All About "Margarine"

Have you noticed that so many of the "margarine" products on our shelves actually contain dairy ingredients? Though people may be cutting calories a bit, I feel like these margarines that are half dairy are kind of like ordering a Diet Coke with your Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese- what's the point?! For those of us with dairy issues, it's essential to find a margarine that is vegan. Here are popular margarines that are dairy free:

*Earth Balance (also available in soy free)
*Pure Soya
*Pure Sunflower
*Smart Balance LITE
*Nucoa (for cooking)

CAUTION: I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Smart Balance Regular, Imperial Margarine, Promise, and Sheds Spread are a few that are NOT dairy free!


Margarine that includes any of the following is NOT dairy-free:

Artificial butter flavor, Butter, Butter fat, Buttermilk, Butter oil, Casein, Caseinates, Cheese, Cottage cheese, Cream, Curds, Custard, Ghee, Goat’s milk, Half & Half, Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, why protein), Kefir, Koumiss, Lactalbumin, Lactalbumin phosphate, Lactoglobulin, Lactose, Lactulose, Milk, Milkfat, Nougat, Paneer, Pudding, Rennet casein, Sour Cream, Sour cream solids, Sour milk solids, Whey, Yogurt

Here is my favorite....Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

In my opinion, this margarine has the most "buttery" taste. It's not soft and soupy like the margarine I grew up on (Imperial Margarine...NOT dairy free) and feels more like the consistency of a normal tub of butter. It also melts very well, making my dairy- and gluten-free waffles much more enjoyable in the morning. This spread comes in several varieties including Original, Original Whipped (my favorite), Soy Garden (extra soy for increased health benefits), Soy Free, Original made with Olive Oil, and buttery sticks and shortening for baking. Other products by Earth Balance include natural vegan crunchy Peanut Butter and natural vegan creamy Almond Butter. Check out their website for details and recipes.

ALSO check back in a few weeks! I will be doing a blind taste test with 10 people to find the (objective) best-tasting vegan margarine on the market. Let's see if my favorite holds out or if I'll find a new buttery spread love.