Butter
Butter is mostly fat with milk solids that turn nutty but burn easily.
Flavor profile
Aroma: creamy, nutty when browned
Good to know
Origin: Worldwide
Forms: salted, unsalted, browned
Storage: Refrigerate wrapped tightly; butter picks up fridge smells and keeps for months frozen.
How to use butter
Brown for flavor
Melt until milk solids turn golden and smell nutty, then stop. This takes only a few minutes.
Mount a sauce
Whisk cold cubes into warm pan sauce off the heat for a glossy, creamy finish.
What goes with butter
- Garlic. Butter's milk solids brown nutty against garlic's sweetness, a classic basting pair.
- Sage. Sage and butter create an iconic sauce base with nutty aromas.
- Flour. Butter enriches flour with fat, creating tender pastries.
- Potato. Butter coats potatoes in rich fat, creating classic comfort.
- Bread. Butter melts into bread, creating a crispy, flavorful crust when toasted.
- Crab. Butter's fat mingles with crab's natural sugars for sweetness.
- Egg. Butter's milk fat makes scrambled eggs and sauces silky.
- Mushroom. Butter browns and adds nutty richness to mushroom's earthy flavor.
- Lemon. Lemon cuts through butter's richness with its sharp acidity.
- Maple Syrup. Butter dissolves aromatic compounds in maple syrup for a smooth sauce.
Mistakes to avoid
- Searing on very high heat, where butter burns.
- Letting browned butter go one minute too long, which turns it bitter.
Ideas for tonight
- Brown butter and spoon over fish or gnocchi.
- Baste chicken thighs with butter and garlic.
- Swirl into soup right before serving.
Butter: questions
What does butter taste like?
Butter is mostly fat with milk solids that turn nutty but burn easily., with an aroma that is creamy, nutty when browned.
What goes well with butter?
Butter pairs best with garlic, sage, flour, potato, bread. Butter's milk solids brown nutty against garlic's sweetness, a classic basting pair.
How do you use butter in cooking?
Brown for flavor: melt until milk solids turn golden and smell nutty, then stop. This takes only a few minutes.
How should you store butter?
Refrigerate wrapped tightly; butter picks up fridge smells and keeps for months frozen.
What is the most common mistake with butter?
Searing on very high heat, where butter burns.
