What Is Kerrygold Butter?
Kerrygold isn’t just butter; it’s Irish butter. Yes, there is a difference. Kerrygold, in particular, is made from the milk of grass-fed cows in Ireland and, in this case, the grass is greener on the other side (of the Atlantic ocean). Over half of all the land in Ireland is dedicated to its luscious fields of green grass. Due to the Emerald Isle’s mild and rainy climate, the grass over there is packed with nutrients. Irish cows graze on that nutrient-rich grass all day, every day, making their milk (and butter) high quality and flavorful.
History Of Kerrygold
The Kerrygold brand began in 1962 when The Irish Milk Board (now called Ornua) wanted to establish a premium dairy brand for that promoted the quality of Irish milk. The name “Kerrygold” was chosen, beating out other names like “Leprechaun,” “Tub-O-Gold,” and “Golden Farm.” The brand was launched in the UK, not Ireland, and soon expanded to more markets including the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Asia. It wasn’t until 1973, 11 years after the initial brand launch in the UK when Kerrygold finally went on sale in Ireland. It took another 18 years for Kerrygold to expand into the US market in 1991.
These days, Kerrygold enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. Not only is the best-selling butter brand in Ireland, but it is also the second best selling butter brand in the United States. As of April 2019, Kerrygold reached €1 billion in annual retail sales, becoming Ireland’s most successful food export.
Why Chefs Swear By It
Personally, the way I feel about Kerrygold butter is the same Oprah feels about bread: I LOVE IT. Growing up, the only “butter” we had in the house was margarine because it was the ’90s and fat was still the enemy (yuck). It wasn’t until I traveled to Ireland when I experienced the pure magic of Kerrygold butter. Not to be a butter snob or anything, but I truly believe Kerrygold is superior to the rest. It’s yellower, it’s creamier, and it’s tastier. Plus, because the butter is higher quality, it also has lower water content and high butterfat percentage than non-Irish butter, which make it the best butter for baking. And if my opinion on butter isn’t credible enough for you, then take it from these chefs.
Martha Stewart, queen of all things lifestyle, has been a fan of Kerrygold for years. Not only does she recommend her readers to use Kerrygold versus other butter in her recipes and cookbooks, but the brand has also been a sponsor for her show Martha Bakes.
Caterer and Food Consultant, Anna Gershenson, said Kerrygold “imparts a wonderful flavor to everything, be it toast, cooked grains, enriched doughs, you name it.”
Cookbook author Alison Roman said, “It’s for me to endorse specific ingredients…but if people use Kerrygold – or something like Plugra – that’s a step up. The truth is, it does make a difference when you’re baking to use the best-quality butter.”
Kerrygold Butter Nutrition
Kerrygold butter comes in two varieties: salted and unsalted. There’s not a huge difference between the two except for sodium and butterfat content. Check out the nutritional content and benefits of each to see which one is right for you.
Salted Butter
Ingredients
- Pasteurized cream
- Salt
Nutrition
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 100mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
Unsalted Butter
Ingredients
- Pasteurized cream
Nutrition
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0mg
Where To Purchase Kerrygold Butter
Here’s a list of stores that sell Kerrygold. If you can’t find your favorite grocery store on this list, check out the store locator on Kerrygold USA’s website (this is where you can order Kerrygold online as well). Pro tip: a lot of stores will have it on sale during St. Patrick’s Day, so March is a good time to stock up on these bricks of buttery gold.
- Aldi
- Walmart
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods
- Hy-Vee
- Publix
- Costco
- Target
How To Use Kerrygold Butter
Kerrygold is perfect for pretty much every culinary occasion. Use it however you would normally use butter. You can spread it on some Irish Soda Bread or bake it into your favorite cookies. If you want to make a dish that will really compliment the taste of this rich, Irish butter, Kerrygold is always posting recipes on their Instagram and website. Here the recipes that we thought looked especially delicious!
