Butter is a kitchen staple that elevates even the simplest dishes, from slathering on toast to melting over a jacket potato or baking homemade treats. With butter prices rising by around 19% in the past year, it pays to know which brands deliver on taste and quality. Once demonised for its saturated fat content, butter has made a comeback as a food that can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Sales of Waitrose Essentials salted butter, for instance, have jumped 16% year on year, while flavoured butters have seen a 24% sales increase in the UK over the past 12 months.
This guide focuses on salted butter, though food writer Emma Henderson notes that Nigella Lawson prefers unsalted, spreading it in two layers and finishing with sea salt flakes. After extensive tasting on multiseed bread, Henderson has rounded up the most delicious options available in UK supermarkets.
Best Supermarket Butter Overall
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference West Country Farmhouse Butter – This bright yellow butter from Somerset uses Maldon sea salt flakes and undergoes a slower churning process, resulting in a creamy, rich texture with a savoury tang. It's an indulgent choice for toast.
Best Creamy Supermarket Butter
Kerrygold Pure Irish Salted Butter – Made from milk of grass-fed cows on lush Irish pastures, this butter offers a velvety, creamy texture without being greasy. It's subtly salted and highly morish, though the block is slightly smaller than most at 200g.
Best Locally-Produced Butter
Trewithen Salted Butter – A Cornish newcomer available in Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Morrisons, this butter has a bright yellow colour and a rich, tangy flavour. It punches above its price tag, often reduced, making it an excellent everyday option.
Best Spreadable Supermarket Butter
Anchor Salted Butter – Double churned for creaminess, this farmer-owned butter is easy to spread and subtly salted. It has a slight greasiness but remains a reliable, affordable choice.
Best Ethical Supermarket Butter
Yeo Valley Organic Salted Butter – Organic and produced with high animal welfare standards and renewable energy, this Somerset butter is creamy, well salted, and has a great yellow hue. It's a good buy at just over £3 for 200g.
Best Everyday Supermarket Butter
Sainsbury's British Butter – At £2 for 250g, this is the cheapest on the list. It's mild and pale, making it a versatile option for everyday use, especially for households that go through butter quickly.
Best French Supermarket Butter
Waitrose No.1 French Butter with Sea Salt Crystals – Made following a traditional Breton recipe, this butter has a higher butterfat content, giving it a rich, tangy flavour. The sea salt crystals add a delightful crunch, perfect for crusty bread.
Best Subtly Salted Supermarket Butter
Waitrose Duchy Organic English Salted Butter – Organic and supporting Duchy causes, this butter is very lightly salted and balanced. It's the most expensive at £4, but the Duchy connection adds value.
Best Slightly Salted Organic Supermarket Butter
Sainsbury's Slightly Salted So Organic Butter – Soil Association certified organic, this butter has a delicate saltiness and a mild, slightly sweet flavour. It's creamy and made from milk of high-welfare British cows.
Best Cheap Supermarket Butter
M&S British Salted Butter – At £2, this is an affordable option from M&S. It's lightly salted, balanced, and creamy, ideal for everyday toast.
Best Butter with Chunky Salt
Tesco Finest Butter with Sea Salt Crystals – This West Country butter features chunky salt crystals that provide a pleasant zing. It's nicely balanced and costs under £3.
Best Luxurious Supermarket Butter
M&S Cornish Gold Butter with Sea Salt – Produced by Rodda's, makers of Cornwall's famous clotted cream, this butter is traditionally churned in small batches and includes Cornish sea salt. It's ultra creamy and indulgent, with a bright yellow colour.
Best Jersey Supermarket Butter
M&S Salted Jersey Butter – Made on the island of Jersey, this butter is well salted but balanced, with a complex flavour and slight tang. It's perfect for slow weekend breakfasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best supermarket butter?
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Farmhouse butter is the top pick for its creamy texture, Maldon sea salt, and slow churning process. For a budget option, M&S British salted butter at £2 is excellent. For luxury, Waitrose No.1 French butter with sea salt crystals stands out.
How were the butters tested?
Emma Henderson tested 16 salted butters over several days, spreading them on multiseed bread. She evaluated taste, creaminess, texture, and value, considering factors like salt level, butterfat content, and production methods.
