Why is it that some recipes call for unsalted butter...?

Question

but the recipe also calls for salt? Why doesn't it just call for regular butter or margerine, and then the salt could be omitted?

Answer 1

Unsalted butter contains no preservatives which makes for a fresher, better-tasting butter than salted. It has a shorter shelf life than salted, which makes it ideal for baked goods that will be eaten in days. The tiny amount of salt you add to the recipe is only to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients such as chocolate, vanilla, almond, lemon, ect. I have baked using both salted and unsalted sweetcream butter and I will say that there's a noticeable difference. Margerine can be substituted but it will take away from the richness that butter would otherwise bring. It also has a higher water content which will affect shape and texture of dough. Also, by using unsalted, you have control of how much salt you use in the recipe.

Answer 2

Probably to have more control over exactly how much salt goes into the recipe. It could be that some butters have more salt in them than others. You could probably substitute regular butter and omit the salt for your own purposes, and taste test it to see that it's right.

Answer 3

because it allows you to accurately measure the amount of salt you are using. HINT look at the butter wrapper. It does not specify how much salt has been added to the butter. If you have no idea how much salt is in the butter how can you reduce the amount of salt called for in the recipe?

Answer 4

Unsalted butter is used when you don't want any added salt in your dish, such as pastries. Yes you can use salted butter if you omit the salt called for in a recipe.
Salted butter is good for cooking or sauteing meats, shrimp, frying eggs or dipping your crab legs into.

Answer 5

the amount of salt in salted butter varies from brand to brand. Using unsalted and adding your own salt will provide a consistent dish.

Yes, you can use salted butter and add salt as needed.

I've had no problems interchanging salted for unsalted and vice versa.

Answer 6

using salted butter would add to much salt to a recipe that already calls for adding salt.

Answer 7

some call for unsalted because there is already enough salt in the recipe to begin with.

Answer 8

Because the receipe already has salt in it and adding addtional salt from the butter would make it taste bad.

Answer 9

...interesting.... sometimes salt is needed separately if flour or baking powder are used as it helps with 'rising'.... other than that, I can't imagine why, though the amount of salt in butter is probably not big enough to make a great difference...

Answer 10

cos you add the butter and salt at different stages in the recipe