What Do You Use Butter Oil For? Culinary, Cosmetic, and Health Applications

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

Comprising a minimum of 99.3% milk fat, anhydrous milk fat, or butter oil, is more concentrated than regular butter and boasts an extended shelf life. This pure, moisture-free dairy product has a rich history and a surprisingly wide array of applications that answer the question: what do you use butter oil for today?

Quick Summary

Concentrated butter oil, known as anhydrous milk fat, is used across multiple sectors, including food manufacturing, high-heat cooking, baking, and for its health benefits. It is also an ingredient in cosmetics and supplements due to its nutrient density and shelf stability.

Key Points

Culinary Versatility: Butter oil excels in high-heat cooking like sautéing and frying due to its higher smoke point than regular butter, while also adding rich flavor to baked goods.
Nutritional Powerhouse: High-vitamin butter oil is a concentrated source of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), antioxidants, and beneficial fatty acids like butyric acid and CLA.
Supports Digestive Health: Rich in butyric acid, it provides a crucial energy source for colon cells, promoting healthy gut function.
Skincare Benefits: Used topically, butter oil is a powerful emollient that deeply moisturizes, soothes dry skin, and contains antioxidants that can combat skin aging.
Distinction from Ghee: Unlike ghee, which is simmered to achieve a nutty flavor, butter oil is processed with minimal heat and retains a fresh, buttery taste, though it has a lower smoke point.
Industrial and Commercial Use: Manufacturers use butter oil for its consistent quality, rich texture, and extended shelf life in products like ice cream, chocolate, and reconstituted milk.

What is Butter Oil?

Butter oil, also referred to as anhydrous milk fat (AMF), is a highly concentrated and purified dairy fat derived from milk. It is created by removing nearly all of the moisture and non-fat solids from butter or cream, a process that can be achieved through heating or centrifugation. This refining process results in a product with a high milk fat content (typically over 99.3%), a longer shelf life, and no need for refrigeration. Its concentrated nature and stability make it a versatile ingredient for both industrial food manufacturing and everyday culinary or personal care applications.

Butter Oil vs. Ghee: A Key Comparison

While often confused, butter oil and ghee are distinct products, primarily differing in their manufacturing process and flavor profile. Butter oil is typically produced industrially with minimal heating, using centrifugation to separate milk solids. This preserves a clean, buttery flavor. Ghee, on the other hand, is made by simmering butter over heat until the milk solids caramelize and are then strained out, which imparts a signature nutty aroma and deeper taste.


Feature	Butter Oil (Anhydrous Milk Fat)	Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Production Method	Centrifugal separation of butterfat, often with minimal heat.	Simmering butter to caramelize and strain out milk solids.
Flavor Profile	Clean, fresh, and distinctly buttery, without toasted notes.	Nutty, toasted, and rich with a deeper aroma.
Shelf Stability	Highly shelf-stable due to extremely low moisture content.	Also very shelf-stable, can be stored unrefrigerated for long periods.
Nutrient Content	Contains fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and fatty acids; levels can vary by source.	Effective at retaining fat-soluble vitamins due to the removal of water and solids.
Lactose & Casein	May contain trace amounts of lactose and casein.	Considered free of lactose and casein due to the heating process.
Smoke Point	Lower smoke point than ghee, generally used for moderate heat.	Higher smoke point (up to 485°F/252°C), ideal for high-heat cooking.

Culinary Uses of Butter Oil

Butter oil is a prized ingredient in both home and industrial kitchens for its versatility, concentrated flavor, and rich texture. Some of its most common culinary uses include:

High-Heat Sautéing and Frying: While regular butter has a low smoke point due to its milk solids, butter oil's high smoke point (closer to ghee) makes it ideal for searing, sautéing, and frying without burning.
Enhancing Baked Goods: In baking, it imparts a rich, buttery flavor and moistness to cakes, cookies, and pastries. It can also be used to create flaky pastries and pie crusts.
Finishing Dishes: A drizzle of melted butter oil over vegetables, popcorn, or pasta adds a final layer of richness and flavor. It can also be used to make sauces like hollandaise or a simple pan sauce for meats and seafood.
Industrial Food Production: Its consistent quality and extended shelf life make it a favorite for manufacturers of ice cream, chocolates, dairy spreads, and reconstituted butter.

