Salted Vs Unsalted Butter: Which Is Better For Mac And Cheese?

There's only one ingredient that sets salted butter apart from unsalted. You guessed it: salt. It's a tiny difference, but enough of a change to raise alarm bells in the brains of chefs of all levels. The biggest question on our minds is this: When are you supposed to use one type of butter over the other? There is a time and a place for each of these ingredients to shine. When it comes to mac and cheese, opting for salted butter is best.

Salted butter is an all-purpose ingredient and versatile addition that's perfect to have on hand when it's time to craft the ultimate mac and cheese. The added salt is for flavor and works as a preserving agent, but it can also elevate the naturally creamy, savory flavors in mac and cheese and bring balance to the dish. Still, there's not that much salt in salted butter, so you'll probably end up wanting to add more to your dish. The amount of salt in each stick varies per brand, but there's usually no more than half a teaspoon per stick, so don't worry about overloading a perfectly cheesy and creamy recipe with too much when using salted butter. 

While salted butter works best for mac and cheese, it's not the end of the world if unsalted butter is all you have in the fridge. Salted butter can enhance the savory notes of this dish, but you can always use unsalted butter and add salt separately. In fact, when it comes to most recipes, salted and unsalted butter can be used interchangeably.

Of course, it is always best to follow recipes as closely as possible to reap the best possible flavor. But if you have salted butter instead of unsalted for a savory recipe, it won't ruin the dish. Unsalted butter is sometimes preferred, because it gives chefs control over the salt content of their meals. Still, since most recipes call for salt, even if just a pinch, using salted butter instead of unsalted likely won't hurt. Just make sure to taste as you go and adjust the ingredients as necessary.

Note that there is an exception to this rule when it comes to desserts. Sweets like soft butter cakes and cookies often have minimal ingredients, and since pure fats like butter are the star of the show, it's best to stick to the script for these recipes so your sweets don't come out salty. Even if that means an extra trip to the grocery store for a package of unsalted butter, it might be worth your time.