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You are here: Home / Food Storage / Everything You Need to Know About Butter Powder

Everything You Need to Know About Butter Powder

November 15, 2022 //  by Simple Family Preparedness//  15 Comments

Oils go rancid quickly, especially if stored in heat or light, which can make them difficult to store. Even if stashed in a very cool, dark place, they still only have a shelf life of a few years.

However, switching to butter powder has decreased the amount of oil that I need to keep on hand. While it can’t be used for frying, it works well for baking and as a spread. There is such a wide range of options to do with butter powder.

What Is Butter Powder?

Believe it or not, butter powder is actually made of butter that’s been dehydrated. It contains milk proteins, disodium phosphate, and nonfat milk solids. More importantly, it has a shelf life of a few years, which is what makes it attractive to a lot of bakers.

What’s even more remarkable is that it comes in handy when there’s no electricity. You can take it with you to cook with on camping trips, and some people keep it in case of an emergency. Even if you’re skeptical about using powdered butter, you’ve got to admit there are some pros to using it. And honestly, it doesn’t taste all that bad either!

Things To Consider When Using Butter Powder

1. It isn’t 100% butter, so make sure to adjust!

Powdered butter contains milk to aid in the drying process. I’ve found that when baking with powdered butter, my recipes turn out better when I add more than what the recipe requires. For example, if a fresh ingredient recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of butter, I add a 3/4 cup of butter powder.

2. Add far less water than you think!

For recipes that call for soft butter, I learned that a ratio of 1 cup to powder to 1 tablespoon of water works best. If you add too much water the recipe turns out too wet. So, if a fresh recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, but you want to use powdered butter, add 1 1/2 cups of powder and 1 1/2 tablespoon of water. You might have to adjust the measurements a bit depending on your elevation.

3. You don’t have to hydrate the butter separately.

You don’t have to mix your butter separately to use it in a recipe. Just add the powder and the water at the same time.  For example, in my chocolate chip cookies, I cream my sugar and butter before adding other ingredients. I put the sugar, butter powder, and the exact amount of water in at the same time. The powdered version looks a bit different from fresh butter, but bakes up just fine! There is no need to worry.

If your recipe calls for you to “cut in” your butter, just add the dry powder with the dry ingredients, followed by the appropriate amount of water to the wet ingredients.

4. Expect your recipes to turn out a bit different!

I can’t say that cooking with powdered butter won’t change the end product just a bit. It does alter the end result, but that isn’t always a bad thing! I’ve discovered that it makes my baked goods a bit more airy and fluffy.  Sometimes, that’s a great thing!

Butter powder

5. You cannot fry with powdered butter

Even if you mix it with a bit of oil it will not work, unfortunately. Just try another frying alternative.

6. Powdered butter works great in sauces

Sauces such as alfredo, pudding, creamed soups, gravy, etc. work well with powdered butter.

7. Powdered Butter can be used for a spread

When hydrating powdered butter to use as a spread, I suggest adding tiny bits of water. Whisk the butter until it reaches a consistency that’s slightly wetter than you’d like. Then, put it in the fridge for an hour or two and it will thicken up a bit. If you’re using it to spread on your food, you may want to add a bit of salt to enhance the taste because it has no salt in it. My favorite spread is raspberry honey butter!

Is Butter Powder Healthy?

Your next possible question is probably about the nutrition of dehydrated butter. Is it safe to eat? The answer to your concern is yes. It’s perfectly fine to consume, and it isn’t harmful. I’ve used dehydrated butter so I can vouch for it; give it a try! But as with anything, you should eat it in moderation. You wouldn’t scarf down large amounts of regular butter, and I wouldn’t advise you to do that with the powdered version either. Just take everything in moderation.

Easy Dehydrated Butter Recipes

In case you’re feeling more comfortable with the idea of butter powder, I’ve included a few tasty recipes for you.

