A lot of people toss butter into their shopping basket without a second thought, but in a world with gourmet spreads, the right butter can make every slice of toast, each croissant, and seared steak a thouands times more delicous.
Other butters, however, despite their price tags, are little more than just bland fat. Let’s take a look at nine gourmet butters that are totally worth the price, and nine butters that you should avoid buying.
1. Kerrygold Irish Butter
Kerrygold is a familiar name at this point. It is from lush Irish pastures and has a tangy depth that comes through in every bite. It is super creamy, which means that it spreads like silk, whether it is melted over vegetables or baked into shortbread.
Chefs praise this butter for its grass-fed source. It isn’t just hype; this butter is a standout example of how simple dairy can reach near‑luxury status.
2. Maison Bordier Butter
Maison Bordie Butter is more than just butter; it’s an art form. This French butter is churned more slowly than usual for a better texture and hand‑kneaded for flavor depth. It is a revelation for bread lovers.
Whether it has been salted with sea crystals or flavored with yuzu, it melts with an elegance that industrial brands can’t touch. Yes, it is expensive, but it is worth the price.
3. Beurre d’Isigny
From Normandy’s famed cream-rich dairy, Beurre d’Isigny is known for its golden-yellow color and delicate hazelnut flavor.
With its high butterfat content and satisfying crunch of coarse sea salt, it transforms everything from baguettes to roasted veggies into a luxurious bite. It is a longtime favorite in France and is perfect for serving to guests.
4. Plugrà European Style Butter
Plugrà was designed to match Europe’s high butterfat standard of 82%. This amazing product gives Americans access to pastry‑friendly textures without having to rely on imports.
Named after the French phrase “plus gras,” meaning “more fat,” Plugrà is a nod to the science, showing why some recipes truly demand the richness of European-style butter.
5. Vital Farms Butter
Produced from cows that roam open pastures and feed on grass, Vital Farms’ butter sets the standard for ethical dairy.
Its rich, complex flavor, with hints of herbs and nuts, rewards those who value quality and humane farming. Choosing this butter means supporting a food system where ethics and exceptional taste go hand in hand.
6. Kate’s Salted Butter
Kate’s Butter is made in small Maine batches and is proof that sometimes the underdog can truly be the best. This butter is a favorite among bakers and cooks because of its perfect salt balance and lush creaminess.
While it is not as famous as bigger brands, it is consistently ranked as a favorite in home baking tests.
7. European Butter (Generic, e.g., Président, Échiré)
While often lumped together on store shelves, many butters from Europe share a richness that isn’t common in standard American sticks. They have stricter dairy regulations and often contain 82 to 86% butterfat, resulting in mouthwatering puff pastry and sauces.
While some might argue that these butters are overpriced, others know that they’re well worth every penny.
8. Westgold Grass-Fed Butter (New Zealand)
Westgold is churned from the milk of free-roaming New Zealand cows, carrying a sweet cream undertone and a hint of meadow freshness.
Thanks to its old-fashioned Fritz method churning, it is super spreadable, turning each slice of morning toast into a simple luxury.
9. Cultured Compound Butters (Homemade)
Compound butters are the pinnacle of customization, allowing you to work artistry into dairy. Imagine miso-lemon melting on grilled fish, or cinnamon-honey draped over pancakes.
Homemade batches of this butter are super fresh, producing something even premium store brands can’t replicate.
Waxy Disappointments
However, for every delicious masterpiece, there is a pale, waxy disappointment that is just sitting on store shelves, waiting to fool your taste buds. While some butters might look inviting, they often lack depth.
Some are bulked out with oils and additives, ruining both health and flavor. Let’s take a look at nine butters that are not worth the price.
1. Good & Gather (Target Brand)
While Good & Gather’s butter is cheap, it is sure to disappoint in every textural test. It is super salty, a little chalky, and weirdly greasy. On top of that, it fails to deliver that clean buttery melt.
This is definitely not a butter you want to spread all over freshly baked bread. While it might be cheaper than many other butters, it certainly isn’t worth it.
2. Kroger Spreadable Butter with Olive Oil and Sea Salt
This butter is marketed as a convenience, but it sacrifices flavor for softness. It is super pale, and its texture is way closer to margarine than real cream.
While the olive oil is supposed to bring richness, it actually just adds a weird aftertaste.
3. Imperial Vegetable Oil Spread
Don’t be fooled by Imperial’s bright packaging. This butter is nothing but an oil blend in disguise. It fails in baking, often separating into unappetizing layers.
When spread on toast, it offers a limp, oily smear instead of the satisfying cool melt of dairy. While it has been a household name for a long time, it survives on nostalgia rather than real taste quality.
4. Stork Butter Spread (Siqalo Foods)
Branding has convinced many buyers that Stork is butter, but legal rulings have revealed that it is actually a modified vegetable spread.
This technical truth explains this product’s lack of complexity and why it often fails in recipes that require real milk solids.
5. Earth Balance Buttery Spread
This spread is very popular with the dairy-free crowd, but it leans heavily on palm and soybean oils. With recent changes to its formula, many are complaining about its waxy textures and muted flavors.
While it suits some dietary needs, it is no match when compared to real butter.
6. Land O’ Lakes Vegetable Oil Blend
Despite Land O’ Lakes Vegetable Oil Blend’s iconic logo, it is not pure butter. Instead, it is a blend that is full of oils and preservatives. Its richness is diluted, leaving baked goods lackluster.
Add prior brand controversies over ethics, and it’s hardly an inspiring choice.
7. Smart Balance
While Smart Balance aims to be a “healthier” spread, it certainly fails both in baking science and taste. Many people describe it as water-heavy, cliaming that it seperates in batters and is incapable of producing authentic butter flavor.
While it’s probably fine for a quick grilled cheese, it can’t deliver the depth needed for flaky crusts or creamy sauces.
8. Tillamook “Extra Creamy” (US)
Despite promising extra creaminess, Tillamook’s “Extra Creamy” contains “butter flavoring”, which is an instant warning sign for purists. It tastes quite artificial, especially compared to true cream-churned varieties.
In side-by-side tests with authentic European-style butters, this butter’s texture and depth fall flat.
9. Texas Roadhouse “Honey Cinnamon Butter” (Take-home version)
While the restaurant’s warm rolls make the Honey Cinnamon Butter legendary, apparently, the take-home tub is super disappointing. It is way more oily than buttery, with palm oil additives that dull the fresh dairy magic.
The sweetness overpowers subtlety, leaving it tasting more like a dessert topping than a versatile spread.