Health and Wellness Applications

Beyond its role in the kitchen, butter oil is also valued for its nutritional profile, especially when derived from the milk of grass-fed cows.

Nutrient-Dense Supplement: High-vitamin butter oil is a source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, along with other beneficial fatty acids like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is sometimes taken as a supplement, often in conjunction with cod liver oil, to enhance nutrient absorption.
Digestive Health: Butter oil is rich in butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that serves as a primary energy source for the cells lining the colon. This can support digestive health and immune function.
Keto and Paleo Diets: Its high fat content and negligible lactose and casein (in purified forms) make it a suitable cooking fat for those following ketogenic and paleo diets.

Uses in Skincare and Cosmetics

Some traditional and natural beauty practices utilize butter oil for its moisturizing and nourishing properties.

Intense Moisturizer: Its emollient properties help to lock in moisture, soothe dry or chafed skin, and form a protective barrier against environmental stressors. It can be particularly beneficial for dry hands, feet, and elbows.
Lip Balm: For chapped or dry lips, a small amount of butter oil can act as a natural and deeply hydrating lip balm.
Anti-Aging Properties: Rich in antioxidants like vitamin A and E, butter oil can help protect the skin from free-radical damage, potentially reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

Summary of Versatility

Butter oil is a surprisingly versatile product with applications reaching far beyond basic cooking. Whether used for its high-fat stability in baking, its nutrient-dense profile in supplements, or its moisturizing effects in skincare, this concentrated dairy fat offers multiple benefits. Its long shelf life and pure fat content make it a practical ingredient for both industrial purposes and innovative home use.

Conclusion

From enriching the flavor of baked goods and enabling high-heat cooking to supporting gut health and moisturizing the skin, butter oil is a remarkably versatile and functional product. Its primary distinction from ghee lies in its production method, which influences its flavor profile and smoke point. Understanding what do you use butter oil for opens up a range of new possibilities in the kitchen and beyond. Whether you are a professional baker, a health-conscious consumer, or someone exploring natural skincare, butter oil offers a high-quality, shelf-stable, and nutrient-rich solution. For more details on its unique composition, see resources on anhydrous milk fat like those provided by PMG Engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Butter oil is typically produced using centrifugation with minimal heat, giving it a clean, buttery flavor and a lower smoke point than ghee. Ghee is made by simmering butter, which caramelizes the milk solids and gives it a nutty flavor and a higher smoke point.

Yes, butter oil has a higher smoke point than regular butter because the milk solids and water have been removed. This makes it a suitable and stable fat for sautéing, searing, and frying at higher temperatures.

High-purity butter oil (anhydrous milk fat) is nearly free of lactose and casein. Many people with lactose sensitivities can consume it without issues, but it is always best to consult a doctor, as trace amounts can sometimes remain.

You can use butter oil in baking to add moisture, flavor, and richness to recipes. It can often be substituted for other fats, especially when a fluffy texture isn't the primary goal. It can also be brushed onto pastries to add a buttery richness.

High-vitamin butter oil, especially from grass-fed cows, is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K, antioxidants, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It's also a source of butyric acid, which supports gut health.

Yes, butter oil has moisturizing and healing properties when applied topically. It can act as a deep moisturizer for dry areas, a lip balm, or a base for other skincare treatments.

Because it has very little moisture, butter oil is highly shelf-stable and does not require refrigeration. It should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place to prevent it from going rancid.

The Wulzen Factor, also known as the 'anti-stiffness' factor, is a nutrient that promotes joint health and is found in raw, unpasteurized butter oil. However, it can be destroyed by pasteurization and high heat.