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Topic: Why does unsalted butter have a clear ring?  (Read 2403 times)

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Offline Babcock_Hall

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Why does unsalted butter have a clear ring?
« on: December 16, 2015, 10:35:10 AM »
A fellow chemist here asked me this, knowing that I like to cook.  It has a clear waxlike appearance on the periphery.  But I have no idea why it is there.  Could it be a preservative?
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Offline Arkcon

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Re: Why does unsalted butter have a clear ring?
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2015, 10:42:50 AM »
I've seen it too, mostly on very old butter.  I'm not sure what it is either.  Given that butter is a mixture of fats, water and some protein, maybe over time, it stratifies, and some subset of the fats rises to the surface?
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Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline Intanjir

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Re: Why does unsalted butter have a clear ring?
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2015, 11:24:07 AM »
Perhaps the water at the periphery is able to escape? Not really sure why the sodium content would matter that much though...
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