Butter: composition, types and features of application
Butter is one of the most sought-after products on our table. A natural product is very valuable for human health. 100% cow butter is rarely found in modern stores. It has extremely useful properties. Only 15-20 g of the product gives a person a third of the daily dose of many vitamins. It contains all the nutrients that are important for a person, which are considered necessary for the quality work of the organs of vision, for proper bone growth, so that both the epidermis and hair become healthier.
What is it and what does it look like?
This product is made from cow's milk. This is a special concentrate of milk fat base (from 78 to 82.5%, if this product is melted, then 99%).
Real butter can only be called a product that is made from cream and has a fat content of 82.5%. All kinds of emulsifiers, added preservatives, as well as flavorings, food colorings and other popular additives are used to replace the natural base in the product, and signal to the consumer that he is choosing not animal oil, but at best just margarine or spread.
If a product has a fat content of less than 82.5%, it will no longer be 100% natural oil, even if it is called that on the packaging.
A product with a fat content of 82% from different companies can vary significantly in terms of density.Often the product is very hard, sometimes too soft. The density here will depend on the MJ - the mass fraction of fat in the product itself. The higher the MZD, the less dense the product will be. In dairy production, this indicator is calculated according to a special formula and must comply with established standards.
Light types of oils are usually much cheaper because they contain trans fats, which are harmful and even sometimes dangerous to humans.
What are they made of?
A quality product is made from first-class cream. They are distinguished by excellent taste and healing properties; they contain a set of fatty acids, vitamins and other useful elements. They have a low melting point - only 32-35 degrees, and a low solidification point - 15-25 degrees.
They contain both proteins and carbohydrates, various mineral components and liquid. The natural product is moderately high in calories (about 73 kcal per 100 g) and will be perfectly absorbed.
The milk component of the product gives a feeling of cheerfulness and energy for a long time. Therefore, bread with a small layer of butter has always been considered the best breakfast. The product significantly strengthens our body.
Composition and fat content
The composition of the product can be from 50 to 150 fatty acid bases. Most of them are saturated, but there are also unsaturated ones. The latter have the ability to remove "harmful" cholesterol from the body, help in the functioning of the organs of vision and the nervous system, and make the mucous membranes healthier.
- Vitamin A (another name is retinol) helps the immune system protect the body from various kinds of harmful microbes and viruses, it is a serious antioxidant. Retinol will help heal various ulcers and erosions of the digestive systems faster.
- Vitamin E helps the production of sex hormones, restores damaged tissues, is also an antioxidant, helps maintain a healthy appearance of the epidermis, hairline.
- Vitamin D participates in metabolism, helps to form tissues of bones and joints, it is also called growth vitamin.
- Vitamin K will affect the level of blood clotting. The fat base of milk will allow the human body to properly absorb calcium - a very important component for the activity of all muscles and the creation of strong bone tissue. The high calorie content makes it one of the most vital elements in the diet of recovering breastfeeding mothers as they require quality energy sources.
You also need to remember about the huge list of mineral compounds: among them you can see sodium and magnesium, zinc, selenium, as well as copper and manganese, iron.
As part of this product, a fifth of each gram is a carbohydrate component, it is expressed in the form of natural saccharides. Experts refer cow butter to quite high-calorie products; in 100 g, 82% will be occupied by fatty bases. Proteins - up to 1 g, cholesterol - about 200 milligrams. There are also omega acids, as well as ash and dietary fiber.
Varieties
According to accepted standards, the product must be produced from cream that has been pasteurized (with or without sourdough) Therefore, we can distinguish the following subspecies of oil:
- sweet creamy (from heat-treated cream);
- sour cream (from cream that is fermented with special ferments and pasteurized at the same time), which will give the product bright flavor notes and a stunning aroma.
Within this classification, the release of a cow's milk product can take place with or without the use of salt, Therefore, you can find such types of oil as:
- salty;
- without salt.
Different oils also differ in the amount of fat in them: delicious "Tea" - 50% by weight, fragrant "Sandwich" - 61%, nutritious "Peasant" - 72.5%, fresh "Amateur" - 80%, excellent "Vologda" - 82.5%, the most natural "Traditional" - 82.5%.
When the product is released, it is allowed to add.
- For the production of fatter types of oils - ordinary salt, dyes, bacterial elements and bacterial concentrates.
- For products with a low level of fat - dyes, special flavors, vitamins, other additives, and in addition, a certain amount of lactic acid bacteria.
Butter with all kinds of flavors is produced only from the best cream, cocoa powder, a little honey, sugar and fragrant vanillin, as well as 100% fruit or berry juice are added to them.
A melted variety is also produced from cow butter - it is melted from milk fat at 75-80 degrees, while it is immediately cleaned of various impurities.
Butter is made in two ways: 30-45% of cream specially prepared for this purpose is churned in special devices - “butter producers”, and cream with a high fat content is converted in special designs - “butter formers”.
Butter is made not only from the milk of cows familiar to us, in many states it is produced from the milk of goats and yaks, horses and sheep, buffaloes and other animals.
Each of the existing varieties of oil will have its own taste, without additional impurities and unfamiliar flavors.
There are special types of oil:
- when it is mixed with vegetable products (sunflower oil);
- when it is defatted (it has little fat);
- when it is recombined (reconstituted from milk powder).
