Butterfat

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Butterfat (Milkfat)[edit | edit source]

Butterfat, commonly known as milkfat, is the fatty portion of milk. Depending on its concentration in dairy products, the fat content determines the categorization of products such as milk, cream, and cheeses. The sale of milk and cream often revolves around the butterfat content they possess.

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Triglyceride Dairy Butter

Composition[edit | edit source]

Butterfat is primarily comprised of various fatty acids. The composition, in terms of mass fraction, typically resembles the following breakdown:

Butter

Saturated Fatty Acids[edit | edit source]

Unsaturated Fatty Acids[edit | edit source]

Fatty Acids and Triglycerides[edit | edit source]

The fats in milk are usually addressed in terms of the individual fatty acids. However, in milk and most foods, fatty acids don't exist on their own. They are incorporated into molecules known as triglycerides.

Butterfat itself is a triglyceride, a type of fat derived from fatty acids such as myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids.

U.S. Standards[edit | edit source]

The United States has established federal standards concerning the butterfat content for various dairy products. Many commercial dairy products usually contain the minimum fat content as dictated by these standards.

Milks[edit | edit source]

  • Skim milk: Contains less than 0.5% fat, typically at 0.1%
  • Lowfat milk: Fat content between 0.5–2%. The 1% and 2% fat varieties are common.
  • Whole milk: Contains a minimum of 3.25% fat

Cheeses[edit | edit source]

Frozen Desserts[edit | edit source]

  • Sherbet: Contains 1–2% fat
  • Lowfat ice cream or ice milk: No more than 2.6% fat
  • Ice cream: At least 10% fat
  • Frozen custard: Contains at least 10% fat and a minimum of 1.4% egg yolk solids

Creams[edit | edit source]

  • Half and half: Fat content between 10.5–18%
  • Light cream and sour cream: Contains 18–30% fat
  • Light whipping cream (often referred to as "whipping cream"): Contains 30–36% fat
  • Heavy cream: Contains at least 36% fat
  • Manufacturer's cream: Contains 40% fat (Note: This is not regulated at the federal level)
  • Butter, including whipped butter: Contains a minimum of 80% fat

See Also[edit | edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD