Most Popular Recipes - Salt & Baker (2024)

FAQs

Does unsalted butter really make a difference? ›

Baking recipes typically call for unsalted butter because the amount of salt in salted butter varies depending on the brand – there is no “industry standard.” For example, if you use one brand of salted butter in a recipe, and we use another, our baked goods could end up tasting very different from one other.

Most baking recipes typically use either one of these salts: table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. While all three types will work in most baking recipes, it's best to use the specific one that the recipe recommends. And if the recipe doesn't specify, I recommend using table salt or kosher salt.

The main function of salt in cake recipes is to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. Its presence perks up the depth and complexity of other flavors as the ingredients meld. Salt also provides a balance to the sweetness of cake batters—but a salty flavor should not be discernible.

If you're baking and swapping in salted butter, the excess water from salted butter may make more of an impact. This is because extra water can have an effect on how gluten reacts and forms within dough. Consider slightly lessening any additional water the recipe may call for.

You can use salted butter instead of unsalted butter if that's all you've got — especially if you're making something simple like cookies where the chemistry of adding salt in a specific amount and at a certain time won't have a meaningful impact on the outcome (as it would with yeasted bread).

All of the chefs we interviewed say kosher salt is their preferred variety for any type of savory cooking. It doesn't have additives like iodine (which some people find metallic tasting), instead it has a nice, clean flavor, says Matijevich.

While salt itself has no expiration date, salt products that contain iodine or seasonings that contain other ingredients such as spices, colors and flavors can deteriorate over time.

Unsalted butter is better suited to baked goods like cookies that are sensitive to salt content and rely on butter's creamy flavor profile, helping ensure that you don't end up with an overly-salty baked good.

Using ingredients at the wrong temperature

One of the most common baking mistakes is using ingredients that are either too cold or too hot. Room-temperature ingredients are typically best for baking, so if your recipe calls for butter, eggs, or milk at room temperature, make sure to set them out ahead of time.

What is the number one rule of baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe

Make sure to quickly skim the recipe before you start baking to understand the general flow and key steps. You can even make notes on the recipe or highlight key points to help you along.

The most common baked item is bread but many other types of foods are baked as well.

Salt is one of the most underrated ingredients in baking. Baked goods made without salt will taste flat and boring. Salt enhances and balances flavors, especially sweetness. The proper amount of salt can take a mediocre recipe and make it outstanding.

Unsalted butter gives you complete control of the overall flavor of your recipe. This is especially important in certain baked goods where the pure, sweet cream flavor of butter is key (butter cookies or pound cakes). As it pertains to cooking, unsalted butter lets the real, natural flavor of your foods come through.

A salt box, also referred to as a salt pig or salt cellar, is a storage container for salt that is usually kept near the stove for easy access while cooking. It allows busy cooks to grab the perfect pinch of seasoning while cooking and expertly flavor their dishes.

Of course, unsalted butter is any day better as it might help you to lose weight. According to Dr Tejender Kaur Sarna, Nutritionist and Lifestyle Coach, unsalted butter is better than salted butter as the latter is loaded with salt, which might increase your overall sodium intake when eaten in excess.

But if you're baking, unsalted butter is the best way to go since added salt can alter the chemistry of your recipes, clash with more delicate flavors, or crash into sweetness. But if you only have salted butter on hand, don't completely give up.

Odds are, whatever you're making will probably turn out just fine if you use salted butter, but the risk of getting something a little funky is there – and it isn't when you stick with unsalted and have absolute control over the amount of salt you use.

Unsalted butter has a shorter shelf life of approximately 1 month, and for this reason it is usually a fresher product than salted butter. For baking aficionados, unsalted butter is often the butter of choice. It gives the baker total control over the salt content and resulting flavour of the finished product.