The Best of the Butters

We tried 27 brands of unsalted butter–here are our favorites.

- Andee Gosnell

WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING: Why do an unsalted butter taste test when most butters seem to taste the same? How much variation could there possibly be in an ingredient made of milk solids, water, and butterfat (the natural fat found in milk)? It turns out each butter brand had subtle nuances that came to light after testing them side by side. Armed with salt-free crackers, we tasted 27 unsalted butters, ranking them for aroma, color, spreadability, and flavor, to find the best of them all.

BEST OVERALL

KERRYGOLD PURE IRISH UNSALTED BUTTER

This butter is the gold standard. It has a deep richness (thanks to its 82% butterfat) and sweet, earthy, and grassy notes that linger on the palate. Although it’s not as salty, it has a subtly savory aftertaste. Add a knob to your pan to emulsify a sauce, or slather it on a toasted bun to elevate your burger meat for a juicier bite. ($5 for two sticks, walmart.com)

BEST AMERICAN-STYLE

TILLAMOOK UNSALTED EXTRA CREAMY BUTTER