Top Unsalted Butter Brands for Culinary Mastery

Unsalted butter is a staple in many kitchens, prized for its pure flavor and versatility in both cooking and baking. With a variety of brands available, choosing the best can greatly enhance your culinary creations. Some brands stand out for their quality, consistency, and the rich, creamy taste they offer. Below, we've compiled a list of the top-rated unsalted butter brands to help you make an informed choice for your next purchase.

Illustration of unsalted butter

Best brands of unsalted butter in 2025

Kerrygold

Kerrygold stands out as one of the best producers of unsalted butter, renowned for its pure Irish grass-fed butter with an 82% butterfat content, exceeding the USDA minimum requirement of 80%. The brand's butter, made from milk rich in naturally occurring beta carotene, boasts a robust, natural golden color and creamy texture. Kerrygold has seen significant growth, including a 137.3% increase in dollar sales in 2022, and it has become the number two butter brand in the USA. The brand's commitment to quality and sustainability, with milk from 14,000 small Irish family farms, has made it a favorite among consumers. Kerrygold's new 1LB Butter Sticks, introduced in 2024, have been hailed as the No. 1 category innovation in the past year. For more information, visit Kerrygold's official website.

Plugrá

Plugra is a renowned brand for its high-quality European-style unsalted butter, made with pasteurized sweet cream and natural flavors, containing 82% butterfat which contributes to its rich and creamy texture. Produced by Dairy Farmers of America, Plugra is Kosher and Halal certified, and rBST free. The slow-churned process reduces moisture content, making it ideal for baking and cooking. Despite mixed reviews on flavor, Plugra is appreciated for its smooth consistency and high fat content. It is packaged in 36/1# wax paper butter wraps and is gluten-free. For more details about Plugra Unsalted Butter, visit their website.

Land O'Lakes

Land O'Lakes is a leading national branded butter producer, renowned for its high-quality unsalted butter that sets the standard for flavor, quality, and performance. In 2024, Land O'Lakes ranked as the second best-refrigerated butter brand in the U.S., with approximately 27.9 million units sold over a 12-week period ending July 14. Their unsalted butter contains 11 grams of total fat and 7 grams of saturated fat per serving, with a guaranteed shelf life of 60 days and a maximum shelf life of 180 days. The company also offers a premium European-style butter with an 82% fat content, available in salted and unsalted varieties. Land O'Lakes products are widely available at major retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, and Safeway.

Organic Valley

Organic Valley is renowned as one of the best producers of unsalted butter, leveraging their commitment to organic farming practices that avoid antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Their unsalted butter is made from 80% butterfat pasteurized organic sweet cream, ensuring a rich and creamy texture. The cows are fed primarily on pasture, resulting in butter that varies in color seasonally due to the natural presence of beta-carotene. This approach reduces exposure to pesticide residues and environmental toxins, making it a safer choice, especially for children. Organic Valley's dedication to organic farming dates back to initiatives like the Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO) program, which began with the 2002 Farm Bill.

Président

President brand is renowned as one of the best producers of unsalted butter, particularly in France where it is the number one butter. Crafted from high-quality cultured creams made from grass-fed cows in the northwestern region of France, known as the "Grand Cru" of European dairy, President Butter offers a distinctive, tangy, and nutty flavor. This butter is made from rBST-free cultured cream and is noted for its excellent plasticity for baking and high smoke point for frying and sauteing. Available in various formats, including portions and pastry butter sheets, President Butter is a preferred choice in both professional and home kitchens. With its rich flavor and high-quality ingredients, it stands out in the global butter market. For more details, visit the official website.

Vermont Creamery

Vermont Creamery is renowned for its high-quality, European-style unsalted butter, crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The butter is made from pasteurized cream that is fermented overnight, resulting in a rich, creamy product with 82% butterfat and distinct notes of buttermilk and hazelnuts. Founded in 1984 by Allison Hooper and Bob Reese, Vermont Creamery has evolved from a small farmstead operation to a network of over twenty family farms across Vermont and Canada. The company is committed to sustainable practices and was awarded B-Corp certification in 2014. Its cultured butter is particularly praised for its use in baked goods and its ability to enhance the flavor of various dishes.

Cabot

Cabot Creamery, a renowned cooperative since 1919, stands out as a premier producer of high-quality dairy products, including unsalted butter. As part of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's leading dairy cooperative, Cabot processes approximately 1 million pounds of milk daily at its Vermont facility, producing award-winning cheeses and dairy products. The cooperative's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility has earned it B Corporation certification. Cabot's products, including its unsalted butter, are favored for their rich flavor and high quality, with the plant producing around 38 to 40 million pounds of cheese annually. The cooperative's innovative approaches, such as using methane gas from manure to power generators, highlight its dedication to environmental stewardship.

Challenge Butter

Challenge Butter, a renowned brand since 1911, is highly regarded for its high-quality unsalted butter, made from just two natural ingredients: 100% real pasteurized sweet cream and no added salt. This unsalted butter, also known as "sweet butter," allows cooks greater control over the flavor and savoriness of their dishes. It is a popular choice for those looking to reduce their sodium intake. Challenge Butter's products are churned daily, ensuring a pure and consistent flavor. With its commitment to natural ingredients and no artificial additives, Challenge Butter remains a staple in many kitchens.

Lurpak

Lurpak, a flagship brand of Arla Foods, is renowned for its high-quality unsalted butter, leading the market with innovative products and strategic adjustments. Despite facing challenges such as a 7.6% volume decline in 2022, Lurpak has introduced smaller pack sizes, like the 200g block butter and a 400g tub of spreadable, to make products more affordable amidst inflationary pressures. The brand's efforts include a PS6 million marketing campaign for Lurpak Lighter Spreadable and a focus on boosting the value of the market rather than increasing volume. Lurpak remains the number one butter brand in the UK, with its parent company, Arla Foods, holding a significant share in the yellow fats sector. The brand's commitment to quality and consumer needs has maintained its strong market presence. For more insights about their market strategy, check out their defensive move.

Kate's Butter

Kate's Butter is renowned for its exceptional quality, particularly in its unsalted butter, which is made from Grade A cream sourced from farm-raised and hormone-free cows in Maine. This butter stands out with its high butterfat content, although the exact percentage is not specified, and is slow-churned using spring-fed water and sea salt, resulting in a rich and airy texture. Kate's unsalted butter has won accolades, including first place at the World Dairy Expo Championship in 2008. It is praised for its creamy and genuine taste, making it ideal for baking, cooking, and everyday use. The brand's commitment to using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods ensures a superior product. For more information, visit Kate's Butter website.