Butter is one of the most popular foods and many enjoy it every day. The dairy product is rich in several minerals and vitamins such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium as well as vitamins A, D and E. The high content of omega-3 fatty acids brings further benefits for the cardiovascular system. But eating too much butter can also be harmful to your health and you can find out why in the following article. We also explain what vegan butter is and how you can make it yourself.
Excessive consumption of butter can actually be harmful to your health
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Can you eat butter every day?
Specialists from the Federal Center for Nutrition explain that overconsumption of butter can actually be harmful to your health. In addition to the minerals and healthy nutrients, the dairy product also contains saturated fatty acids, which are easily digestible and thus stimulate the metabolism. Pure butter is a good source of energy that also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestinal mucosa.
However, excessive butter consumption increases LDL cholesterol levels, which also leads to diabetes or heart disease or arteriosclerosis. In some cases, uncontrolled consumption of butter causes a heart attack.
Of course, all of this doesn’t mean that you can no longer consume butter from now on. It’s just important to control the quantity. Nutritionists describe between 15 and 30 grams of butter per day (or three tablespoons) as “normal” and “healthy”.
Butter provides the body with important nutrients and is an important source of energy!
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Wrap fresh butter in wax paper and store in the fridge!
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How long can you eat expired butter?
#How long does butter last?
According to studies, Germans consume more than six kilos of butter a year. If you enjoy eating butter at home, you probably know how important it is to store it properly. If you have already unpacked the butter, you can store it in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze it again. However, some specialists support the opinion that butter that has already been thawed should no longer be frozen. In this way the taste will be affected. However, if you want to store a piece of butter for a long time, it is better to keep it in the freezer. It is best to store the product in the original packaging or in a well-sealed freezer bag. We also recommend dividing the butter into smaller portions beforehand. This way you don’t have to thaw the entire stick of butter multiple times. You can store the butter dishes in the freezer up to 10 months stored for a long time without any problem.
If packaged properly, butter can be stored in the freezer for up to a year
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One tip: Instead of defrosting the frozen butter in the microwave, keep it in the refrigerator. Slow defrosting ensures that the structure and taste are not disturbed.
Tip 2: Salted butter has a longer shelf life and can last up to a year in the freezer. You can store this butter in the refrigerator for up to six months. Herb butter, however, expires more quickly and does not need to be stored for longer than a week (if in the refrigerator).
If you see mold on the butter, you should stop eating or cooking with it
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#Eating expired butter: yes or no?
You can consume butter that has not yet been opened without any problems up to 6 months after the best-before date. However, after you open the packaging, you should consume the product in good time as it can become rancid. Old butter can also start to smell unpleasant at some point. Their consistency and color also change.
If you see a dark yellow coating on the piece, stop eating it. You don’t necessarily have to throw the product in the trash either, just use it for cooking or baking.
Rancid butter with mold can be harmful to you and so does not need to be eaten in any way. Consuming rancid butter leads to digestive problems, diarrhea and vomiting, or can cause food poisoning.
Small children should not eat butter every day
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Eating vegan butter: What butter substitute is there?
Is there even vegan butter? Yes, of course. Unlike real butter, this substitute is made from vegetable oils. The first alternative to normal butter is margarine. But it’s not necessarily vegan. Most products contain buttermilk or whey as an acidulant.
As a rule, vegetable oils – mostly made from coconut, sunflower, soy or rapeseed – are used as the basis for the butter. They are rich in beneficial fats and have no discernible taste like cow’s milk. To achieve a rich, creamy texture in vegan butter, vegetable oils are often combined with other ingredients such as nut or seed milks.
Are you looking for a butter substitute? Then you can make vegan, plant-based butter yourself
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But is vegan butter healthier? The answer to this question is actually not entirely clear. Vegan butter contains fewer saturated fats, which have a harmful effect on cholesterol levels. Vegan butter also does not contain trans fats, which is another advantage for it. The calorie content of vegan butter can vary depending on the base used.
Eating vegan butter usually costs more because the vegetable oils used for it, such as coconut or avocado oil, are also more expensive. But the good news is that you can make vegan butter yourself quickly and in less time. Here is a recipe from us!
#Make your own vegan butter
You can make your own vegan butter in less than an hour!
The ingredients:
- 50 grams of coconut oil or coconut fat
- 15o ml linseed or rapeseed oil
- 2 tbsp soy milk
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of turmeric (optional)
Depending on your preference, you can also add different spices or herbs to the vegan butter!
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The preparation step by step:
- Melt the coconut oil over low heat until it becomes liquid and let it cool a little.
- Then put the linseed oil with the milk and the spices in a blender and mix everything until homogeneous. Depending on your taste, you can add more or less milk until you get the consistency you want.
- Pour in the liquid coconut oil and mix well.
- Place the butter in a screw-top jar or other container and place it in the refrigerator.
Tip 1: Instead of soy milk, use another plant-based milk.
Tip 2: For a slightly cheesy taste, you can add 1 teaspoon of nutritional yeast, but this is optional.
Tip 3: You can store vegan butter in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. The product will of course last longer in the freezer, but you should not store it for more than 4-5 months.
Babies younger than 6 months should not eat butter!
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When can babies start eating butter?
If you want to introduce classic butter into your baby’s diet, there are a few things you should definitely take into account, namely:
- Young children’s stomachs are more sensitive than ours and intolerance to lactose and dairy products is more likely.
- When the child is introduced to butter for the first time, it must be easy to spread. The best way to spread them is on a piece of bread. You can also combine them in purees or with mashed foods (vegetable or potato).
- Start with a small amount of butter. It is advisable to carefully observe the child’s reaction before possibly giving him another piece.
A majority of pediatricians recommend that you wait for your child at least 6 months is old before you give it oil.
