Irish butter (Kerrygold is a popular brand) has a higher fat content than traditional American butter. It typically contains 82% butterfat compared to 80% in standard American brands.
This extra 2% might seem small but can make a big difference when it comes to flavor and texture. It also helps give Irish butter its signature yellow tint courtesy of beta carotene from the grass-fed cows it’s made from.
It’s Grass-Fed
Irish butter is made with high-quality cream from grass-fed cows and slow churned for a smooth finish. It’s available in salted and unsalted varieties. You can eat it on its own or use it to bake.
Grass-fed butter has a higher fat content than American butter and is richer in taste and texture. It also contains more conjugated lineoleic acid (CLA), which is thought to help fight heart disease and promote wellness.
Grass-fed butter also contains butyric acid, which helps the body burn fat more efficiently. Plus, it’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants. But beware: Kerrygold butter has lost popularity in the healthy food community in recent years because it was discovered that their butter isn’t 100% grass-fed. They have since changed their labelling to be more transparent. But there are many other brands that are. Choose those, instead! You’ll get better value for your money.
It’s Yellow
With so many different options in grocery stores these days, it can be hard to know which butter to buy. But there’s one that stands out from the rest, and it’s gaining in popularity among professional chefs and average consumers alike: Irish butter.
The creamy dairy product is defined by its distinctly yellow hue, which comes from the beta carotene in Ireland’s grass-fed cows. But the differences between this variety and other European butters go beyond just butterfat.
Kerrygold, the brand that’s most popular in the US, was established in 1962. The beloved butter is sold in 8-ounce blocks in the dairy section of most grocery stores, and it’s available unsalted or salted.
The butter’s higher butterfat content results in a richer, creamier, and more flavorful addition to any recipe, according to Real Simple. It’s also a good choice for baking because it has a lower water content than traditional butter. That means your baked goods will stay moist and fluffy longer.
It’s Creamy
Irish butter has a higher fat content than standard American butter (around 82 percent versus 80) and is creamier and more spreadable. The difference is a result of the churning process that transforms liquid cream into whipped cream and then finally butter.
As the cream churns, it forms butterfat and milk curds—like those that form when you overwhip whipped cream. The more the cream is churned, the more butterfat it develops and the thicker and more creamy the final product will be.
Kerrygold butter, one of the most well-known brands of Irish butter, contains 82% butterfat for an uber-creamy and flavorful product. It also has a golden yellow hue from the grass-fed cows the butter comes from. Grass-fed butter tends to have a better nutritional profile than regular butter as well, according to Everyday Health. This may include more omega-3 fatty acids, and less saturated fat than regular butter. These benefits could be thanks to the healthier feed that grass-fed cows are given.
It’s Rich
Compared to American butter, which has more water and less fat, Irish butter is richer and creamier. This higher butterfat content makes it easier to spread and bake with.
Grass-fed butter also has more heart-healthy omega-3 fats than conventional butter, which helps to keep your arteries unclogged, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). It can even boost your mood and lower cholesterol levels.
Although Irish butter has a shorter shelf life than regular butter, it will last longer at room temperature, which is ideal for baking and spreading on toast or biscuits. It’s recommended that you store Kerrygold USA butter in the fridge to ensure it stays fresh, but it’s also fine to leave it out at room temp if you’re storing it in a sealed, air- and moisture-proof container. You can also freeze Irish butter to extend its shelf life.