What's so special about Kerry Golds butter?

December 27, 2025 •

3 min read

Kerrygold butter contains at least 82% butterfat, a higher percentage than the 80% minimum required for American butter, resulting in a noticeably richer and creamier texture. This, along with a unique grass-fed diet for its Irish cows, contributes to its special qualities that set it apart in the dairy aisle.

Quick Summary

Kerrygold's special qualities stem from its grass-fed Irish cows and higher butterfat content, which creates a richer flavor, creamier texture, and distinctive golden color.

Key Points

Grass-fed Cows: Kerrygold is made from the milk of grass-fed Irish cows, giving it a rich, distinct flavor from a natural diet.
High Butterfat Content: With a minimum of 82% butterfat, it is richer and creamier than standard 80% American butter.
Golden Color: The cows' natural diet of beta-carotene-rich grass gives the butter its characteristic golden-yellow hue.
Superior Baking Quality: The higher butterfat content creates exceptionally flaky pastries and more delectable baked goods.
Premium Flavor: Its complex, flavorful taste makes it ideal for dishes where the butter is the star, like on toast or in sauces.
No Added Hormones: The milk is sourced from cows not treated with rBST or other growth hormones, ensuring a natural product.

The Secret Behind the Golden Hue: Ireland's Lush Grasslands

At the heart of Kerrygold's distinctive quality are the dairy cows themselves, which graze on the lush, green pastures of Ireland for most of the year. Ireland's temperate climate and abundant rainfall create ideal conditions for growing rich, natural grass, which forms the core of the cows' diet. This natural feeding method is the key to the butter's superior attributes. The beta-carotene from the grass is transferred to the milk and subsequently into the butter, naturally giving it a deeper, more vibrant golden-yellow color compared to paler American butters. This grass-fed diet also infuses the milk with a unique, sweet, and complex flavor profile that is carried through to the finished product.

The Irish Dairy Farming Tradition

Unlike the more intensive farming methods used in some other countries, Kerrygold's dairy comes from a cooperative of small, family-run farms in Ireland. This approach emphasizes a traditional, sustainable system where animal welfare is a priority. During the winter months, when the cows are brought indoors, they are fed silage—fermented grass harvested in the summer—ensuring their grass-based diet continues year-round. This dedication to a natural feeding schedule ensures consistency in the quality and flavor of the milk.

The Technical Advantage: High European Butterfat

Beyond its unique sourcing, a key differentiator for Kerrygold is its butterfat content. Classified as a European-style butter, Kerrygold must contain at least 82% butterfat, compared to the 80% minimum required for butter sold in the United States. This seemingly small difference of two percentage points has a significant impact on the butter's performance and taste. The higher fat content and lower moisture level result in a denser, richer, and more pliable butter.

Impact on Culinary Applications

This high butterfat content makes Kerrygold particularly desirable for certain culinary tasks:

Superior Baking: For recipes where butter is a star ingredient, such as pie crusts, shortbread cookies, and laminated doughs like croissants, the extra butterfat creates an exceptionally flaky, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Sauces and Finishing: The richness of Kerrygold makes it perfect for sauces where butter is a key component. A pat of Kerrygold in mashed potatoes or on fresh bread can elevate the flavor significantly.
Pliable Texture: Its softness straight from the fridge makes it easy to spread on toast or bread without tearing it.

Kerrygold vs. American Butter: A Comparison


Feature	Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter	Standard American Butter
Butterfat Content	At least 82%	Minimum 80%
Water Content	Lower	Higher
Flavor Profile	Rich, creamy, slightly grassy	Milder, less intense
Color	Distinctive golden-yellow	Paler yellow/white
Best For	Toast, sauces, pastries, and baking where butter flavor is prominent	General cooking and everyday use

Is the Higher Price Tag Justified?

While Kerrygold does command a higher price than most conventional American butters, many chefs and home cooks consider it a worthwhile splurge. The premium is a result of the specialized, grass-fed farming methods and the cost of importation. The ultimate value depends on the intended use. For everyday cooking where butter isn't the main flavor, a standard American butter may be sufficient. However, for special occasion baking, enriching sauces, or simply for a flavorful spread on bread, the difference in taste and texture is often worth the extra cost.

Conclusion: The Taste of a Tradition

The specialness of Kerrygold butter is not just one single thing, but a harmonious combination of factors. From the lush Irish pastures where its cows happily graze year-round to the higher European-style butterfat content, every element contributes to a product that is richer, creamier, and more flavorful. It is a premium ingredient that can genuinely improve the taste and texture of your cooking and baking, transforming everyday meals into more memorable culinary experiences. Find out more about Kerrygold's authentic Irish products here.

Note: The outbound link is informational and not an endorsement.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main differences are Kerrygold's higher butterfat content (82% minimum versus 80%) and its source from grass-fed Irish cows, which results in a richer flavor, creamier texture, and a more golden color.

The deeper yellow color is natural and comes from beta-carotene, a compound found in the fresh, green grass that the Irish cows primarily eat.

Kerrygold cows graze outdoors on Ireland's lush pastures for most of the year. During winter, they are fed silage made from grass, ensuring a predominantly grass-based diet year-round.

No, traditional Kerrygold Irish butter is sweet cream butter and is uncultured, meaning no starter cultures are added during production. Some European butters are cultured, but Kerrygold is not.

For applications where butter is the star ingredient, such as spreading on toast or in premium baked goods, many find the richer flavor and texture worth the cost. For simple cooking, a cheaper butter may suffice.

Yes, Kerrygold is excellent for baking, especially for pastries and doughs where a flaky texture is desired. Its high butterfat content contributes to a richer, more tender result.

Yes, Kerrygold is available in both salted and unsalted varieties. The unsalted version is a favorite among many chefs and bakers.

Kerrygold butter is widely available in many major grocery store chains across the US and globally. It can often be found at stores like Costco and Walmart, among others.