate from the liquid, known as buttermilk.

Common butter typically contains at least sixty percent fat, with the remainder consisting of water and milk solids. Its color ranges from white to yellow, depending on the diet of the animal, particularly the presence of carotenoid pigments in green pasture.

How It Is Made

The traditional hand method begins by allowing milk to stand until cream rises to the surface or by skimming it. The cream is then poured into a churn or vessel and agitated continuously. Churning breaks down the fat globule membranes, causing them to coalesce and form larger masses. Once the liquid is separated, wet butter is produced and sometimes washed and pressed to remove remaining moisture. Modern facilities use mechanical separators and continuous churning equipment.

Types

Butter exists in salted and unsalted varieties; salt extends its shelf life. There is also butter made from fermented milk, which has a milder tang. Another type, common in Somalia and South Asian countries, is clarified butter, from which water and milk solids are removed through heating, known as ghee or samna; it keeps for extended periods without refrigeration.

Uses

Butter is used for frying meat and rice and is spread on injera, pastries, bread, and root vegetables. In baked goods, it contributes to a tender crumb because fat inhibits excessive gluten development in flour. Due to its lower smoke point compared to other oils, clarified butter is preferred for high-heat cooking.

Nutrition

Butter is a concentrated source of saturated fat and contains fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D. International health guidance generally recommends moderate consumption of saturated fat with regard to heart health. People who cannot digest lactose may tolerate clarified butter, since most lactose is removed during clarification.