Frederic Melton
Butter or cheese—which has more calories? Both are high-calorie foods, but butter, which consists mainly of fats, has significantly more. Butter contains 717 calories per 100g serving, while the same amount of cheese has 384 to 404 calories. Cheddar cheese, for example, is higher in protein and carbohydrates, while butter contains more calories and fat. When it comes to the breakdown of fat content, however, they are quite similar. The dominant fats in both foods are saturated fats, followed by monounsaturated fatty acids, and then polyunsaturated fatty acids.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calories | Butter has more calories than cheese. Butter has 717 calories per 100g serving, while the same amount of cheese has 384-404 calories. |
| Fat | Butter contains more fat than cheese. Butter contains almost three times more fat than cheese. |
| Protein | Cheese is higher in protein than butter. Cheese has 23.5g of protein per 100g, while butter has less than 1g. |
| Carbohydrates | Cheese is richer in carbs than butter. Cheese has 0.13g of total carbs per 100g, while butter has 0.06g. |
| Sugar | Butter and cheese contain similar amounts of sugar. Butter has 0.06g of sugar per 100g, and cheese does not contain significant amounts. |
| Vitamins | Cheese is richer in B complex vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals. Butter is richer in fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, and choline. |
| Sodium | Butter contains less sodium than cheese. |
| Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) | Cheese has a PRAL value of 16.5, while butter has a value of 0.4. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Butter has more calories per 100g
Butter and cheese are both high-calorie foods, but butter has more calories per 100g. Butter contains 717 calories per 100g serving, while the same amount of cheese has only 404 calories. This difference in calorie content is due to the fact that butter and cheese are composed of different proportions of fat and protein. Butter consists mainly of fats, with over 50 grams of fat per 100-gram serving, while cheese is the curdled protein of milk and has a much higher protein content.
Butter is made by churning sweet cream until the buttermilk separates from the fat, which becomes the solid butter. This process results in a food product that is very high in fat and calories. Cheese, on the other hand, is made by curdling milk, which causes the protein in the milk to separate from the liquid whey. This results in a food product that is higher in protein and lower in fat and calories than butter.
In addition to their calorie content, butter and cheese also differ in their nutritional profiles. Cheese is richer in carbohydrates, proteins, B complex vitamins, minerals, and vitamin D. It is also an excellent source of calcium and all essential amino acids. Butter, on the other hand, is higher in fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K, as well as choline. It also contains less sodium than cheese.
Despite their differences in calorie content and nutrition, both butter and cheese can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Studies have even suggested that cheese consumption may be inversely associated with weight gain and could have beneficial effects on abdominal fat accumulation. Ultimately, the impact of these foods on health and weight depends on the total number of calories consumed versus the number of calories burned through activity.
Cheese Calories: How Much Energy in a Slice?
You may want to see also
Cheese has more protein
While both cheese and butter are high in calories, with butter containing significantly more calories due to its high fat content, cheese is a richer source of protein. Cheddar cheese, for example, is the curdled protein of milk, while butter is the separated fat.
Cheese is a perfect source of all essential amino acids and is particularly high in tryptophan, threonine, and isoleucine. It is also richer in B complex vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals. In contrast, butter contains very little protein, less than one gram per 100g serving. It has almost three times more fat than cheese. Butter is a better source of fat-soluble vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, and choline, and it also contains less sodium.
Cheese is considered a healthier option than butter due to its higher protein content. It is also better for cardiovascular health, as it has less cholesterol. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate cheese daily for six-week intervals had lower LDL, or "bad", cholesterol than when they ate a comparable amount of butter. Cheese is also a good source of calcium, while butter has little to no calcium.
While butter has more calories, it is important to remember that the number of calories consumed is less important than the number of calories burned. Some studies have suggested that cheese consumption is inversely associated with weight gain. In addition, both cheese and butter, when consumed in moderation, can be part of a healthy diet.
Blue Cheese Sauce: Calorie Count and Nutrition Facts
You may want to see also
Butter is higher in fat
When it comes to the debate between cheese and butter, it's clear that both are high-calorie foods due to their fat content. However, butter contains significantly more calories because it is composed mostly of fats. In a 100g serving, butter contains 717 calories, while the same amount of cheese has only 404 calories. That means butter has 87% more calories than cheese.
