How Many Tablespoons Are In A Stick Of Butter?

In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?” Also, we’ll explore what butter is, what the nutritional content of butter is, and what are the health benefits of eating butter.

How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?

There are eight tablespoons in a stick of butter. A butter stick is packaged in ½ presentations, which amounts to roughly 113.4 grams.

A tablespoon amounts to roughly 14.7 milliliters, which is equivalent to about 14.3 grams.

However, using these measurements may be tricky for some of our readers, as the density of foods affects their weight when using units such as cups and tablespoons. To put things simply, it isn’t to scoop a tablespoon of flour, than it is to scoop a tablespoon of honey.

Therefore, for reference, we’re making the distinction that a tablespoon amounts to a mass expressed in grams, and not a volume unit determined by a kitchen utensil.

What is butter?

Butter is a dairy product, obtained from churning (mixing) cream that has risen from whole milk. The exact process requires heating whole milk to 50°C and subjecting it to a centrifuge process.

A centrifuge spins the milk at high speeds inside a chamber, and this separated the milk into phases. The heavier phases will move towards the bottom (proteins, water), whereas the lighter components, such as fats and sugars will move towards the surface.

Once separated, the cream, which is made up of lighter components, can be carefully skimmed from the top and then cooled in refrigeration (not subzero freezing).

The butter can then be separated from buttermilk using a series of separation processes, and it is made by churning it at high speed.

Each brand can from there add salt and render it into commercial presentations, such as half cups (sticks), 1 cup (2 butter sticks), 2 cups (4 butter sticks), etc.

Butter is used in many confections and recipes, such as savory dishes, and pastries, and it can be used as a spread for foods like toast, pancakes, and muffins.

There are plant-based substitutes available, though some may not be as healthy as other types, due to the presence of trans-fatty acids.

What is the nutritional content of butter?

On average, one tablespoon (14 grams) of butter, will supply:

102 calories – of which 100 are sourced from fat
0.1 grams of protein
12 grams of fat (18% of the RDI) – of which 7.3 grams are saturated fat (37% of the RDI), 0.5 grams are trans, 0.4 grams are polyunsaturated fat, and 3 grams are monounsaturated fat
0 grams of carbohydrates
31 milligrams of cholesterol (10% of the recommended daily intake)
91 milligrams of sodium (4% of the RDI)
3.4 milligrams of potassium

Additionally, the same portion will provide 7.1% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A and 0.3% of calcium.

*Recommended daily intake values are calculated using a 2000 calories per day diet as reference.

What are the health benefits of eating butter?

Eating butter in moderation can provide a few select health benefits. Namely, these include being a source of vitamins A, D, E, and calcium.

The vitamin A found in butter can promote ocular health, and reduce the onset of age-related loss of sight.

Vitamin D can help strengthen a person’s bones and reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis, which is a debilitating condition that affects mostly women going through hormonal changes (drops in estrogen). People afflicted with this condition have an increased risk of suffering fractures, which also take time to heal.

Vitamin E has important antioxidant activity, which can help protect a person’s cells from oxidative damage, caused by free radicals. Oxidative damage is associated with chronic inflammation, and the early onset of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and cognitive disorders.

However, butter should be consumed sparingly by those who have been diagnosed, or are at risk of heart disease, as its saturated fat content can have detrimental effects, namely, by accumulating in a person’s arteries.

A diet that is rich in carbohydrates and fat is not recommended, as it can promote heart disease and circulatory disorders. Carbohydrates should be eschewed when combined with butter, due to carbohydrates being sourced for energy, and fatty acids being stored in the liver and not oxidized until there’s a lack of sugars (instant energy).

We encourage our readers to be mindful of their daily caloric intake and to avoid consuming copious amounts of saturated fat.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?” Also, we’ve explored what butter is, what the nutritional content of butter is, and what are the health benefits of eating butter.