How much salt is in Kerry salted butter?

December 29, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the official Kerrygold USA website, Kerrygold salted butter contains 100mg of sodium per tablespoon. This translates to a rich 1.8% salt content by weight when looking at European nutritional labels, a significant fact for cooks and those monitoring their intake.

Quick Summary

Each tablespoon of Kerrygold salted butter contains 100mg of sodium, derived from grass-fed cows. This high-quality dairy product has a distinct, creamy flavor profile, with 1.8g of salt per 100g, making it more flavorful but saltier than its unsalted counterpart.

Key Points

Sodium Per Tablespoon: Kerrygold salted butter contains 100mg of sodium per standard U.S. tablespoon (14g).
Salt Percentage: European nutritional data confirms the butter contains 1.8% salt by weight (1.8g per 100g).
Unsalted vs. Salted: The unsalted version has virtually no sodium, giving bakers total control over salt levels.
Flavor Profile: The added salt enhances the butter's rich, creamy taste, a result of milk from Irish grass-fed cows.
Cooking Adjustments: When substituting salted for unsalted butter in a recipe, reduce the amount of additional salt needed to avoid over-salting.
Premium Quality: Kerrygold's distinct taste comes from its grass-fed origins, which also leads to a higher butterfat content than many conventional butters.

A Closer Look at Kerrygold Salted Butter's Salt Content

Kerrygold's rich, golden-hued salted butter is beloved for its creamy texture and rich flavor, both of which are heavily influenced by the diet of the Irish grass-fed cows and the precise amount of salt added. For cooks, bakers, and health-conscious consumers, knowing the exact salt and sodium content is vital for making informed decisions. The difference between Kerrygold and other butters, including its own unsalted variety, is not just flavor but also specific nutritional figures.

Breaking Down the Sodium Per Serving

The most common serving size in the United States is one tablespoon. Kerrygold's nutritional information for this serving size is as follows:

Serving Size: 1 tbsp (14g)
Sodium Content: 100mg

This 100mg of sodium represents approximately 4% of the daily value for an average adult on a 2,000-calorie diet. This is a fairly standard amount for a premium, salted butter, though it's important to remember that sodium levels can vary between brands.

The Salt Percentage in Kerrygold Butter

When looking at nutritional data for a 100-gram serving, particularly on European labels, the salt content is often listed as a percentage. For Kerrygold, this reveals an even clearer picture:

Salt Content: 1.8g per 100g

This confirms that salt makes up 1.8% of the butter's weight. This higher percentage is what gives the butter its prominent and delicious flavor, and it's a key reason many chefs prefer it for finishing dishes or simply spreading on fresh bread. It is also a critical piece of information for baking, where the amount of salt added can drastically impact the final product.

Salted vs. Unsalted Kerrygold: What's the Difference?

The main difference between the salted and unsalted versions is, quite literally, the salt. Kerrygold's unsalted butter contains virtually no sodium, making it a baker's favorite for its neutral flavor profile that allows for precise control over the salt in a recipe.

Key differences include:

Ingredient Control: Unsalted butter lets you control the exact amount of salt in your recipes, which is crucial for sensitive items like delicate pastries or baked goods. With Kerrygold salted butter, you must adjust the added salt to compensate for the butter's content.
Flavor Profile: The added salt in Kerrygold's salted butter enhances its rich, creamy flavor. This makes it a preferred choice for serving with bread or melting over vegetables, where the saltiness is a desirable component of the overall taste.
Shelf Life: Salt acts as a natural preservative. Therefore, salted butter generally has a longer shelf life than unsalted butter. It's a minor point for most consumers, but relevant for those who don't use butter frequently.

Comparison Table: Kerrygold vs. Others

To put Kerrygold's salt content in context, here is a comparison with a standard American-style salted butter.


Feature	Kerrygold Salted Butter	Kerrygold Unsalted Butter	Land O'Lakes Salted Butter
Sodium per tbsp	100mg	0mg	90mg
Main Ingredients	Pasteurized Cream, Salt	Pasteurized Cream, Cultures	Cream, Salt [No Search Result]
Best for...	Spreading, finishing dishes, savory cooking	Baking, precise salt control	General cooking and baking

Considerations for Cooking and Health

Understanding the sodium content of Kerrygold butter is essential for dietary and culinary reasons. For those on a low-sodium diet, or who are salt-sensitive, the unsalted version may be the best choice. In baking, if a recipe calls for unsalted butter and you only have the salted version, you will need to reduce or omit the added salt. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the added salt by about ¼ teaspoon for every ½ cup (or 1 stick) of salted butter used.

Beyond just salt, Kerrygold is celebrated for its grass-fed origins, which results in a higher butterfat content and a richer flavor. This richness can also affect baking and cooking, providing a superior taste and texture to dishes.

Conclusion

In summary, Kerrygold salted butter contains 100mg of sodium per tablespoon, translating to a 1.8% salt-by-weight ratio. This makes it a flavorful, higher-sodium option compared to its unsalted counterpart. Whether this is an advantage depends on your cooking needs and dietary preferences. For maximum control over the final dish, unsalted is the safest bet, but for a rich, delicious, and perfectly seasoned flavor, Kerrygold salted butter is a premium choice. The distinction is key for both culinary precision and healthy living. For more information, visit the official Kerrygold USA website.

Visit the official Kerrygold USA website for more product details

Frequently Asked Questions

There is 100mg of sodium in one tablespoon (14g) of Kerrygold salted butter.

Kerrygold salted butter contains 1.8% salt by weight, which is equivalent to 1.8 grams of salt per 100 grams of butter.

Yes, you can, but you will need to adjust the amount of salt in your recipe. A common practice is to reduce the recipe's called-for salt by approximately ¼ teaspoon for every ½ cup of salted butter used.

No, Kerrygold unsalted butter contains virtually no sodium, making it ideal for recipes that require precise control over the salt content.

The rich flavor comes from a combination of the high butterfat content, derived from the milk of grass-fed Irish cows, and the addition of salt, which enhances its creamy taste.

While it's a higher-sodium option compared to its unsalted version, one tablespoon of Kerrygold salted butter contains only 4% of the daily recommended value for sodium, which is not considered excessively high for most people.

Salted Kerrygold has a more prominent, enhanced flavor that's excellent for spreading or savory dishes. Unsalted Kerrygold has a milder, more neutral taste, allowing the rich, creamy butter flavor to shine without the saltiness.