Most people get confused about the difference between butter and margarine, and this can be even more confusing when a brand is not particularly clear about what it is offering. In the case of the Imperial brand, however, you are buying margarine, not butter. Naturally, there is a notable difference between the two.
The primary difference between the two is that butter contains thick cream, thus making it a dairy product. Margarine, on the other hand, is comprised mostly of vegetable oils. While they are similar in appearance and use in some cases, they have greatly differing nutritional values since their ingredients are so different.
An easy analogy to think of is dairy milk versus milk alternatives, like soy. They look very similar and are even consumed in the same way, but they are very different and offer very different nutritional values. Now, let’s talk in more detail about Imperial margarine and how it differs from butter specifically.
A Misleading Name
Depending on where you are in the world, Imperial products may present themselves differently. In some places, they are outright identified as margarine, leaving little to the imagination on that front. But in other places, Imperial products may instead be described as “vegetable oil spread.” This is often the case in the United States.
The different naming convention has thrown some people off, but Imperial products are still margarine. That said, considering that margarine is mostly comprised of vegetable oil, it’s not that far off to call it a vegetable oil spread. Just know that they are one and the same if you see them in a store.
What Separates Margarine From Butter?
As mentioned previously, the big difference between butter and margarine is what they are made out of. Butter is a natural product derived from animal milk, most commonly cows, though it can be derived from goats, sheep, and other animals as well. Milk cream is churned into a product that contains 80% butterfat or more at room temperature.
This all means that butter is quite high in saturated fat and cholesterol. These health concerns are usually what lead people to consider margarine as an alternative since it fills a similar role without the same drawbacks.
Margarine can be made from many different types of vegetable oil, including palm and soybean oil. It has a lot of unsaturated fat, which actually helps lower cholesterol. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as margarine includes a lot of poly saturated fats too, and it still has salt, artificial coloring, and other preservatives added to it in most cases.
Margarine is also scientifically modified to be different consistencies since vegetable oil would normally be liquid at room temperature. The process is called hydrogenation and allows for margarine to come in many forms, including liquid, soft, and hard margarine. Don’t worry, hydrogenation doesn’t make margarine bad for you in any way.
Does Margarine Taste Like Butter?
The point of most alternatives is to sufficiently replace the original, but as with most alternatives, despite superficial appearances, margarine and butter don’t really taste that similar. The fact of the matter is, that saturated fat tastes good, even if it isn’t that healthy for us. These saturated fats are what provide butter with a rich and creamy flavor.
Margarine lacks that saturated fat, which does make it healthier. But at the same time, it doesn’t taste much like butter at all. It will either have a subtle flavor or taste like whatever artificial flavoring has been added to the margarine. But of course, the flavor is often sacrificed for health, and this is no exception.
On the bright side, if you are looking to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, margarine could be acceptable for you. That said, you will need to carefully read all of the ingredients in whichever brand you are buying to ensure that you are not consuming any products that you would prefer not to.
Ultimately, Imperial is a brand that sells margarine. And while it seems very similar to butter on the surface, it is actually very different.
