Is there anything better than a dollop of creamy butter melting on your toast or adding richness to your favorite recipes?
But with so many options available, how do you choose the best butter? I’m here to share some of the best butter brands you can buy the next time you’re out grocery shopping or shopping online.
Different types of butter
When you stroll down the dairy aisle of your local grocery store, you’ll be greeted with a variety of butter options. Let’s take a closer look at the different types available:
Salted butter
Salted butter is the most common type you’ll find. It’s made by churning fresh cream and adding salt to enhance its flavor. The salt also increases its shelf life. This versatile butter is perfect for spreading on toast, enhancing baked goods, or adding a savory touch to your dishes.
Unsalted butter
Unsalted butter, also known as sweet butter, is made without any added salt. This allows you to have complete control over the saltiness of your recipes. It’s often preferred by bakers and chefs who want to precisely balance the flavors of their creations.
Grass-fed butter
Grass-fed butter comes from cows that are raised on a grass-based diet, allowing them to graze freely. This type of butter is known for its richer flavor and higher content of beneficial nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids.
Organic butter
Organic butter is made from milk produced by cows raised on organic feed without the use of antibiotics or hormones. It’s a great choice for those looking for a more natural and environmentally conscious option.
European-style butter
European-style butter is known for its higher butterfat content, giving it a creamier texture and richer flavor. It’s made using a traditional European churning method, resulting in a butter that’s perfect for pastries and baked goods.
Cultured butter
Cultured butter is made by adding live bacterial cultures to cream before churning. This process gives the butter a slightly tangy and complex flavor profile, making it a favorite among gourmet enthusiasts.
Spreadable butter
Spreadable butter is a convenient option that combines butter with vegetable oils to create a softer and more spreadable texture. It’s ideal for those who enjoy the ease of spreading butter straight from the fridge.
How to choose the best butter
Look for butter brands that use minimal, 100% natural, high-quality ingredients sourced from reputable companies or farms. Avoid those with preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors.
Ensure that the butter you choose is readily available at your local grocery store or online retailers. There’s no point in falling in love with a butter that you can’t easily find when you need it!
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to taste and texture. I like a creamy and rich flavor, but you may prefer a slightly tangy or salted taste. Consider your personal preferences and the intended use of the butter to find your perfect match.
Methodology
To find the best butter, I ranked brands using the following 5 categories:
- Ingredients: I prioritize brands with the fewest and highest-quality ingredients, avoiding additives or artificial stuff.
- Consumer feedback: Using my personal experience and online reviews, I gauge consumer satisfaction.
- Nutrition: I choose brands with lower saturated fat and sodium content, and those made from grass-fed cows for better nutrition.
- Track record: I consider brands with a long history, wide availability, and any awards or recognition they have received.
- Price: I compare prices among different brands, selecting the most affordable option without compromising quality.
Top 10 butter brands
Now that you know what to look for, let’s dive into the top butter brands that meet these criteria!
For simplicity’s sake, I included unsalted butter for most of the brands listed below (with the exception of Vital Farms), but most of them come in a salted variety as well.
Here are my top 10 butters in ranked order. I’ve also included any additional superlatives (like “best for baking” or “best budget option”).
| Overall Rank | Brand | Type | Best for |
| 1 | Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter | Unsalted, grass-fed, European-style | Best overall |
| 2 | Organic Valley Unsalted Butter | Unsalted, organic | Spreading |
| 3 | Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter | Unsalted, organic | Organic |
| 4 | Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter | Unsalted | Everyday |
| 5 | Trader Joe’s Unsalted Butter Quarters | Unsalted | Affordable quality |
| 6 | Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter | Unsalted, European-style | Baking |
| 7 | Maple Hill Organic Grass Fed Unsalted Butter | Unsalted, organic, grass-fed | Grass-fed |
| 8 | Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter | Unsalted | Budget-friendly |
| 9 | Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter | Unsalted, cultured | Cultured/specialty |
| 10 | Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Butter With Avocado Oil | Spreadable | Healthy |
#1 Best Overall: Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter
At the top of my list is Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter. It’s a classic for a reason. With only one ingredient: high-quality cream from grass-fed cows, it’s a natural, delicious choice. Known for its deeper yellow color and rich taste, it’s perfect for cooking and baking.
