Butter is one of the most widely used components in any kitchenit also happens to be one that runs out quickly! If youre out of butter, you can substitute it for other solid fats, such as salted butter, shortening, or lard.

Well also go through unsalted butter substitutes for those with dairy allergies or food preferences, such as coconut oil and vegetable oil. When we go through each of these items, well be sure to give you equivalent measurements for each substitute.

Recommended Substitute for Unsalted Butter

When it comes to finding an adequate substitute for unsalted butter, you have to factor in what type of food youre making. For baking, more solid fats are preferable, whereas you can use any fat for stovetop cooking.

1. Salted Butter

Although this may be cheating, salted butter truly is the best substitute for unsalted butter. People often dont have unsalted butter in their homes, but they sometimes have salted butter. In a pinch, salted butter works just as well as unsalted.

1 tsp.If your recipe asks for a cup (8 ounces) of unsalted butter, substitute it for an equal amount of salted butter. Although the butter remains the same, you have to make changes to salt content. For every cup of salted butter, reduce the amount of salt in your recipe by 1

Since youre substituting butter for another form of butter, you dont need to worry about whether it will affect the recipe. Whether youre baking a pie or cooking a savory dish, the salted butter wont change the flavor unless you forget to reduce the salt content.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is among the best substitutes for unsalted butter. Its vegan and dairy-free, meaning anyone can enjoy it. Coconut oil is also solid at room temperature, meaning it will feel like butter when you cook with it.

4 of a cup and two tablespoons of coconut oil (6.7 ounces). Some people add water or milk to give the coconut oil more moisture, like butter. To do so, add two tablespoons of milk or water to the above measurements.If your recipe asks for a cup (8 ounces) of unsalted butter, youll need to substitute it for 3

More than any other product on this list, coconut oil will change the taste of the food you cook. Because of the change in taste, we recommend only using coconut oil to complement the original flavor. That includes muffins, cakes, brownies, cookies, and other dishes where coconut adds a pleasant flavor.

3. Vegetable Shortening

Vegetable shortening (and lard) is the premier unsalted butter substitute for baking.

Vegetable shortening is made from vegetable oil thats gone through hydrogenation or the addition of hydrogen molecules to vegetable oil. By adding hydrogen, the oil becomes a solid at room temperature.

If your recipe calls for a cup of butter (8 ounces), you can substitute it for an equal amount of vegetable shortening. The best uses for vegetable shortening tend to be for baking.

Vegetable shortening is best for making pie crusts and pastry, but you can use it for anything because it doesnt have a strong flavor.

Cant find vegetable shortening as well? See recommended vegetable shortening substitutes.

4. Lard

Lard is a lot like shortening, except it uses animal fat instead of vegetable oil. Lard is usually made from pig fat thats been rendered and cooled. The solid left-over is lard. The manufacturing process means lard is 100% animal fat.

8 of a cup (7 ounces) of lard. Lard has less moisture than unsalted butter and more fat content, meaning you need less to get the same end-product. If your food doesnt seem like the right consistency, add a tablespoon of water or milk.If your recipe asks for a cup of unsalted butter (8 ounces), substitute it for 7

Lard is versatile for cooking fat. In the past, it was the most popular cooking fat in the U.S.A., being used as a frying oil, baking fat, and so much more. You can still use lard for any cooking method, although it is most commonly used in pastry nowadays.

5. Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil of any kind is a decent substitute for unsalted butter, but only in some circumstances. Since vegetable oil is a liquid, you shouldnt use it as a substitute in baking. The liquid will change the consistency of your mixtures, changing the way it needs to be cooked.

8 of a cup (7 ounces) of vegetable oil. The best time to substitute unsalted butter for vegetable oil is when youre cooking dishes in a pan, such as in sauces or gravies.If your recipe asks for a cup of butter (8 ounces), youll need to substitute it for 7

Frequently Asked Questions

8 of a cup (7 ounces) of vegetable oil. The best time to substitute unsalted butter for vegetable oil is when youre cooking dishes in a pan, such as in sauces or gravies.If your recipe calls for a cup of butter (8 ounces), you must substitute 7