1. Apple Crumb Cake with Butter Powder

  • 3 cups of flour
  • 2 tablespoons of baking powder
  • 1 ¾ cup of water
  • 1 ½ cups of sugar
  • 1 cup of apple slices
  • ½ cup of shortening

Put all of the ingredients into a bowl and blend well. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.

  • Topping Ingredients:
  • ⅔ cup of brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of water
  • ½ cup of flour
  • ¾ cup of butter powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a small bowl, stir the toppings with a fork until they get a crumbly consistency. Sprinkle the crumbles on top of the cake and bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes.

2. Firecracker Mac and Cheese with Butter Powder

  • ¼ cup of cheese blend
  • 2 tablespoons of butter powder
  • 1 ½ elbow macaroni
  • 4 ½ instant milk + 1 ½ cups of water
  • ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup of cooked pinto beans
  • ¼ cup of cooked red beans
  • 2 tablespoons of mixed bell peppers
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped onions
  • ¼ cup of sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon of iodized salt
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato Powder
  • 2 tablespoons of Béchamel (Creamy White Sauce)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Chef’s Choice
  • 1 teaspoon of Cholula hot sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of  cumin
  • 1 pinch of  cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons of cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoons of lime juice

Cook the macaroni noodles and then run them under cold water. Set them aside for later. In a skillet, mix all the ingredients except for the cilantro and lime juice. Blend well and bring it to a simmer. Pour in the cooked macaroni and turn the heat on low. Stir until the noodles are completely coated. Add in the cilantro and lime juice and all the sauce to thicken before serving.

3. Chocolate Chip Cookies with Butter Powder

  • 2 ½ cup of white flour (all-purpose and unbleached)
  • 1 tablespoon of baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon of iodized salt
  • ½ cup of butter powder
  • ½ cup of shortening powder
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • ½ cup of cane sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of whole egg powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 12 ounces of chocolate chips
  • ½ cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of water

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Blend all of the dry ingredients together, then pour in the water and vanilla. Mix well. Add in the chocolate chips. Take a spoonful of the batter and place it onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

4. Angel Food Cake Recipe

Here’s another delicious recipe you can make using powdered ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup of cane sugar
  • 1 ½ cup of powdered sugar
  • ⅔ cup of egg white powder + 1 ¼ cup of water
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon of iodized salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Sift flour and powdered sugar in a bowl together and put it aside for later. In another bowl, stir the egg white powder with water and cream of tartar with an electric blender until it’s foamy. Add in the granulated sugar a little bit at a time. Put the blender on high speed and add the vanilla and salt. Keep blending the mixture until it’s stiff and becomes glossy. Make sure it’s mixed well.

Sprinkle the sugar and flour over the meringue and lightly blend it in. Pour the batter into an ungreased cake pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Turn the pan upside down for about two hours before you remove the cake. Top it with your favorite fruit and whipped cream!

Why Choose Dehydrated Foods?

There are more foods on the dehydrated/powdered roster than you might realize; eggs, peanut butter, and milk are just a few. You have the option of buying the store-bought version of dehydrated foods or you can do it yourself. However, if you can’t wrap your mind around why anyone would powder or dehydrate their food, here are a few reasons why:

  1. It Reduces Food Waste

Everyone knows what it’s like to have food spoil in the fridge and it sucks. But with dehydrating, you don’t have to worry about whether you’re buying too many fruits and veggies from the store. Just put your leftover vegetables in your dehydrator and save them for another time. The good news is, it’ll last for up to two years. Plus, you can rehydrate the food. Just add water and put in your soups, pasta dishes, and casseroles.

  1. Create Healthy Snacks

Image going into your fridge to reach for a bag of apple chips instead of a bag of Lays. When you dehydrate your own fruits and veggies, you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. Not to mention it’s perfect for those on a raw vegan diet.

  1. Cost-Effective

I know you’ve been into the high-end, organic supermarkets and were startled when you looked at the price tag. Most all-natural snacks are expensive in the grocery store and you can save more money by making your own. Stock up on your favorite foods when they’re on sale and use them for later!