Ingredients: Pasteurized Cream.
Other varieties: Salted, Spreadable.
#2 Best for Spreading: Organic Valley Unsalted Butter
This award-winning butter is made in small batches on a Wisconsin farm from high-quality, pasture-raised organic milk. It has a creamy, rich taste and is free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It’s perfect for spreading on toast and baked goods.
Ingredients: Pasteurized Organic Sweet Cream (Milk), Lactic Acid.
Other varieties: Salted.
#3 Best Organic: Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter
Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter is another excellent organic option. It’s made with grade-A pasteurized certified organic cream. Organic dairy cows are not treated with growth hormones, unnecessary antibiotics, or GMOs. It’s a versatile butter that you can use in a wide range of recipes.
Ingredients: Grade A Pasteurized Organic Cream (Milk), Lactic Acid.
Other varieties: Salted, Spreadable.
#4 Best Everyday Butter: Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter
Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter is the most popular butter brand in America and can be readily found at most grocery stores. It was founded 100 years ago in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its mild flavor makes it a classic butter for cooking, baking, spreading, or topping.
Ingredients: Sweet Cream, Natural Flavoring.
Other varieties: Salted, Extra creamy.
#5 Best Quality for Price: Trader Joe’s Unsalted Butter Quarters
Trader Joe’s Unsalted Butter has gained a loyal following among those who appreciate high-quality butter at an affordable price. This butter is made from cows that have been raised without hormones. It’s great for cooking, baking, or topping. Buy from your local Trader Joe’s store.
Ingredients: Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavors.
Other varieties: European Style Sea Salted and Unsalted.
#6 Best for Baking: Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter
Danish Creamery has been around since 1895 and the recipe hasn’t changed: just quality small batch butter from pasteurized cream. It’s slow churned, making for a velvety smooth texture. With a rich, creamy taste and a higher fat percentage, it’s an ideal choice for perfectly flaky pastries and baked goods. The salted varieties are also a staple for spreading on toast or on popcorn! Find it at your local grocery store.
Ingredients: Pasteurized Cream (Milk) and Natural Flavorings.
Other varieties: Sea salted.
#7 Best Grass-Fed: Maple Hill Organic Grass Fed Unsalted Butter
Maple Hill Unsalted Butter is a high-quality grass-fed and organic butter. It has a deep yellow color and rich flavor, which is attributed to the cows’ grass-fed diet. You can find it at Whole Foods and other specialty stores.
Ingredients: Organic Cream, Lactic Acid.
Other varieties: Salted.
#8 Best Budget Option: Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Kirkland Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter is your go-to choice. Unless there is a sale going on, this Costco private brand is the most affordable butter. It comes in a pack of 4 blocks, making it a steal for those who use butter frequently.
Ingredients: Pasteurized cream, Natural flavorings.
Other varieties: Salted.
#9 Best Cultured: Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter
Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter is an award-winning butter known for its intense flavor that is slightly tangy, with no added flavors. Its unique taste makes it perfect for those who want to experience a more complex butter flavor.
Ingredients: Cream, Cultures.
Other varieties: Salted (with sea salt).
#10 Best Healthy Option: Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Butter With Avocado Oil
For health-conscious individuals, Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Butter With Avocado Oil is a top choice. This butter combines the benefits of pasture-raised butter with the healthy fats found in avocado oil. It has the lowest saturated fat content among the options listed (see the table below). Plus, it offers a spreadable consistency. However, there is a bit of sea salt in this one for flavor, so just keep that in mind if you’re watching your sodium intake.
Ingredients: Pasteurized Cream (Milk), Avocado Oil, Sea Salt.
Other varieties: Sea salted (regular butter), Unsalted (regular butter).
Comparing butter brands nutrition facts
| Per 1 tablespoon (14g) | Calories | Total fat (g) | Saturated fat (g) | Sodium (mg) |
| Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter | 100 | 12 | 7 | 0 |
| Organic Valley Unsalted Butter | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Horizon Organic Unsalted Butter | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Trader Joe’s Unsalted Butter Quarters | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter | 110 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Maple Hill Organic Grass Fed Unsalted Butter | 100 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Vermont Creamery Cultured Butter | 110 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Butter With Avocado Oil | 110 | 13 | 6 | 45 |
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