Butter shortage: How holiday baking season could be affected

FOX 8 ^ | September 28, 2022 | Laura Morrison

[Diana in Wisconsin]

When it comes to cooking and baking, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that butter just makes things better.

But with the holiday season coming up, many may have to scramble to find enough butter for their baked goods. That’s according to the Wall Street Journal, which recently reported on a dairy shortage in the U.S. due to staffing issues and lower milk production.

With less butter on shelves and in storage facilities (reportedly the lowest since 2017), that means the price of the yellow stuff has gone up. Over the last year, butter prices have gone up by more than 24.6%, the Wall Street Journal reported, with overall store prices going up by 13.5%

However, the dairy industry is well aware of the issue and is working to supply Americans with the products they need in the months to come.

“We want to run the assets we have harder when we can get more milk off farm,” Joe Coote, chief executive at Darigold Inc, told the Journal.

Those gearing up for the big baking season ahead, should note butter does freeze well, and that there are plenty of substitutes for recipes including: Crisco, olive oil and coconut oil.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My 'imaginary' house at Christmastime...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Butter Shortage Ping!

Let’s Go, Brandon! ;)

[billorites]

We’ll just dip into the Strategic Butter Reserve.

[srmanuel]

In a pinch people could make their own butter, buy heavy cream or raw milk if you can find it, get a couple of quart mason jars, fill them half full and shake vigorously until the butter forms, for taste add salt or other seasoning and presto you have butter

[who knows what evil?]

One word...VItamix.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Oh, no! A butter shortage isn't going to help the President's effort to end hunger in America. Poor Brandon, he's being stymied at every turn.

White House gains partners to end US hunger within a decade

[billorites]

Parkay

[Dutch Boy]

Then used the remaining butter milk to make biscuits. Yumm.

[lowbridge]

“a dairy shortage in the U.S. due to staffing issues and lower milk production.”

And bad economic policies by the current administration.

[cranked]

81 million alleged votes later.....

[Red Badger]

I use Olive Oil instead of butter or in addition to butter..........

[DannyTN]

The South is going to rebel again if there is a butter shortage.

That’s just not acceptable.

[srmanuel]

Exactly

[Leaning Right]

This elderly gentleman is quite concerned, as he likes buttery ice cream.
Perhaps Mitch McConnell will use some GOP funds to set up a GoFundMe account for the old fellow.

[Theoria]

Heavy creme, make some yourself. Easy.

[albie]

Same here. Olive oil good. Butter bad. Although I could eat butter by the stick.

[Red Badger]

Butter isn’t as bad as fake margarines are, but it is expensive........................

[HartleyMBaldwin]

We always have a few pounds of butter in the freezer and only buy butter when it’s significantly on sale. It keeps for years frozen.

[FamiliarFace]

In my house, we say “mo’ butter, mo’ better!”

I WILL pay higher prices for that gold, even if I try using olive oil in place of it sometimes. There are times when a substitute just won’t work.

[albie]

Butter in the fridge lasts 2-3 months. Frozen, up to a year by the way.