Today in stores you can also see sweet butter and chocolate, a product with herbs, garlic and lactose-free - for people who are lactose intolerant.
How to choose?
On the packaging of the oil, its grade is always indicated. A product familiar to our table will have a fat content of 82.5%. 78% have "Amateur oil", from 72.5% - the incomparable "Peasant". If this level is less than 70%, then it will not be oil, but a combined product.
A 100% natural cream product will not contain vegetable fats. There should be only cream and milk itself. If there is a palm component in the composition, then this is margarine.
A product made from real cream in winter has a bright snow-white color. But the product made in the summer will have a beautiful yellow undertone, which is obtained due to the fact that the cows eat freshly cut grass. Only non-natural additives can give a yellow color to a product in winter.
The cooled product should be as plastic as possible and it should be easy to spread on bread. If it begins to crumble and crumble under the onslaught of a knife, then the product contains not only natural ingredients.
You can find out the quality of the purchased product by the smell. No modern flavoring can create the smell of a truly real creamy product. It has the purest, without various impurities, slightly perceptible creamy aroma. If you can smell the product through the packaging, then the pack will obviously contain an overly flavored cheap fake.
If you buy oil by weight, first carefully examine its cut in the window. Excellent butter will differ from its non-natural counterparts in a dense, dry texture with a sheen. Small drops of moisture may be visible on the product.
Manufacturers often “hide” information about the presence of vegetable fats in the composition with the help of an almost unreadable font.
If you can't read the ingredients of a product, it's best to stop buying it right away. The presence of beautiful prefixes like "extra" or "special" to the name of the oil indicates that you have a combined product.
When buying light butter for sandwiches, study its ingredients. If there is more than 50% milk, then it will be a mixture of dairy and vegetable origin, if less than 50%, then it should be considered more vegetable than milk mixture. You also need to read consumer reviews that they leave online about a particular type of oil.
Subtleties of use
Today, the creamy product is used in many areas.
- In medicine. In this industry, it plays the role of an ingredient that nourishes, softens, and warms. It is found in well-known creams, ointments, drinks, various wound healing compresses. Folk healers treat with this product an impressive number of serious ailments. These are skin problems, as well as interruptions in the work of the stomach, bronchitis and various infections. To make it even more beneficial, oil is often added to milk or honey, diluted with aloe juice, or nuts, berry or fruit juices are added to it.
- In cooking. It is often fried. It is introduced into the dough, constantly found in air creams, delicious desserts and nutritious sauces. It is smeared on bread and it will be perfectly combined with sausage, cheese slice.Oil can make many edible products more palatable.
- In cosmetology. The product is often present in creams, handmade lotions and factory-made products. Masks with this product are able to prolong the youthfulness of the skin, make it softer, help maintain water balance, relieve peeling and minor abrasions. In addition, the product is used in hair care. Using it systematically, you will quickly cope with dry hair, their frequent loss, brittleness, and get rid of dandruff.
daily rate
Oil can be eaten at least every day, but only in an amount that will not exceed 10 g for children under 7 years old, and 15-30 g for adults and adolescents.
The best option is to spread butter on bread, because in this form the product will be better absorbed. If you love sandwiches, you can put cheese or sausage on top of the butter.
To make traditional dishes more nutritious, oil is also included in their composition. They are often seasoned with vegetable or fruit salads.
Experienced experts recommend using this product for those who have an ulcer or gastritis has begun to appear. With these diseases, it is mandatory to take 20 g of butter per day.
During an exacerbation of diseases and with beriberi, the oil will strengthen children's immunity. In this case, it should not be consumed more than 30 g per day.
At what age can children be given?
This versatile product can be included in the diet of children. Butter is called by many pediatricians an excellent source of energy for children from the age of one.
Daily intake of this product will improve the performance of the digestive tract, thanks to it the speed of all metabolic processes will be improved. The oil will allow the nervous system and brain tissues to form qualitatively.
From a very early age, babies need to eat natural oil little by little, because it protects the body that has not yet grown strong from various kinds of diseases. This product has a great effect on the intellectual level of development of babies, with its help, vision is strengthened.
The benefits of oil are achieved due to the presence of many vitamins and mineral elements in the composition. These components help the child's body to develop properly.
During pregnancy
The benefits of cow butter for women are obvious. This benefit comes from:
- cholesterol. It helps to maintain the balance of female hormones at the right level, but its lack will lead to the disappearance of menstruation and infertility.
- folic acid. It helps to improve the appearance of the epidermis, hair and nails.
- lipids. Fats that accumulate in the cells will help protect the skin from wind or frost.
- calcium. Its presence is important for pregnant women and for women during breastfeeding.
For diabetes
Fatty oil is extremely useful for gout, but you can eat it in strictly defined quantities.
Many types of product for diabetes are often consumed not only recommended, but also necessary. The human body cannot do without fats. These components are considered vital and, in many cases, irreplaceable. Vegetable oil, like butter, will not increase blood sugar levels. Fats together with proteins will give a feeling of fullness, which will last for a long time after eating.
Those who are allergic to cow's milk should be very careful when including natural butter in their diet, and those who have a very severe allergy to milk, it is better to completely abandon this product. You can successfully replace it with vegetable oils.
For information on how to check the quality of butter, see the video below.