Sunday, December 1, 2019

Better than butter: 3 healthy butter alternatives for cooking and baking

Butter can make any taste better. From sandwiches and pizzas to cakes, brownies, and even pancakes and pizzas, butter can make any food taste more vivid. Many people use this creamy dairy product as their favorite oil for cooking, grilling, setting fire or frying various foods. Butter is also used in sauces and cake frosting, as well as fried and baked food and snacks. It seems to be ubiquitous in cooking and baking, and is one of the most important and widely used milk products. Whether you want to sprinkle it on bread and sandwiches, or prefer to use it instead of oil for cooking, butter is an important ingredient in all functional kitchens.



However, for many reasons, one may want to stop using butter when cooking and baking. Many people are allergic to dairy products and dairy products and may not be able to use butter in cooking and baking. Too much butter in food can worry many people with or prone to cardiovascular disease or hypertension. Saturated fat is extremely high in butter, and when consumed daily or in excess, fat can block arteries and cause plaque to build up. Moreover, many commercially available butter brands contain too much salt and artificial flavors.

Here are three butter alternatives or healthier alternatives you can use when cooking and baking:

Ghee

Ghee is a clear butter that heats up to 120 degrees Celsius after the water evaporates, turning the milk solids brown. This process enhances the rich flavor of ghee and is said to increase the antioxidant content of it. Ghee can be used for grilling and baking like butter, but when baking, it may have more moisture than butter, so you may need to change the liquid to flour ratio in cookies and cakes. However, even ghee is rich in saturated fats and should be used with caution every day when cooking.

2. coconut oil

Coconut oil has recently been hailed as a superfood and has been used for Asian cuisine for centuries. Coconut oil is said to have many health benefits, including appetite suppression and improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol levels. It is said that because coconut oil contains lauric acid, coconut oil can also improve immunity by killing harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. The only drawback of coconut oil is that it has a strong "coconut" flavor and taste and takes time to adjust. However, due to the high viscosity of coconut oil, butter can be replaced in a 1: 1 ratio.

3. Olive oil

For the longest time, olive oil has been considered one of the healthiest cooking oils, and it can also be used instead of butter as a fat. It contains a lot of antioxidants, so it has anti-inflammatory properties. Olive oil is a rich source of healthy fats and is said to provide heart protection. For every cup of butter used in the recipe, three-quarters of a cup of olive oil can be substituted. Because olive oil is liquid, your baking recipe may need to be adjusted to replace butter with olive oil. However, wherever butter is needed to cook food, olive oil may function like butter.

If you need to replace butter as a spread for sandwiches and toast, there are plenty of options here, including nut butter, avocado mashed potatoes, Greek yogurt and even applesauce. Are you aware of healthier butter substitutes or alternatives that can be used in cooking and baking? Let us know in the comments section below!