So what's the deal with butter? When should you use salted butter v unsalted butter and why?
Salted butter vs. unsalted butter. Butter is available both with and without salt. The salt is added for extra flavor and to help preserve it so it has a longer shelf life. The problem is that sometimes the salt in butter can be more than a recipe needs. Choosing unsalted butter gives you more control over how much salt your dish contains. If you only have salted butter, the best thing to do is omit approximately ¼ teaspoon of salt per ½ cup (one stick) of butter used in the recipe.
And if you're wondering whether or not you can leave butter out on the counter, well the answer is yes , as long as it is covered. Butter can be left out for days or even weeks without it becoming a safety issues. If the butter is salted it can stay out even longer . Click here for more info on butter shelf life
