mybest
Food and drinks

Recommendation Service

  1. TOP
  2. Food and drinks
  3. 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More
  • 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More 1
  • 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More 2
  • 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More 3
  • 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More 4
  • 10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More 5

10 Best Butters UK 2022 | Waitrose, Yeo Valley and More

Butter is a fridge (or butter-dish) staple – but do you really know what you are looking for? These days we're blessed with options galore, from cows milk butter to goats milk butter and even alternatives such as ghee. Baking is a national pastime in the UK - many of us would like to be able to confidently choose quality butter for buttercream, frosting and cookie making.


So we've compiled a how-to, on picking the best type of butter for your cooking and toast-spreading needs. If it's organic or top-quality ingredients or regionally-made or lactose-free butter that you're after, you are in luck! Plant-based diets are catered for too in our related article on vegan butter choices. We've rated our ten favourite British, Irish and French butter brands on Amazon, Tesco and more including Lurpak and Président – giving you plenty of food for thought! 

Last updated 19/07/2023
mybest Editing Team
Guide
mybest UK
mybest Editing Team

A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.

mybest Editing Team's Profile
…Continue reading

Table of Contents

How to Choose Butter in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Base Your Butter-Type Selection on Your Dietary Needs and What You’re Cooking
  2. Organic, Minimal Ingredients and Higher Welfare - Are Indicators of a Top Quality Product  

① Choose From Salted or Unsalted, Goats Butter, Ghee, Block or Spreadable, Depending on Your Diet and What You’re Cooking

Choose From Salted or Unsalted, Goats Butter, Ghee, Block or Spreadable, Depending on Your Diet and What You’re Cooking

If You Want to Add a Touch of Luxury Opt For Salted Butter, Whereas Unsalted Butter is an All-Rounder for Cooking, Baking and Spreading

Salted butter can be used in a whole range of ways, whether in baking, cooking, in desserts or as a spread. It is simply butter blended with salt, but some can also contain sea salt crystals which give more of a salty bite. Salter butter is best reserved for more decadent recipes that don't prioritise control over salt intake, or simply enjoy it as a treat on bread or toast.

Unsalted butter is the best all-rounder. When used in cooking, baking or part of a sauce, it creates a creaminess and gives you total control over your recipe, letting the natural flavours shine through. Not only does it also work well on sandwiches and on toast, but it's healthier for those on a low-salt diet. Unsalted butter is best stored in the fridge to ensure it stays fresh.

Try Goat’s Butter if You’re Sensitive to Lactose or Looking for a Creamier, Nutritious Alternative

Goats milk has a significantly lower lactose content than cows milk, making goats milk butter more easily digestible. Goats milk contains A2 beta casein, a type of protein that aids digestion and promotes health as well as generally enhancing the absorption of iron and calcium into the body.


Aside from its health benefits, goats milk also has a lower melting point, so it can be easily blended into recipes and spreads well on toast. It's also creamy, delicious and totally natural; goats milk butter isn't mass-produced like regular butter, so it retains its quality and flavour.


If you'd like to try a butter which is completely free from animal products, see our vegan butter suggestions. 

Opt For Ghee if You’re Lactose Intolerant, Cooking at High Temperatures or Follow a High Fat Diet

Used in Indian and Pakistani cultures for thousands of years, ghee has now become popular in other types of cuisine due to its high smoke point and specific health benefits. Ghee is totally free of lactose and casein, so it's a better choice for those with allergies or sensitivities to dairy.


However, it's more concentrated in saturated fat than butter, as its water and milk solids have been removed, so is not suitable for those on a low-fat diet. On the other hand, those following keto or high-fat plans absolutely swear by it! Ghee is more stable for cooking at higher temperatures, whereas butter is better for baking and cooking at lower temperatures due to its creamier taste.


Our selected coconut oils may be of interest to those of you avoiding dairy.

Soft, Spreadable Butter Is Best for Those Who Are Looking for a Convenient, Fuss-Free Option

For busier people, those with kids or anyone who just doesn't like fuss, softer or 'spreadable' butter is an ideal option. Not only is it easier to slice through, but it comes in a tub rather than in a wrapper making it convenient to use and store.


However, it's important to check the list of ingredients to make sure no unwanted fillers have been added in order to create a softer consistency, resulting in more of a margarine-like spread than a butter. Products made with pressed rapeseed oil or a higher percentage of milk will be not only the tastiest, but the healthiest too.


These supermarket hummus options are fuss-free spreads too.

② If You’re After for a Top Quality Product, Go for Organic Butter Made With Just a Few Ingredients From a Farm That Practices Higher Welfare Standards

If You’re After for a Top Quality Product, Go for Organic Butter Made With Just a Few Ingredients From a Farm That Practices Higher Welfare Standards

Essentially, butter only needs to be made from cream or milk and possibly salt. If you're looking for the highest quality option, look for butter made from organic cream or milk, from farms that practice higher welfare standards.


