With labor and other overhead costs on the rise thanks to inflation across the country, it’s not surprising that operators are looking for ways to save on food costs and other areas of business. When making ingredient substitutions, operators don’t just look at cost savings, though. In order to be a truly valuable substitute, new ingredients should save money, taste great, have a long shelf life, reduce allergens and more.
When substituting ingredients, many operators may not think of fats or oils as top candidates. However, replacing butter or margarine with butter flavored oil (also known as BFO) can greatly benefit restaurant kitchens.
Cost effectiveness
As the rising cost of butter puts additional stress on restaurants, switching to butter-flavored oil can have a significant impact on an operator’s bottom line. For instance, by substituting Whirl® Butter Flavored Oil in recipes that call for butter or margarine, operators can save up to half the cost of butter. The producers of this popular BFO, Stratas Foods, even provide a handy Whirl® Calculator to help forecast costs when making the switch. Whirl® is perfect for a wide array of applications and for keeping the budget in the green.
Cold real estate and shelf life
Another benefit of butter-flavored oil over butter and margarine is that it does not need to be refrigerated, which saves on refrigeration costs and space. In a bustling restaurant kitchen, refrigeration space is often at a premium. Being able to reclaim cold real estate can be a huge help. Additionally, because there is no dairy in butter-flavored oil, it has a longer shelf life than traditional butter and is easier to store than margarine. Stratas Foods knows that by having a longer shelf life than dairy products, butter-flavored oils give operators the chance to plan ahead and stock their pantries without worrying about supply chain interruptions.
Versatile use
Of course, while lower cost and longer shelf life are great benefits, the real test is how interchangeable ingredients truly are when it comes to food preparation. Whirl® Butter Flavored Oil offers a rich buttery flavor and a reliable kitchen workhorse at up to half the cost of butter and can be used in a variety of applications. From grilling, sautéing and pan frying, to being used in sauces, roux and marinades, Whirl® performs even in high heat applications, outlasting butter or margarine by a long shot. That might seem like a tall order to fill, but operators can see it for themselves by checking out this live demo!
Reduced allergens
Finally, butter-flavored oil offers a unique benefit that can be ideal for an array of operators. Butter flavored oil offers all the great taste of butter, and it’s also dairy free. This makes it ideal for diners who have dairy allergies or those who avoid dairy in their diets for other reasons. Reducing the number of allergens on a menu makes it more accessible for diners and also reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination during preparation.
For operators looking for a reliable, delicious product to take the place of butter in their kitchens, Whirl® should definitely be part of their ingredient roster. It comes in three recipe-ready varieties including Original, Garlic, and Sodium-Free, making it perfect for everything from delicate sauces and grilled delights, to pizza, wings and more.
To learn more about Whirl® Butter Flavored Oil, click here.
This post is sponsored by Stratas Foods