by Christine Pesta
Butter. It is such a common part of so many people’s everyday life, that they don’t really think about it. It goes into and on top of so many different dishes, and there are so many varieties of butter that can be used in cooking that one might think it is an irreplaceable staple in the kitchen.
However, if you’ve run out of butter, or if you don’t consume butter, you may be in need of a substitute. Vegans are always having to think about substitutes for many different food products, including butter. There are a number of things that can be used as a replacement for butter – depending on how you intend to use it.
The following are a few food products that vegans and others can use when butter is not desired or available.
Vegan Butter
This one is pretty obvious. There are several brands on the market such as Earth Balance, and they can be slightly higher in price than regular butter. They are similar in their taste and texture to margarine, but are perfect for most situations where one might have used butter.
Olive Oil
The taste can range from mild to quite strong, depending on the grade of oil you purchase. It is best used for sautéing foods in place of butter. The oil can, of course, be used in other ways, such as in salad dressing, for example. So, this is a kitchen staple that one should always have on hand.
Avocado
Who doesn’t love avocados? It’s particularly hard not to love them when they can substitute for butter in a pinch. While they do have a distinct flavor on their own, when incorporated into a dish, you don’t necessarily taste the fruit in the recipe. For instance, you can bake brownies using avocado and it will just taste like a regular brownie. The creaminess of its flesh can contribute to the moistness in the texture of your baked goods, which is the best way to use them as a substitute.
Vegetable Shortening
Vegetable shortening is best used when you have a need to replace solid, cold butter, particularly in baking and pastry making. It does not have a buttery taste; it is another substitute with a rather neutral flavor.
Coconut Oil
Any recipe where you might need melted butter, coconut oil can serve as the perfect substitute. It is best when used in desserts or when sautéing foods. It can have a distinct coconut flavor if you are using unrefined coconut oil. If you are looking for less of that sort of taste, use the refined oil for a more neutral flavor in your cooking.
Unsweetened Applesauce
While it won’t necessarily give the finished product the same texture as butter, it can be used as a flavorless substitute in most baked goods. It may add some moisture to the recipe, but it will not always give as much moisture to the muffins or cakes you bake and a little neutral vegetable oil can be added for a moister texture. Make sure that the applesauce you use says “unsweetened” or “no added sugar” on the label. I have used an unsweetened applesauce with cinnamon once for muffins and it worked out great.
While you might come across a couple of other things that could substitute for butter in a pinch, these are items that most people already have on hand and use for multiple purposes. It’s always best to try to buy items that can serve a few different purposes and can go into multiple types of dishes. It’s a good way to save time and money while getting the job done. For vegans, these common items can come in very handy, particularly when you live in an area where things like vegan butter are not on your grocery store shelf.
Be creative; use your imagination with these ingredients, and enjoy your time in the kitchen without any stress or worries, because anytime you think you’re in a bind, know that there’s always a solution when it comes to cooking and baking that will help you get the job done!