Choosing a butter made from just a few well-chosen ingredients with higher welfare standards or organic status makes a world of difference when compared to your average cheaper butter spread. Once you have tasted quality, you won't want to go back!

Was the Buying Guide helpful?
It was helpful.
It wasn't helpful.

10 Best Butters in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Président

Unsalted Butter

Président  Unsalted Butter 1枚目

French Normandy Butter Churned With the Finest Milk and Cream for a Scrumptiously Creamy Flavour

2

Waitrose

Rich and Creamy Salted Butter From an Organic, High-Welfare Farm

Waitrose  Rich and Creamy Salted Butter From an Organic, High-Welfare Farm 1枚目

Divine Organic Butter Made in the West Country

3

Yeo Valley

Salted Butter

Yeo Valley Salted Butter 1枚目

Organic, Salted and Full of Flavour for All Your Baking and Cooking Needs

4

Sainsbury's

Farmhouse Butter

Sainsbury's  Farmhouse Butter 1枚目

Best for Those Aiming to Live a More Zero-Waste Lifestyle

5

St Helen's Farm

Goats Butter

St Helen's Farm Goats Butter  1枚目

Light and Creamy Goats Butter Made From Fresh Goats Cream and a Pinch of Salt

6

KTC

Pure Butter Ghee

KTC Pure Butter Ghee 1枚目

Long-Lasting, Affordable Ghee, Perfect for Cooking, Baking and Frying

7

Kerrygold

Softer Butter

Kerrygold Softer Butter 1枚目

100% Pure Irish Spreadable Butter With a Smooth, Rich Taste and Texture

8

Lurpak

Spreadable Slightly Salted

Lurpak  Spreadable Slightly Salted 1枚目

A Tasty and Convenient Spreadable Supermarket Staple Made From All-Natural Ingredients

9

Waitrose

French Butter With Sea Salt Crystals

Waitrose  French Butter With Sea Salt Crystals 1枚目

The Luxurious Choice Infused With Sea Salt Crystals for Dinner Parties and Decadent Snacks

10

Tesco

Organic Unsalted Butter

Tesco Organic Unsalted Butter 1枚目

A No-Frills Organic, Unsalted and Affordable British Butter

Product details
Close
If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Président Unsalted Butter

Unsalted Butter Image 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£2.00

French Normandy Butter Churned With the Finest Milk and Cream for a Scrumptiously Creamy Flavour

Our number one pick is one of the greatest food exports from France. You don't get much better than Président butter! This is the unsalted version, which stays fresh for almost a month in the fridge, but there is a slightly salted version available too. Trust us though, they're both utterly scrumptious.


Made in Normandy with only the best milk and cream and with a slightly higher fat content for an unbeatably creamy taste, it is perfect for use in sweet and savoury baking, sauces, or simply slathered on toast or crackers. Bon appétit!

Was this Ranking helpful?
It was helpful.
It wasn't helpful.
No.2

Waitrose Rich and Creamy Salted Butter From an Organic, High-Welfare Farm

Rich and Creamy Salted Butter From an Organic, High-Welfare Farm Image 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£2.00

Divine Organic Butter Made in the West Country

This salted butter from Waitrose's own Duchy label has it all. Made in the UK from the milk of cows who enjoy an organic diet on high welfare farms, it tastes absolutely delicious whilst being one of the cheaper options.


Its only ingredients are organic butter and salt, with the milk sourced from West Country British farms – the way it should be! Rich, creamy and satisfyingly salty, this is a great addition to the weekly shopping list. 

No.3

Organic, Salted and Full of Flavour for All Your Baking and Cooking Needs

Soft and flavoursome with the right amount of salt, this is a brilliant pick for baking, cooking and for spreading on toast or in sandwiches. This creamy salted butter is also made at family farms in Somerset, bringing to mind picnics in the British countryside. 


If you're looking for a good organic staple, made in the UK, Yeo Valley is the brand to rely on. Fairly-priced, widely available online and using milk from free-range cows, it offers premium taste and quality for everyone!

No.4

Sainsbury's Farmhouse Butter

Reference price
£1.80

Best for Those Aiming to Live a More Zero-Waste Lifestyle

This butter is uniquely wrapped in greaseproof paper - meaning that you can compost the wrapping after use, so this is a great buy for those aiming to live a more zero -waste lifestyle.


The whey-cream makes this traditional-looking butter tasty and satisfying, reviewers rave that it tastes like the butter of childhood memories. To top it all off, this butter freezes happily and performs well in bakes and on toast. 

No.5

St Helen's FarmGoats Butter

Reference price
£2.40

Light and Creamy Goats Butter Made From Fresh Goats Cream and a Pinch of Salt

A winner of a Great Taste Award in 2020, St. Helen's Farm Goats Butter is as popular a choice as cows milk butter, and it's not hard to see why. Churned from fresh goat-derived cream, with just a pinch of salt, it's suitable for a cows milk-free diet but whilst providing all of the same deliciousness. 


