Are you aware butter is different from margarine? For sure those are different words but when you see the product displayed on a shelf would you know the difference? How would you feel if you asked a store owner for butter but they give you margarine instead? 😅
The other day I made a mistake of buying butter for the second time in a different sari-sari (neighborhood sundry) store in our area. I needed it to make some pancakes. The first time I bought one was for cooking as well. On both occasions I mentioned I was buying butter. 🤦♀️ Two different sellers gave me margarine instead. Makes one have trust issues eh? 😂
Since this was the second time it happened, it made me wonder why the sellers thought it was butter. I mean seriously, the label says it's margarine!
It's not really a big deal but imagine the disappointment of getting something else from what you needed. No I couldn't return both because for the first incident I only found out it was margarine when I cut it. Butter would usually melt easily and the texture when sliced is definitely different. When I noticed it, that's the only time I thought of checking the label. Ugh.
♦ The Situation Was the Same the Second Time Around
On Saturday I went to another store and asked for some butter. She said she has Dari Creme. Since I know that's not butter, I asked for another one. Well she said there's another brand but it was a bigger bar. I told her I just needed a smaller size. Out of the goodness of her heart (perhaps) she volunteered to cut it in half for me. The owner/saleslady said it was okay if she cut it so I just let her.
Her husband gave me the half then I paid for everything I bought then went home. I would have put it inside the refrigerator immediately but something bugged me. When I opened the bag and checked it, behold, it says margarine on the label. Oh my gosh, really? 😣🤦♀️
And then I thought, what, is this like a Colgate/toothpaste or Pampers/diaper thing? This is a common thing in our country where when people buy from sari-sari stores some people say Colgate even if buying a Close Up toothpaste. For example: "Pabili po ng colgate, yung Close Up," (I'd like to buy some colgate, the Close Up one) or they would say Pampers even if buying a different diaper brand. Egads.
Out of the disappointment I decided to post this situation in one of the social media cooking group I joined. Actually I just joined it to specifically share what happened for everyone to be aware. I also posted it in a "complainer" group (😂) just to see how people would react to it and if it is a common complaint/experience.
♦ What I Learned About Butter and Margarine
When I was a kid, we used to eat margarine mixed with only two kinds of food. It is used in sinangag (stir-fried leftover rice) and as a sweet spread (palaman) for bread when mixed with some sugar.
Obviously I don't cook much, nor am I a frequent butter or margarine buyer. Since I was young the only margarine I knew was Star Margarine. Apparently there are already more than one brand of this spread.
The reason I don't prefer it is because there was some talk years ago about it being bad for the health. My sibling even said it is actually closer to eating plastic. Oh I wouldn't want to consume any of that. Since then I have not eaten any margarine at all, ever.
Those were the days when the internet was still in it's infancy. I have not checked on that fact until the other day. Apparently if you do a quick search online you will find out that both butter and margarine are not healthy for us. Especially when both are consumed frequently, it can cause heart problems.
These days margarine are supposedly much improved as compared to back then. Well if that's the case then maybe it's fine. However I still prefer butter over that one. I rarely cook anything with both but when I do it somehow butter always makes food taste and smell better.
♦ How to Know If It's Butter or Margarine
If you're like me and not really into cooking or buying both then here's some helpful information for you. Let me just share the most useful details out of the 117 comments my social media post got. It is in a private group so I won't share the link hehe.
Here's the best way to know if you're buying butter or margarine:
Butter is mostly packed in foil, margarine in paper.
If it costs less than P100 ($2), it is margarine.
Butter brands are Queensland, Anchor, Magnolia and Lurpak.
Margarine brands are Dari Creme, Buttercup, Golden Crown, Baker's Best.
Aside from the details above, be aware that sari-sari stores rarely sell butter because it is considered expensive. I didn't know that but most people commented such to me. Well it's really good if people are into cooking huh? Sad life for us who aren't regular butter or margarine buyers. Tsk tsk. Why did I even post it in a cooking group eh? 😂
Other things to know or what you should check on the label:
Butter is made from milk, (modern) margarine is made from vegetable oil.
Margarine can be used as a substitute to butter but the outcome of the baked goods, etc., will not be the same.
Butter compound is a mix of butter and margarine so it is another thing altogether. Example is Oleo Butter Blend.
There you have it! I hope you also learned something new from me today.
Please remember butter is not margarine and vice versa. Always read the label and even the ingredients to be sure. If you like the latter than the former that's okay. Nothing wrong with that. We all have our own preferences. Hehe.
I'm just sharing my thoughts and other facts about it here for all who care to know the difference. 😉 Do you know people who think both are the same when it's not? Feel free to share this to others. Hehe.
XOXO,
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Lead image via Unsplash.
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It really depends what you need it for. When I use butter for cooking (saute especially), I am okay with margarine instead. But there are just dishes that need the taste of butter to enhance flavor. And like you discovered, sari-sari stores do not carry butter because it is quite expensive, and honestly, Pinoys don't care. If you want to buy cheaper butter go to baking specialty stores, they have them at half price usually. That's for cooking. But if you want butter as spread, you will need the high-end brands.