10 Best Butters in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed By Nutritionist

There are different types of butter available in the Indian market. One has to consider a variety of things like type, flavor, quality, price before making a decision. To make your decision smooth and easy we have selected the top 10 products. Have a look!! 

Ruchi Wadhwa is a certified Nutritionist with a keen interest in Ayurvedic sciences. She has a wholesome, holistic, and sustainable approach to nutrition. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Instagram, or quora.

Regular use of butter in limited quantities can provide many health benefits. It is a rich source of soluble vitamins like Vitamins A, B, D, E & K that improve the nervous system and the digestive system. Ingredients like calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium that butter contains help in maintaining better bone health.

However, we should also be aware that too much butter is harmful. Overconsumption of its main nutritional element, fat, causes obesity, fatty liver, and various heart diseases. Those who are already suffering from heart diseases or blood pressure should strictly limit consumption of butter.

In the Indian market, one can see various kinds of butter. You should have a sufficient amount of information so that you can choose the right type of butter for yourself. Here is a detailed buying guide with the top 10 product recommendations for your help.

There are many types of butter from various brands available in the Indian market. It is quite overwhelming and confusing for a customer. It is better if you go through some guidelines and considerations. We have taken the effort to design a buying guide so that you can get the most suitable product for yourself. 

There are two types of butter in India that are, milk butter, which is also known as dairy butter or white butter, and nut butter. Both have a considerable amount of differences in their nutrient values. You should know which is the most suitable for you.   

Milk butter, also known as dairy butter or white butter is mainly extracted from the cow milk. But aside from cows, some other mammals like sheep, goat, and buffalo are also used for this purpose. Fat and proteins, and Its Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) helps in increasing energy and endurance. 

Fatty foods are often more flavourful because flavors dissolve in fats quite smoothly. The same thing applies for butter as well. Because of the high concentration of fat, it has a rich flavor and a creamy texture. It also works incredibly well as a 'flavor carrier,' as it efficiently carries the taste of the parent product, on which it applies, into the dish. 

It can be a primary source of flavour in dessert toppings, naan, curry, and others. It is fine if consumed in moderation, but overconsumption of milk butter has many harmful effects too. The fats it has can cause various problems like obesity, hypertension, heart diseases, and many more. 

Nut butter is prepared by using almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and many more. The most widely consumed kinds of nut butter in India are peanut butter and almond butter. They are far healthier and protein-rich than milk butter. Nut butter contains a variety of nutrients that are good for your heart and help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. 

Although every nut butter has its unique benefits, some benefits are common to all. They are a great source of minerals and nutrients and contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats, protein, and fiber. They are a rich source of vitamin E, which keeps our immune system as well as skin and hair healthy. It is a perfect thing to incorporate in your diet if you haven't done it yet. 

However, be aware of artificial sweeteners like advantame, aspartame, neotame, and more present in some nut butters, as some researchers suggest that they may lead to problems like diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, and might contain a lot of calories.

Experts consider protein as a crucial building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. Among all kinds of nut butter, peanut butter contains the highest amount of protein. 2 tablespoons of peanut butter has 7 grams of protein- an easy way to add protein to your daily meal!

Aside from protein, it also has a rich amount of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. Its monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are healthy for the heart. It can be a cost-effective way to improve heart health. 

 
They come with two kinds of textures, creamy and crunchy. Like milk butter, it should also be consumed in moderation because overeating will increase fat and sodium intake that will have harmful effects.

Other than nutrients like calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, almond butter also has a rich content of vitamin E. 2 tablespoon of almond butter can fulfill more than 50% of your daily vitamin E requirement. 

Vitamin E is a heart-protective antioxidant. Also, 2/3 of the total amount of almond butter contains heart-healthy monosaturated fats. It is also rich in fibers that help improve cholesterol panels. So, replace your regular butter with nut butter for more health benefits.

It is important to consider affordability in the case of butter because it is a perishable product that requires constant replacement. You have to purchase it regularly which means that you have to manage it within household income. 

 
Generally, nut butter is more expensive than milk butter. But it does not mean that you should ignore the downside of milk butter. If not consumed in moderation, its high amount of fats will cause many problems related to blood pressure and cholesterol.

Packaging of butter is essential to consider because it's not only to make it look attractive but also to increase its shelf life. Some brands give too much importance to the packaging as they prefer to launch a tamper-proof product.  

We recommend inspecting the packaging first to see if there's any alteration made. Should there by any, this means that you should not purchase the butter.

To choose between salted and unsalted butter, you have to consider two variables, that are, the shelf life of the product and if there are preservatives added. If your priority is prolonged shelf life, then you should consider salted butter. In this butter, except for taste, salt also acts as a preservative that extends the life of butter. 

Unsalted butter is pure and contains no preservative and has a shorter shelf life than salted butter. If you want to buy unsalted butter, we recommend you to look at the words like 'sweet butter' or 'unsalted butter.' In comparison to unsalted butter that survives only for three days, the shelf life of the salted butter is around five months in the refrigerator.

Apart from various health benefits, peanut butter can also be used to make various delicious food items including smoothies. Peanut butter and banana are one of the most appreciated flavors among Indians. So, it's a show-stopping smoothie recipe you need to make! 

We will help you out with ingredients and methods.

Ingredients

1. 2 cups frozen sliced bananas
2. 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
3. 1/2 tablespoon ground flax seeds
4. 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
5. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6. 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender.
2. Blend on high until it smoothens. Add more almond milk as needed.
3. Serve immediately.

For more details, you can visit the website.

1. Peanut butter has a legume protein profile, and so is a deficiency in methionine. Therefore, it is important to pair/supplement peanut butter with cereals such as whole wheat bread, chappati, whole wheat tortilla, etc., to improve the overall protein quality. 
2. Similarly, to improve the overall quality of almond butter protein, pair it with fruits like apple or vegetables; for example, add vegetables like carrot, onion, cucumber to bread slices laced with almond butter and make a sandwich. 
3. Nut butter like walnut butter and almond butter are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and thus, should be added to post-workout meals as they reduce inflammation and help in post-workout recovery.

One substitute of butter can be ghee because it can also be complemented with various things like naan, curry, even shakes and smoothies. So, check out our recommendations of pure desi ghee.

Choosing the desired product seems simple and trivial, but, in reality, to purchase the most suitable product, a consumer has to consider a lot of things from affordability to flavor, from nutrients to brand name. 

Selecting the best butter for yourself has the same story. We have tried our best to make things simple and clearer for you by designing a detailed buying guide and product recommendations. We hope this article is of great aid in making a choice!! 

Author: Nikhil Deora