What is a stick of butter?
A stick of butter refers to a specific quantity and shape of butter that is commonly used in recipes and for general cooking purposes. A standard stick of butter in the United States weighs 4 ounces or 1/2 cup and contains 8 tablespoons. The stick is also a convenient, pre-measured shape that is easy to cut portions from.
Butter sticks are typically packaged in long rectangular blocks that are foil-wrapped. When you unwrap a stick of butter, it is shaped like a small brick. The standard dimensions of a single stick are 1/2 cup x 4-5 inches x 1.5 inches.
Sticks of butter can be purchased on their own or in boxes containing multiple sticks, such as 4-packs or 6-packs. Having sticks of butter on hand makes it easy to measure out the exact amount called for in a recipe.
Where does the measurement come from?
The measurement of 1 stick of butter equaling 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup dates back to the early 1900s in the United States. In 1907, the National Association of State Dairy and Food Departments standardized the weight of a stick of butter to be 4 ounces.
Prior to this standardization, the size of a stick of butter could vary. But with the new guidelines in place, now a stick of butter nationwide contained the same 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoon quantity.
This standardization made communicating recipes and measuring butter much more consistent. Now, “1 stick of butter” became a common terminology that both home cooks and bakers understood across recipe sources.
The packaging and shape of butter also became more standardized as butter companies mass produced sticks wrapped in wax paper and then later foil. This made the sticks both easier to work with and easier to accurately cut into tablespoons for recipes.
So in summary, the measurement of a stick of butter was standardized over a hundred years ago for greater consistency, and this standard size has stuck throughout the years.
How is butter measured in recipes?
When you see “1 stick of butter” called for in a recipe, it means you should measure out 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup of butter. Recipes may simply list “1 stick butter” in the ingredients or they may specify “8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter.”
Here are some examples of how you might see it used in recipes:
– Cake recipe calling for “2 sticks butter, softened” = 2 sticks = 16 tablespoons = 1 cup butter
– Cookie recipe lists “1 stick unsalted butter, melted”
– Bread recipe includes “3 tablespoons butter + 1 stick butter, divided”
– Pie crust needs “1 1/2 sticks very cold butter” = 12 tablespoons
As you can see, sticks of butter are very commonly used as the starting point for measuring butter in recipes. From there, you may need to cut the sticks into tablespoons, melt or soften them, etc. But the stick gives you the perfect starting quantity to then adjust as needed.
When would you use fractions of a stick?
Occasionally recipes may call for amounts like “1/2 stick butter” or “1/4 stick butter.” This means you should cut a cold, standard stick of butter lengthwise into halves or quarters accordingly to measure out what you need.
Cutting a whole stick into fractions lets you more precisely measure out the smaller quantities called for in some recipes.
For example:
– 1/4 stick = 2 tablespoons
– 1/3 stick = 2 2/3 tablespoons
– 1/2 stick = 4 tablespoons
Going the other direction, if a recipe called for 6 tablespoons of butter, you could cut off a 3/4 stick instead of trying to cut 6 individual tablespoons.
So again, the stick makes it very easy to visualize, measure, and cut butter into the exact portions needed.
What are some substitutions for 1 stick of butter?
In some cases, you may need or want to use a substitute for a full stick of butter called for in a recipe. Here are some common options:
– 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
– 1/2 cup shortening
– 1/2 cup margarine
– 1/2 cup lard or vegetable lard
The substitution won’t be exactly the same, as butter has a unique flavor and chemical composition, but another solid fat measured to 1/2 cup will provide similar effects in baking and cooking.
You could also potentially use 1/2 cup applesauce or mashed banana as a substitute in baked goods recipes, though this may affect the texture.
For those avoiding dairy, 1/2 cup olive oil or melted coconut oil can be used in place of butter on cooked vegetables, for sautéing, etc.
Just keep in mind that any substitute for a whole stick of butter may change the flavor and texture of the finished dish somewhat. Adjust any accompanying seasonings as needed.
How long does butter last?
When stored properly in the refrigerator, an unopened stick of butter will typically last for 1 to 3 months past the printed sell-by or use-by date on the wrapper. An opened stick will last about 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge.
To help your butter last longer:
– Keep sticks wrapped tightly in their original packaging until you need to use them. This prevents them from absorbing fridge odors.
– Once opened, rewrap sticks tightly in plastic wrap or foil. You can also store the butter in an airtight container.
– When cutting butter from a stick, only unwrap one end and keep the rest well wrapped.
– Store opened sticks of butter towards the back of the fridge, not in the door.
– Don’t let butter sit out on the counter for extended periods, as this accelerates spoilage.
– If butter starts to smell sour or rancid, it’s time to throw it out. Moldy butter also must be discarded.
With proper storage like this, you can enjoy sticks of butter for weeks past the sell-by date. Just be sure to keep an eye out for signs of spoilage.
What are some tips for working with sticks of butter?
Here are some handy tips for working with those ubiquitous sticks of butter:
– Let cold butter warm up slightly before cutting or measuring if it’s rock hard. Cold butter can shatter if you try to cut it.
– When creaming butter and sugar, make sure the butter is softened but still cool. It shouldn’t be melted or overly soft.
– Use a serrated knife to cut neat slices and tablespoons from the butter stick.
– Grease your measuring cups before packing in butter to make it easy to remove.
– Microwave sticks for a few seconds if needed to soften butter for baking or cooking. Just don’t melt it!
– When baking, use room temperature or softened butter unless the recipe specifies melted or solid butter.
– Pound solid butter into flaky pieces with a rolling pin if a recipe calls for cubed butter chunks.
– Portion sticks into servings and freeze for later use. Thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to use.
Sticking with these tips will make your butter very cooperative!
Fun facts about butter
Butter has been a staple ingredient for thousands of years! Here are some interesting facts about everybody’s favorite dairy product:
– Butter’s use in cooking dates all the way back to 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt.
– In the United States, per capita butter consumption peaked in the early 1900s at about 18 pounds per person per year.
– It takes about 12 pounds of whole milk to make just 1 pound of butter.
– Irish butter is renowned for being the best tasting butter in the world due to the lush green grass diet of the cows.
– France famously uses the most butter in their cooking compared to other countries. The average French person eats about 17 pounds of butter per year.
– Clarified butter and ghee have been staple cooking fats in Indian cuisine for centuries.
– Early butter was made by agitating cream in goatskin bags to separate the fats. Today’s butter is made using modern churning and processing methods of course!
– Minnesota produces the most butter of any U.S. state, followed by Wisconsin and California.
So throughout history and across the globe, butter has served as an invaluable cooking ingredient adding flavor and richness. When you use your next stick of butter, think of all the fascinating history behind it!
Conclusion
In summary, when a recipe calls for “1 stick of butter”, this means a standard 4 ounce, 8 tablespoon, 1/2 cup stick. The stick shape makes butter easy to measure, cut, and portion for cooking and baking needs. While substitutions are possible, butter’s unique taste and properties make it irreplaceable for the best results. With proper storage in the fridge and some handy tips, butter sticks can be a cook’s best friend in the kitchen.
