ISO: Healthiest Butter Spread

[carolyn.1]

Hello Everyone,
I am on a quest for a butter/or margarine spread in the tub, basically to use at the table, not necessarily to cook with. I thought I would start researching with Promise and SmartBalance. So far just within these 2 brands there are so many types with each. I just can't figure out which brand is the healthiest, and I haven't even starting looking at different brands. Does not need to be organic, but I'd want the healthiest available.
I'd really appreciate your comments.
Thanks, Carolyn

[vabelle35]

The Weight Watchers board folks really like Brummel & Brown as it's made with yogurt.

It's 35% vegetable oil, 10% yogurt.

Here's their site with their FAQs. They also list what stores carry it. I haven't found it yet to try.

http://brummelandbrown.com/faqs.aspx

[avariell]

I would use butter. But our definitions of "healthy" might be different :)
My next choice would be butter blended with olive oil in a small tub.

[Minky]

I *love* butter, but in the quest for better health, we have been trying different varieties of "tub" products. I can't stand the taste of margarine, but we like the butter/olive oil and butter/canola oil blends from Land O Lakes. Has the butter taste and, on the plus side, spreads easily right out of the fridge.


Sheila

[meslgh]

I would use butter. But our definitions of "healthy" might be different :)
My next choice would be butter blended with olive oil in a small tub.

I've blended butter with macadamia nut and avocado oil, for a healthier fat profile but buttery taste.

[EmptyNestMom]

The Weight Watchers board folks really like Brummel & Brown as it's made with yogurt.

It's 35% vegetable oil, 10% yogurt.

Here's their site with their FAQs. They also list what stores carry it. I haven't found it yet to try.

http://brummelandbrown.com/faqs.aspx

I prefer to use butter but have Brummel and Brown in the refridgerator all the time (I do like the flavor)...that said my little tub lasts forever because we don't use a lot of margarine or butter at the table and I cook/bake with butter.

[LakeMartinGal]

The Weight Watchers board folks really like Brummel & Brown as it's made with yogurt.

It's 35% vegetable oil, 10% yogurt.

Here's their site with their FAQs. They also list what stores carry it. I haven't found it yet to try.

http://brummelandbrown.com/faqs.aspxThis is what we use at the table, for bread, etc. But for cooking, I use unsalted butter! You just can't duplicate the results with anything else! B&B has the fewest calories of any of the spreadable butter substitutes, I think!

[carolyn.1]

I will try the Brummel & Brown and the LOL butter/olive oil blend. I saw it at my local grocer yesterday. I do want it for table usage. I too use real unsalted butter in my cooking and baking...just can't substitute on that! I just want a spreadable butter(ish) for bread, and such.
Have a great weekend!

[ljt2r]

I've blended butter with macadamia nut and avocado oil, for a healthier fat profile but buttery taste.

I am with Josie in general, but Crescent Dragonwagon I know advocates doing this and freezing in bulk for convenience (and specifically suggests macadamia nut and avocado oils). I feel like all those "healthy" commercial ones have weird stuff in them. Am I wrong?

[ande]

I just recently started making my own spread, too. Mostly because we were going through so much butter for toast, etc. and it's so much cheaper & healthier to make it yourself. I use 2 parts salted butter to 1 part oil (olive or canola, so far) to 1 part water. Sounds weird, but it works. I whip the butter (in the mixer), then drizzle in oil, then drizzle in water, scraping bowl occasionally. Then I put it in wide mouth Mason jars in the fridge. Freezing is a good idea for longer storage. I think I got this recipe over at recipezaar.

[cherylopal]

I love Earth Balance and it really tastes like butter. I like original best but they do make one with olive oil. DH also loves it as well as all my family/friends who have tried it- and I'm the only vegetarian.

http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/#/products/

[KCSoccer]

I use Earth Balance, too, and really like it. I prefer butter but with cholesterol issues I have to really watch my saturated fat intake.

[ljt2r]

I just recently started making my own spread, too. Mostly because we were going through so much butter for toast, etc. and it's so much cheaper & healthier to make it yourself. I use 2 parts salted butter to 1 part oil (olive or canola, so far) to 1 part water. Sounds weird, but it works. I whip the butter (in the mixer), then drizzle in oil, then drizzle in water, scraping bowl occasionally. Then I put it in wide mouth Mason jars in the fridge. Freezing is a good idea for longer storage. I think I got this recipe over at recipezaar.

Especially given that you're freezing it (where I thought water was an issue) why do you use water? Why not just make it, say, half oil and half butter? Is it just to reduce the fat content? The water does not then thaw and leech out of it?

Despite my adherence to plain ole butter, I would be tempted strongly by doing this (the butter/oil blend) if I used butter often enough. Don't get me wrong, we use a lot of butter--in baking. But we don't spread it on much. Dragonwagon actually likes the butter/oil blend for baking as well but I just cannot get over that one. Anyone else try it for baking?