Butter is one of the most highly concentrated forms of fluid milk. Twenty litres of whole milk are needed to produce one kilogram of butter. This process leaves approximately 18 litres of skim milk and buttermilk, which at one time were disposed of as animal feed or waste. Today the skim portion has greatly increased in value and is fully utilized in other products.
Commercial butter is 8082 percent milk fat, 1617 percent water, and 12 percent milk solids other than fat (sometimes referred to as curd). It may contain salt , added directly to the butter in concentrations of 1 to 2 percent. Unsalted butter is often referred to as sweet butter. This should not be confused with sweet cream butter, which may or may not be salted. Reduced-fat, or light, butter usually contains about 40 percent milk fat. Butter also contains protein, calcium and phosphorous (about 1.2%) and fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E.
Although there are over 120 different compounds that contribute to butters unique flavor, the five primary factors responsible for butters flavor include: fatty acids, lactones, methyl ketones, diacetyl and dimethyl sulfide. Read more about the composition.
Chemically butter fat consists essentially of a mixture of triglycerides, particularly those derived from fatty acids, such as palmitic, oleic, myristic, and stearic acids. The fatty acid composition of butter fat varies according to the producing animal's diet. A measure of the amount of these acids, the Reichert-Meissl, or Reichert-Wollny, number is important in the analysis of butter fat.
