weird smelling butter from the farmer's market...? page

[erin_noel]

I bought 3/4 of a pound of fresh, unsalted butter from my local farmer's market on Tuesday. I've no idea if the cows are grass-fed or grain-fed, but one way or another... the butter smells weird. I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. The ingredients are listed as just "cream" so I was wondering if fresh butter just... smells differently? Am I missing something? Should I be concerned? Thanks!

[delirious_nomad]

eat it! it is either OK or not OK!

[bloodorchid]

does it smell sour? sweet? dirty? like grass?

[erin_noel]

does it smell sour? sweet? dirty? like grass?

I'm honestly not sure how to describe it, but it's very different from the store-bought butter I've had in the past. It's not rancid though.

[jakey]

if it's not rancid butter, which has a damn distinct odor, you should be fine. perhaps it's cultured butter? that could make it smell different. aside from rancidity, you should be fine.

[Linny]

My bet is it's cultured - they basically milk the cow and let the cream ferment for a few hours before turning it into butter. Gives it a different taste and smell.

[Owly]

It can also depend on what the cow ate--some plants will alter the taste of the milk/butter.

[yodiewan]

Was it from Southern Swiss Dairy? I've bought from them before and I've also noticed. I'm pretty sure it's cultured.

[Finnabair]

Yes, from milk left at room temp for the cream to rise. Can't stand it personally. What you want is "Sweet Cream Butter." Not cultured/clabbered.

Sweet cream is chilled, not cultured/aged/sour.

[sbhikes]

Cultured I bet. I bought some and the smell is so pungent I'm afraid I do not like it. I tried to clarify it to fix it but it's still too strong. I can only cook with it. I bought some before this batch and it was sweet and good but was starting to get this smell toward the end. I plan to make sure it's not stinky next time. Or just stick with kerrygold.