What Butter Is Low in Salt? A Comprehensive Guide

December 7, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the CDC, the average American consumes well over the recommended daily sodium limit. For those monitoring their intake, understanding what butter is low in salt is an essential step towards better dietary control. The answer lies primarily in choosing unsalted varieties and being mindful of product labels.

Quick Summary

Unsalted butter is the best choice for a low-sodium diet, containing zero added salt compared to variable amounts in salted versions. This provides control over flavor and sodium levels in recipes, especially for baking. Different brands offer varying textures and fat contents, allowing for specific culinary uses.

Key Points

Unsalted is Best: For a truly low-salt butter, choose unsalted, also known as sweet cream butter, which contains no added sodium.
Control Flavor: Using unsalted butter allows you to precisely control the salt levels in your cooking and baking, ensuring consistent and predictable results.
Check Brands: Popular unsalted butter brands include Vital Farms, Kerrygold, Organic Valley, and Tillamook, each with different flavor profiles.
Consider Plant-Based: Dairy-free alternatives like Miyoko's and Melt Organic offer zero-sodium, unsalted versions for vegan or lactose-intolerant diets.
Read Labels: Even "slightly salted" varieties contain more sodium than unsalted butter, so always check the nutritional information for accurate sodium counts.
Store Properly: Unsalted butter has a shorter shelf life than salted butter due to the lack of salt acting as a preservative; store it in the refrigerator or freezer for freshness.
Health Benefits: Choosing low-salt butter is a simple step to help manage dietary sodium intake, which can support heart health and lower blood pressure.

Why Choose Low-Salt Butter?

High sodium intake is linked to several health concerns, including high blood pressure and heart disease. Using butter with lower salt content—or no salt at all—is a simple yet effective way to manage your dietary sodium. This is especially crucial for baking, where precise measurements are key to achieving the desired flavor and texture. Unlike salted butter, where the salt content is inconsistent across brands, unsalted butter gives the cook full control over seasoning.

Unsalted Butter: The Ultimate Low-Salt Choice

Unsalted butter, often labeled as "sweet cream" butter, contains no added salt. It provides the pure, rich flavor of cream, making it the perfect canvas for both sweet and savory dishes. For baking, unsalted butter ensures that the baked goods aren't too salty and allows for proper yeast activation in breads.

Popular Unsalted Butter Brands

Vital Farms Unsalted Butter: Known for its flavorful, grass-fed cream, it's a favorite among serious bakers.
Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter: A European-style butter with a higher butterfat content and vibrant yellow color, giving it a rich, distinct taste.
Organic Valley Unsalted Butter: A widely available organic option that provides a consistent, quality flavor for everyday cooking and baking.
Tillamook Extra Creamy Unsalted Butter: Praised for its rich and creamy profile, a solid American-style choice.
365 Organic Unsalted Butter: Whole Foods' house brand, a reliable and budget-friendly option for those seeking a lower-priced organic butter.

Understanding "Slightly Salted" Butter

Some brands offer a "slightly salted" variety, which contains less sodium than their standard salted counterparts but still more than unsalted butter. These can be a good compromise for those who want a touch of salt without the high sodium levels. However, it's essential to check the nutritional label carefully, as salt content can still vary. For instance, brands like Lurpak offer unsalted and slightly salted options, with the unsalted being the truest low-sodium choice.

Low Sodium Plant-Based Alternatives

For those who prefer a dairy-free option or need to further reduce saturated fat, plant-based butters offer low-sodium varieties. Some brands specifically market unsalted versions that contain no sodium. Always check the label, as some plant-based spreads may contain added salt.

Miyoko's Unsalted Plant Milk Butter: This popular vegan butter has 0mg of sodium per tablespoon.
Melt Organic Unsalted Plant Butter: Another dairy-free option with 0mg of sodium per tablespoon, making it a great alternative.
Violife Unsalted Plant Butter: A vegan option with 0mg of sodium, suitable for those avoiding dairy and salt.

Comparison Table: Salted vs. Unsalted Butter


Feature	Salted Butter	Unsalted Butter
Salt Content	Contains added salt. Varies significantly by brand, from 75mg to over 100mg per tablespoon.	Contains no added salt. Sodium content is typically 0mg per tablespoon.
Flavor Profile	Salt can mask the natural cream flavor. The taste can differ greatly depending on the amount and type of salt used.	Allows the pure, fresh cream flavor to shine. Provides a clean taste for full flavor control.
Baking Precision	Not ideal for baking, as the variable salt content makes it difficult to control the final flavor and can interfere with leavening.	Preferred for baking. Allows precise salt measurement for optimal flavor balance.
Culinary Use	Generally used as a finishing butter for spreads, toast, and dishes where a salty flavor is desired.	Versatile for both sweet and savory cooking. Ideal for sauces, pastries, and dishes where you want to control seasoning.
Shelf Life	Salt acts as a preservative, giving it a longer shelf life (around 5 months).	Shorter shelf life (around 3 months) due to the lack of preservatives. Often fresher at the grocery store.

Tips for Choosing and Storing Low-Salt Butter

When buying low-salt butter, always read the nutrition label to confirm it is truly unsalted. For recipes, unsalted butter is the best choice to ensure consistent results. If you only have salted butter on hand and need to substitute, you can reduce the amount of salt added to your recipe, but be aware that the final flavor may still be different. Store unsalted butter properly, as its shorter shelf life means it can spoil more quickly than its salted counterpart. For longer storage, you can freeze butter for several months.

Conclusion

For those seeking a low-salt option, the answer is unequivocally unsalted butter. It is the only type guaranteed to have no added sodium, giving cooks and bakers complete control over the salt content of their food. From top-tier brands like Kerrygold and Vital Farms to affordable organic and vegan options, there are many varieties available to suit every taste and dietary need. By making the simple switch to unsalted butter, you can reduce your sodium intake and enjoy the pure, delicious flavor of cream in your dishes. For more dietary recommendations, visit the Action on Salt website to learn about salt reduction campaigns and surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, butter that has no added salt is always labeled as 'unsalted butter'. Some regional or specific European butters might be called 'sweet cream' butter, but the core characteristic is the absence of added salt.

Yes, unsalted butter tastes like pure, sweet cream, allowing the natural dairy flavor to stand out. Salted butter has a distinct, saltier taste that can overpower more delicate flavors in a recipe.

Unsalted butter is often considered a healthier choice because it allows you to control your sodium intake. While butter contains beneficial nutrients, excessive sodium from salted varieties can contribute to health issues like high blood pressure.

Yes, unsalted butter is the preferred choice for baking. Most baking recipes are developed with unsalted butter in mind, and they separately call for a specific amount of salt to be added, giving you precise control over the final flavor.

Yes, you can substitute, but you should adjust the amount of salt in your recipe. A general rule of thumb is to omit about 1/4 teaspoon of salt for every 1/2 cup (1 stick) of salted butter used.

Unsalted butter often has a shorter shelf life than salted butter, so retailers must manage their inventory more carefully. The lower turnover rate and higher demand for salted butter in some regions can lead to unsalted butter being a more specialized, and therefore sometimes more expensive, item.

For short-term use, unsalted butter should be stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, where it will last for a few weeks. For longer-term storage, it can be frozen for several months, provided it is well-wrapped.