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- I tried 4 brands of buttery spread from the store, and there’s only one I’d buy again (businessinsider.com)
Butter Up! A Taste Test of Spreadable Butter Alternatives
As a devotee of real butter, I recently took a trip down memory lane, revisiting the “buttery spreads” of my childhood. These butter alternatives, typically made with vegetable oil blends, promise convenience and spreadability.
But how do they stack up against the real deal? I grabbed four popular brands – Country Crock, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Earth Balance, and Smart Balance – to find out.
Country Crock, a childhood staple, boasts “farm-grown ingredients” and a lower vegetable oil content (40%) than the other contenders. It spread like a dream, even straight from the fridge, though its flavor could have used a pinch more salt.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, proudly bearing the American Heart Association’s seal of approval, was surprisingly good. While its earthy, vegetable-oil flavor didn’t fool me into thinking it was butter, it offered a smooth texture and decent spreadability.
Earth Balance, the only vegan option in the lineup, presented a challenge. Its high oil content (78%) made it stubbornly solid, even at room temperature. While the flavor was acceptable, the difficulty in spreading it was a major drawback.
Smart Balance, similar to Earth Balance in its high oil content (64%), also suffered from spreadability issues. It tore my bread and emerged from the tub in chunks. While the initial taste was promising, a lingering aftertaste left me unimpressed.
The Verdict: While nothing beats the rich flavor and creamy texture of real butter, Country Crock emerged as the clear winner among the alternatives. Its superior spreadability and pleasant, if slightly bland, flavor make it a convenient option.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter earned a respectable second place. As for Earth Balance and Smart Balance, their spreadability issues make them hard to recommend.
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- I tried 4 brands of buttery spread from the store, and there’s only one I’d buy again (businessinsider.com)