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Ashia Aubourg
Salted butter is a big deal in my family. We go through pounds of it to make the richest casseroles, brown crisp, flavorful crusts for grilled cheese, and create delicious sauces. I even have a vivid memory of my grandmother sharing stories with me as a kid about finding bite marks in the sticks back in the day (thanks to my mom, who’s that obsessed with it, and which probably explains why she adds it to almost everything she makes).
I can’t blame her, though. The creamy ingredient upgrades the flavor and texture of many dishes, and when it’s spread on a warm slice of bread or biscuit, it’s pretty much irresistible. So when my editors asked me to taste test a bunch of butters, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
How I Chose the Salted Butters
I spent some time writing for a magazine focused on all things dairy, so I know that the world of salted butters can get very exclusive. While I appreciate small producers and often advise shopping local, I wanted to ensure that the options I recommended were easily accessible, so I chose butters sold at major retailers. I also nixed any vegan or margarine labels to keep it consistent.
How I Tested the Salted Butters
When testing the salted butters, I tried them all at room temperature to understand their taste, aroma, spreadability, creaminess, and texture. I schmeared each one on a plain baguette and ranked them according to my criteria. To avoid overwhelming my palate, I cleansed it with sparkling water between each tasting, and I limited myself to three butters per sitting.
The Best Salted Butters, Ranked
15th Place: Good & Gather Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
The salted butter from Good & Gather is not only overpowering, but it also lacks aroma and real flavor. It’s neither balanced nor creamy, and it left a pasty film on my tongue. With so many delicious brands out there, I would not reach for this one.
14th Place: Trader Joe’s Salted Organic Butter
Ashia Aubourg
If you plan to buy butter from Trader Joe’s, you’re better off grabbing its salted cultured version. This one lacks aroma and a balanced salty-creamy flavor. When spread on bread, instead of a silky taste, it felt overly fatty and oily.
13th Place: Whole Foods 365 Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
Whole Foods carries many delicious butter brands that ranked high on this list, like those from Ivy’s Reserve and Maple Hill Creamery. Based on my tests, I would recommend choosing one of those over its own private label. While the 365 one has a nice creaminess, it’s too salty compared to the winning options and lacks any grassy aroma.
12th Place: Lucerne Grass-Fed Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
Despite boasting that this butter is made with milk from New Zealand cows, it lacked the aroma and creaminess found in its counterpart from Lewis Road Creamery, which ranked higher. While I’ll give it points for having punchy, salty notes, that wasn’t enough to make up for its lack of depth.
11th Place: Ploughgate Creamery Cultured Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
While researching Ploughgate Creamery’s process of making salted butter, I appreciated the intentionality that goes into their production. However, the butter ultimately fell flat in flavor. This one definitely checks the boxes in terms of having a velvety and creamy texture when softened, but it boasted overly salty and earthy notes when I gave it a try.
10th Place: Kerrygold Salted Irish Butter
Ashia Aubourg
When softened, the Kerrygold salted butter practically melts in your mouth, offering creamy and milky notes. Where it fell short is that it has an overpowering salty flavor compared to the winners.
9th Place: Organic Valley Classic Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
I appreciated that this pick from Organic Valley had a balanced flavor, with just the right amount of salinity. However, it lacked a creamy texture and tasted more oily than milky at room temperature.
8th Place: Lewis Road Creamery Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
New Zealand cows tend to be the cream of the crop (pun intended!) for producers making butter, as they receive focused diets and care, which translates into the quality of their milk. Although this butter from Lewis Road Creamery wasn’t my favorite, it still checked off all of the boxes in terms of having a luxurious texture, grassy aroma, and salty flavor. Where it fell slightly short was in having too much of an earthy and pungent aftertaste that I couldn’t get over.
7th Place: Cabot Sea Salted Extra Creamy Premium Butter
Ashia Aubourg
As a Vermont girlie, I naturally gravitate toward Cabot as a reliable producer of all dairy products—and its butter didn’t disappoint. It’s balanced and silky in texture, and I definitely plan on buying it again. However, in a side-by-side comparison with the other winners, it didn’t have the boldest salty flavor.
6th Place: Kate’s Sea Salted Pure & Simple Butter
Ashia Aubourg
Kate’s salted butter evokes seawater vibes, and I could imagine packing it in my cooler to enjoy beachside with a fresh baguette and an insulated bottle filled with a bubbly libation. It’s balanced in terms of taste and has a lot of character, especially considering it’s made with only two ingredients (cream and sea salt).
5th Place: Trader Joe’s Cultured Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
While I wasn’t a fan of Trader Joe’s salted organic butter, its cultured version is loaded with subtle tanginess and nuttiness. You could taste the brininess in the cream, and it was so spreadable that I could easily imagine blending it with herbs or spices to make a compound butter.
4th Place: Horizon Organic Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
During my experiment, I noticed that salted butters made with sweet creams tended to have a more balanced taste, with neither too much salinity nor a lack of flavor. This one from Horizon Organic definitely fits the bill. It had fresh notes and a smooth, silky texture.
3rd Place: Land O'Lakes Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
I didn’t have high hopes for salted butter from Land O’Lakes, but those reservations were quickly gone once I tried a bite. It has a light texture that practically melts in your mouth. I appreciated its creamy notes and salinity, along with a touch of sweetness from the type of cream the company uses during the churning process.
2nd Place: Maple Hill Organic Salted Butter
Ashia Aubourg
Similar to our winner, this one has a punchy, salty, and creamy taste that’s nicely balanced. It’s definitely on the richer side, making it ideal for spreading on toast or biscuits. I also appreciated the fresh, grassy aroma, which enhances its luxurious flavor—honestly, it felt like something I’d be served in France.
1st Place Winner: Ivy’s Reserve Salted Farmhouse Butter
Ashia Aubourg
If you scan the dairy aisles of Whole Foods, you’ll spot a salted butter from Ivy’s Reserve, whose pristine packaging looks like a work of art. The award-winning cheesemaker produces cultured products through carbon-neutral methods like regenerative farming, minimizing waste through packaging, and powering its work through green energy.
The salted butter is crafted based on the founder’s grandmother’s recipe, and you can taste it in the flavor. It has a fragrant aroma, and it’s so delicate that a knife can effortlessly glide through it. It has creamy bites and nice salty notes without being overbearing. I definitely plan on keeping this one stocked in my fridge to schmear on baguettes, use in butter sauces, you name it.
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