Suggested Read: Blueberry Powder

Final Thoughts On Butter Powder

If you didn’t know much about butter powder and other dehydrated foods before reading this article, I’m sure you’ve learned a lot. I understand that it’s hard to break away from the traditional foods that we’re all used to, and I’m not suggesting that you give those up. However, it’s always nice to have a variety of options on hand. As you begin to experiment with dehydrated foods, you’ll warm up to the idea of incorporating it into your diet. And more importantly, you’ll want it around in case of an emergency. With that said, do you plan to start using butter powder?

If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments section. Also, please share with us your experience with butter powder and how you use them. We are always super excited to hear from you!

Moreover, you can learn many tips and techniques on how to become a wise and smart prepper. Try browsing our website to discover more tutorials and recommendations that will make you think you might need one. Or maybe you could have a direct interest about Freeze Dried Meat.

Category: Food Storage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Charisse Vigneau

    May 31, 2016 at 11:15 am

    Thank you so very much for the great tips.

    Reply
    • Misty

      June 1, 2016 at 6:55 am

      You are very welcome Charisse!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer

    April 27, 2016 at 7:46 am

    What product do you recommend for a person with a soy allergy?

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 30, 2016 at 7:24 am

      Hi Jennifer! The butter powder I”m talking about in this post does not have soy in it and should be fine! If you are asking just in general about food storage, I’ve found Thrive to be the most careful about allergies. They have separate facilities for various allergens and are very careful. YOu can find a list HERE that shows most of their products and the allergens in each. Very few of their products have soy in them.

      Reply
    • Bobbie

      November 5, 2021 at 2:36 pm

      Once a number 10 can of dehydrated butter powder is opened how long will it lasts and what is the best way to preserve half of the can content of the powder? A number 10 can of it will go a very long way for just my husband and my consumption.

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Debbie

    April 11, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Misty..

    Thank you for the information on the powdered butter, I am learning to use these products in my everyday cooking, as you know we must rotate stock. I am looking for the link or tab in regards to your recipes you mention in the above post but can’t find anything. Can you please advise.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 18, 2016 at 2:07 pm

      Sorry for the delayed response Debbie. I have been in Mexico. I’m not sure where that list went when I re-formatted the post. I will try to add it back in sometime this week. In the meantime, you should be able to see all my recipes that include butter powder here: https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/category/food-storage-recipes/ingredients/butter-powder/

      Reply
  4. Sam

    April 9, 2016 at 12:28 pm

    Nice article, but need to also see some of the recipes you mentioned. Thank you,

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 18, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      Sorry for the delayed response Sam. I have been in Mexico. I’m not sure where that list went when I re-formatted the post. I will try to add it back in sometime this week. In the meantime, you should be able to see all my recipes that include butter powder here: https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/category/food-storage-recipes/ingredients/butter-powder/

      Reply
  5. Yvonne

    April 8, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Above it says: “Powdered butter works great in sauces

    Sauces such as alfredo sauce, pudding, creamed soups, gravy etc. work very well with powdered butter. (see some of the recipes below)”

    But I don’t see the recipes? Can you direct me where to find the recipes?

    Thanks for the info!

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 18, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      Sorry for the delayed response Yvonne. I have been in Mexico. I’m not sure where that list went when I re-formatted the post. I will try to add it back in sometime this week. In the meantime, you should be able to see all my recipes that include butter powder here: https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/category/food-storage-recipes/ingredients/butter-powder/

      Reply
  6. Diane

    April 2, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    Thanks for the info concerning butter powder as I did have questions about using it.

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 4, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      You are very welcome Diane!

      Reply
  7. Jonell

    April 7, 2015 at 11:22 am

    Thank you so much for this information. I’ve used the Thrive butter powder with one recipe to bake with and it came out all wrong. So I went back to using regular butter instead and was going to play around with the powder stuff later. Do you use it with the Thrive cookie dough as well?

    Reply
    • Misty

      April 7, 2015 at 7:36 pm

      I have used it with the Thrive cookie dough, yes! It is different than regular butter, but it works!

      Reply

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