Dairy Processing - July/Aug 2024 - 70

BUTTER
luxury
affordable
C
ompanies are working to keep butter's position
as an affordable luxury during a time when
inflationary food prices have consumers shopping
sales and cutting back on expensive items. Butter brands
are engaging with shoppers by explaining the value butter
brings to the table.
Tastewise, an artificial intelligence-powered platform
that helps food brands bring products to market based on
consumer data, reported that social media conversations
about butter increased more than 23% over the past year.
Those conversations are not just about butter being a spread
or baked goods ingredient. They are about butter being a
canvas for culinary innovation.
Still, consumption has slowed since the pandemic. Per
capita consumption in the US peaked at 6.4 lbs in 2021
(breaking the previous year's record of 6.3 lbs), but the US
Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
reported the average American consumed 6.0 lbs in 2022.
One of the trendiest uses for butter is a concept called fat
washing. This technique was pioneered by mixologists and is
now being explored for the development of sauces, drizzles
and other condiments.
" It's a technique that infuses layers of complex flavors
together and helps create a softer, more supple mouthfeel in
otherwise sharp spirits, " said Andrew Hunter, a research and
development chef based in Los Angeles. " It is equally valuable
in the kitchen to infuse condiments with layers of umami-rich
flavors and kokumi 'mouthful-ness.' "
The process involves cooking a solid fat, such as butter,
to the point of browning, with aromatics such as herbs and
spices, according to Hunter. The liquid fat gets blended with
another liquid, such as soy sauce, fruit juice or watered down
vegetable puree. After allowing the two to combine, the
mixture gets drained to remove particulates. Then it's chilled,
causing the fat to rise to the top, now infused with flavor,
while the liquid sinks to the bottom, also infused with flavor.
Both parts may be used for cooking.
As the process is tedious, butter manufacturers are getting
creative with compound butters, many of them sold under
private label. It's all about value.
Walmart introduced Bettergoods butter this year. The 3 oz
clear plastic packs of culinary butter come in five varieties,
black truffle, hot honey, cinnamon honey, garlic parmesan basil
70 JUL-AUG 2024 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Brands aim to show the value
butter brings to the table.
and lemon pepper. The packs retail for $2.56, making them an
affordable little luxury.
" Today's customers expect more from the private brands
they purchase. They want affordable, quality products to
elevate their overall food experience, " said Scott Morris,
senior vice president, private brands, food and consumables,
Walmart. " Bettergoods is more than just a new private brand.
Today's customers expect
more from the private brands they
purchase. They want affordable,
quality products to elevate their
overall food experience. "
Scott Morris, Walmart
It's a commitment to our customers that they can enjoy unique
culinary flavors at the incredible value Walmart delivers. "
Moinear Farmhouse Butter adds value in a different
manner. The product is made in California using a traditional
Irish recipe based on pure whey cream. The company explains
that " during cheesemaking, as the curds and whey are gently
separated, the aromatic cheese flavors begin to develop
as the cheese cultures ferment. Rarely is the whey cream
separated from the whey to begin the skilled small-batch
churning process of hand-making world class whey butter,
traditionally known as 'farmhouse butter' or 'old fashioned
butter.' " It is now " the king of artisanal butters, " with its " mild,
nutty, cheesy and richer, fuller flavor " profile. " Cheese-making
cultures produce the whey butter flavor secrets... Whey
butter is a rare delicacy and our mission is to reintroduce this
exciting long-lost art of whey butter making to the world. " The
butter comes in 8 oz, foil-wrapped blocks, salted or unsalted.
Danish Creamery, Dublin, Calif., now offers European Style
Challenge Butter
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - July/Aug 2024

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