Spray butters have always been a mystery to me.
Do they have calories or not? Does using spray butter really help save calories? And, what are the actual ingredients in these diet products? They even have spray dressings at the supermarket now.
I have researched all the brands of spray butters and will share with you my findings.The actual idea of a spray butter or spray condiment is great because hopefully it will help us use less of the product. However, when we have to use twenty or more sprays just to get some flavor out the product, you have to start to wonder if the calories are adding up.
Nutrition Facts
Most spray butters advertise zero calories, zero fat, and zero everything. That is only the nutrition facts for one to five sprays (depending on the product). On average, each spray actually contains almost one calorie. Plus, you are adding about 15 milligrams of sodium for every five sprays.
So, these are not truly zero calorie products. One entire bottle of spray could contain anywhere from 600 to 1000 calories (depending on the brand and size) and 80 to 100 grams of fat. The catch is that food manufacturers are allowed to call something “zero” when it contains less than one calorie per serving or whatever they decide to call one serving.
Ingredients
The first ingredient in butter sprays is usually water followed by oils (usually soybean oil), buttermilk, thickening agents, preservatives, and flavorings. So, butter sprays are not a natural product. I cringe at the thought of spraying chemicals on my food. Check out FoodFacts.com if you want to see what the chemicals are exactly and any associated health risks.
Conclusion
The decision of whether or not to use butter sprays comes down to personal preference. If you only use a few sprays and if it helps you cut down on calories, then butter sprays seem like a reasonable choice. However, if you are more into clean eating, I would choose a natural whipped butter which contains only contains cream and salt, but for fewer calories.
Finally, if you fall into the third category of consumers who like to use 30 or more sprays at a time, I would seek other ways to flavor food. Try adding lemon juice, garlic, onion, or other spices.
I figured it was to good to be true! Really sucks the way they can get away with saying zero calories. I always wondered why the solid butter had calories but the spray did not, now I know why! I will no longer buy this product, because you are really lying to us all. It does taste great but you should not be able to make us think we can use all we want and not have added calories. Now I know why Iam gaing weight just eating frozen vegtables and I cant believe its not butter spray. Shame on you guys, thats not right. I will let everybody know not to buy it. Its not the zero calorie product that you say. That really sucks that you can get away with labeling that as such.
I just read your article. I started using spray butter in 2008. I have lost 50 lbs and kept it off. I have to have calorie and portion control. After reading this I am wondering what other bads things I have been eating!! Thanks for the info.
Freek- I can think of a lot worse things for America’s image than spray butter! I’m sure some European frou frou chef would be horrified by it, but I love the stuff- I don’t ever miss real butter and how greasy it is, not to mention all of the saturated fat.
Spray butter is one of the things that gives America a bad image.
I do like the author’s comment, “I would choose a natural whipped butter which contains only contains cream and salt”. Some of them are high in monosaturated fat which is good for weight loss.
There’s always this natural vs. chemical debate. Some of things things used to make margarine are used to make inedible things.
Sprays are convenient for even distribution.
Where did they come up with such a dumb name? LOL
Well I only used Molly on baked potatoes, rice, and pop corn. It seems to work best on hot foods that can melt it.
But the sprays do a better job of simulating melted butter or margerine.
I’ll stick with olive oil, canola oil and real butter, thanks! I have an inherent mistrust of any food that was created in a laboratory.
I’ve always maintained that they might not be too good for you, but that was conjecture only. Informative post!
They still make Molly McButter–that stuff is pretty tasty, too.
By the way Nicole, I saw your advice at the end of this article. I kind of feel like it is part of the “disconnect” between nutrition profesionals and “food lovers”.
Someone who likes American football probably won’t like soccer, and suggesting that “lemon juice and spices” are a substitute for butter or butter like products sounds to me like someone who has never eaten butter or knows why the taste of it is important to those who like it.
I’ve done a lot of taste testing and come up with my own tricks to suit my own tastes, but it is hard work sometimes.
I really don’t care for the author of the Hungry Girl cookbooks, but at least she gets it as far as taste standards are concerned.
I hope nutrition professionals will continue to listen to what tastes make people tick and come up with “close copy” solutions.
I picked up some “I can’t believe it’s not butter” spray on a whim in 2009 and it instantly became one of my favorite diet helpers.
Does anyone remember a butter flavored sprinkle called Molly McButter from the 1980′s? It was fine in hot soft foods like baked potatoes, but that was about the only food it could be used in where it would melt into a butter like substance.
So I was skeptical about the spray, especially when it said 0 calories per serving. But it tastes as close as anything I have ever tasted.
When I want something more solid and creamy I choose ICBINB lite or Brummel and Brown or any spread that has about half the calories of butter or margerine(45-50 per serving).
And watch lables because a lot of “spreads” have 70 calories per serving.
Great post and very informative!
I must say I haven’t heard too much about these spray butters. I advise my nutrition clients to use butter substitutes made from olive and canola oil, such as Olivio or Smart Balance. With these products you get the buttery taste without damaging your LDL cholesterol.
I use the butter spray on my air popped popcorn. I always wondered how it could claim it had no calories when it contains vegetable oils. I guess you just answered that question. I think it is necessary to use to get the salt and the garlic powder I put on this popcorn to stick.
I use the Best Life spray butter sparingly–I use a few spritzes on my steamed veggies. I know it’s probably really bad for you if you eat something like 50-100 sprays of it a day, but I quite honestly live by the 80/20 rule of 80% healthy, 20% not so healthy. If a few sprays of butter spray makes veggies more tolerable for me, I think it’s better than drowning them in butter. But yeah, if I were going to use more than 10 sprays a day, I’d probably go with lemon juice or Mrs. Dash or something.