Is butter and margarine the same thing?

Butter and margarine are both used as spreads and have similar appearances, but they are not the same thing.

Butter is a dairy product made from the fat of milk. It is solid at room temperature and has a yellow color. Butter is high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Margarine is a vegetable-based spread made from vegetable oils. It is also solid at room temperature but is usually lighter in color than butter. Margarine is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than butter, and it may contain added vitamins and minerals.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between butter and margarine:

| Feature | Butter | Margarine |

|---|---|---|

| Main ingredient | Milk fat | Vegetable oils |

| Color | Yellow | Light yellow or white |

| Texture | Solid at room temperature | Solid at room temperature |

| Saturated fat content | High | Low |

| Cholesterol content | High | Low |

| Vitamins and minerals | None added | May contain added vitamins and minerals |