Butter, margarine or (America, mission, heaven, preference)

[YmirGF]

As many of you know I love cooking. I may not be a great cook, but I have mastered several dishes that my friends and family adore. One of my key ingredients is usually butter. Over the years I have tried margarines and things like Becel, etc, but always end up going back to butter.

I am also a fan of the Food Network and watch Iron Chefs (not the American version) somewhat regularly as I find I pick up the oddest neato tips also somewhat regularly. I also remember seeing the renowned Julia Child once on a TV show and the host said flat out, "But Julia, studies have shown that butter isn't healthy. Why don't you use margarine?" (Or something to that effect.) Ms. Child stopped what she was doing and brought herself to her full towering height and said as if addressing a naughty small child, "Good heavens, if you aren't serious about cooking with butter, then you are not serious about cooking!" Given her rather ungainly appearance and shrill voice, dovetailed to the moment, it was hilarious.

Me? Yeah, I'm a butter nazi and yes, I have used Julia's comment to people over the years who handed me margarine when I specifically asked for butter.

What about you? What do you use? If so, why?

[Shadow Wolf]

Margarine, but is also what I was raised on, so butter taste abit odd.

[CaptainXeroid]

Butter 'Nazi' here as well. My wife works in admissions at a world renowed culinary institute, so this comes from a rather knowledgeable source.

Butter is a dairy product and is best for cooking. Margarine is mostly oil and water and not suitable. My preference is unsalted butter as many other foods have plenty of sodium.

As for which is healthier, while it is true that butter has fat and cholesterol, margarine almost always higher in trans-fat acids which are much worse.

I am fighting back tears trying to picture Julia lecturing someone as you described. If you want a simliar reaction, ask a chef if he'd rather cook on a gas stove or an electric one.

[evearael]

We use butter... just in limited quantities. It tastes better and does a better job. I also try to avoid trans fat like the plague, so most of the substitues are out automatically.

[FatMan]

If I'm using something as a spread, I usually use the Omega-3 butter substitutes or just use olive oil.

For cooking, I use butter. In moderation all things are good

[SoyLeche]

From what I understand - butter in a lot of ways is better for you than margerine (tranfat, or something like that). I use both. Mostly margerine, because it costs a lot less.

[Buttons*]

butter all natural baby

[angellous_evangellous]

Butter only here.

Margarine is worthless in every way. When I run out of butter, I use olive oil and a little bit of milk or cream. The only reason why margarine enters my house is because Mrs A_E likes it on toast (yuck!).

[Hacker]

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