The difference in calorie content is due to the nature of these dairy products. Cheddar cheese, for instance, is the curdled protein of milk, while butter is the fat that has been separated from milk. Therefore, cheese is a much better source of protein, with 23.5g of protein per 100g, compared to butter's meagre 0.85g. Butter, on the other hand, is much higher in fat, with almost three times more fat than cheese.
The type of fat found in both foods is primarily saturated fat, with monounsaturated fatty acids coming in second and polyunsaturated fatty acids in third place. While butter has more omega-6 fatty acids per 100g, cheese is the winner when it comes to vitamins and minerals. Cheese is richer in B complex vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals, while butter has higher levels of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, and choline.
Despite butter's higher calorie and fat content, both foods can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Studies have even suggested that cheese consumption may be inversely associated with weight gain, and it could have beneficial effects on abdominal fat accumulation. So, while butter is higher in fat and calories, that doesn't necessarily make it less healthy than cheese.
Cheese Calories: How Much Is Too Much?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cheese is richer in vitamins
Butter and cheese are two of the most commonly consumed dairy products. While both are high in calories, butter contains significantly more calories due to its higher fat content. A 100g serving of butter contains 717 calories, while the same amount of cheese has 384 to 404 calories.
Despite their high-calorie content, cheese and butter consumed in moderation can be part of a healthy diet. Cheddar cheese and butter are made from the milk of various mammals and are primarily used as ingredients in dishes.
Cheese is a great source of protein and contains all essential amino acids, including tryptophan, threonine, and isoleucine. It is also rich in carbohydrates, with 3g of carbs per 100g serving. These carbs consist of glucose, lactose, and galactose. In contrast, butter has a negligible amount of carbohydrates and protein, with less than 1 gram of protein per 100g serving.
While butter is higher in fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K, cheese is richer in B complex vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals. Cheese contains higher levels of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper, selenium, and manganese. It also has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12.
In summary, while butter may be higher in calories and fats, cheese offers a greater variety of vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to a balanced diet.
Calorie-Counting: Ham, Egg, and Cheese Omelet
You may want to see also
Both are high in saturated fat
When it comes to cheese and butter, both are high in saturated fat. While cheese is the curdled protein of milk, butter is the fat separated from milk. This means that cheese is naturally higher in protein, with 23.5g of protein per 100g, while butter has less than 1g of protein in the same amount. Butter, on the other hand, contains almost three times more fat than cheese. For every 100g of butter, there are 717 calories and 50.5g of saturated fat. Cheese, in comparison, has 384 calories and 16.1g of saturated fat in the same quantity.
The high-fat content of butter is what gives it its rich flavour. Fat acts as a flavour enhancer, which is why butter is commonly used in cooking to bring out the flavours of other ingredients. However, it is important to note that consuming too much saturated fat can have negative health consequences. Excessive saturated fat intake can lead to increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, in the blood, which can, in turn, increase the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.
Cheese, while also high in saturated fat, offers a different nutritional profile. In addition to its protein content, cheese is a good source of calcium and contains higher levels of certain vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate, and Vitamin B12. Cheese also has a lower PRAL (Potential Renal Acid Load) value than butter, indicating that it produces less acid inside the body. This is important because a highly acidic diet can have negative effects on bone health and kidney function.
While both cheese and butter can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation, it is important to be mindful of their saturated fat content. Consuming too much saturated fat can negatively impact health, so it is recommended to limit intake and opt for lower-fat alternatives when possible. Additionally, when choosing between cheese and butter, it is worth considering their other nutritional differences and how they fit into your overall diet and health goals.
Cheese Burger and Fries: Calorie-Loaded Comfort Food
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Butter has more calories than cheese. 100g of butter contains 717 calories, whereas the same amount of cheese has only 384 to 404 calories.
Cheddar cheese is the curdled protein of milk, while butter is the separated fat. Cheddar cheese is higher in protein and carbohydrates, and butter contains more fat.
Both cheese and butter are high in calories and saturated fat. Cheese is a good source of protein and calcium and is richer in B complex vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals. Butter is lower in sodium and higher in fat-soluble vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, and choline. Consumed in moderation, both can be part of a healthy diet.
Yes, light butter and whipped butter have lower fat and calorie content than full-fat butter. Similarly, cream cheese has fewer calories than butter, and whipped cream cheese has even fewer calories than regular cream cheese.
![PB2 Powdered Cashew Butter - Cashew Powder with No Added Sugar or Salt [1lb Jar]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71h5iW8LOBL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