What makes this goat-milk butter popular is the fact that it tastes creamy without tasting "goaty". Although it is, of course, fresh from the farm, it has a delightful lightness to it. Non-fatty and clean-tasting with the benefits of goat milk – what's not to love?

No.6

KTCPure Butter Ghee

Pure Butter Ghee Image 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£9.99

Long-Lasting, Affordable Ghee, Perfect for Cooking, Baking and Frying

An ingredient used in Ayurvedic Indian cooking - ghee is made from 100% clarified butter, or Geklärter, butter. We had to include it on our list as it is ideal for cooking, baking and shallow frying and can be used as a spread if you fancy trying it.


This pure ghee is a good alternative to using butter as it contains practically no lactose or casein but is extremely tasty and versatile. Also, the cost for a larger kilo container is very reasonable and ghee does not need to be refrigerated, so it's a good long-lasting choice. 

No.7

KerrygoldSofter Butter

Softer Butter Image 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£2.15

100% Pure Irish Spreadable Butter With a Smooth, Rich Taste and Texture

If you want pure butter, but like it a bit more spreadable in an easy-to-use tub, Kerrygold's Softer Butter may be the one for you. Made from cream from the milk of Irish grass-fed cows, it has a rich, smooth taste and texture.


Despite being a breeze to spread straight from the fridge, the only other ingredient is salt and it's free of vegetable oil, preservatives and colourings. Super-creamy, pure and easy to devour, this one may turn you into an Irish butter convert!

No.8

Lurpak Spreadable Slightly Salted

A Tasty and Convenient Spreadable Supermarket Staple Made From All-Natural Ingredients

One of the real stalwarts on our list, you know where you are with Lurpak. Of their many options, we chose the spreadable and slightly salted butter because it is both tasty and super-convenient to use. On that note, it's now available in 500 g and 750 g tubs, for larger households.


Unlike most other similar butter products, Lurpak is spreadable yet made from all-natural ingredients! So it contains no colourings, preservatives or other additives. Blended with pressed rapeseed oil, it is indeed easy to spread but without compromising on taste or health, with a perfect balance of salt, too.

No.9

Waitrose French Butter With Sea Salt Crystals

French Butter With Sea Salt Crystals Image 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£2.00

The Luxurious Choice Infused With Sea Salt Crystals for Dinner Parties and Decadent Snacks

The height of luxury when it comes to butter, we simply had to include this one in our list. Made by Waitrose and sourced from France, this butter is made to a traditional Breton recipe and is blended with salt and crunchy sea salt crystals. Prepare to be transported to the breezy terrace of a French chateau! 


With the quality taste and gorgeous crunch of the sea salt crystals, this butter is not really made to be an all-rounder, instead, it's best saved for a decadent snack or a dinner party. Perhaps it's even too decadent to be used in cooking, but it is perfect to be eaten as it is, piled onto a slice of fresh bread. 

No.10

TescoOrganic Unsalted Butter

Organic Unsalted Butter Image 1
Source:tesco.com
Reference price
£1.85

A No-Frills Organic, Unsalted and Affordable British Butter

Organic, unsalted and made from 100% British milk, this offering from Tesco is pretty no-frills but functional and tasty. This butter is made from the milk of cows free to graze on a grass-rich diet, and at a reassuringly cheap price!


It's always great to find yummy and affordable organic products, and this one works well for all purposes, whether for baking, cooking or spreading. This butter will need to be kept in the fridge, however.

How to Make the Best Buttercream

How to Make the Best Buttercream
The best - smooth and luxurious - buttercream is made from your favourite unsalted and spreadable butter. If you do have to use block butter, remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before the recipe requires it,  measure out and thinly slice what you need and put the remainder of the butter back into the fridge. 

Weigh out the ingredients - don't guess! Use twice as much sieved icing sugar as (soft/softened) butter. Stir the icing sugar gently into the butter at first to avoid clouds of dust then beat vigorously until well combined and lump-free. This will take 2 to 3 minutes, so keep at it. During the beating stage, you can add a dash of good-quality vanilla extract for a deeper flavour experience.

Spread or pipe the buttercream immediately
, whilst it is at room temperature. Keep any spare buttercream (and the iced items) in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days - but you'll devour the treats well before then!

Read Up on All Things Baking From a Food Blogger

Baking can be such a relaxing pastime, as long as you have all the right tools at your disposal! And food blogger Mel has got you covered with her top pick of products for baking sourdough bread or any bread for that matter, from proofing baskets to serrated knives. So all that's left to say is, on your marks, get set... BAKE!

Written and researched by Melanie McPhail

Top 5 Butters

No. 1: Président | Unsalted Butter

No. 2: Waitrose | Rich and Creamy Salted Butter From an Organic, High-Welfare Farm

No. 3: Yeo Valley | Salted Butter

No. 4: Sainsbury's | Farmhouse Butter

No. 5: St Helen's Farm | Goats Butter

View Full Ranking

When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.

Related Articles

Popular articles