Is there a way to find out the water content in different butter brands? I want the driest option for making pastry!

Yes! While the exact water amount is unknown, a higher fat percentage on the label means less water and drier butter: perfect for pastry.

Bakers often pay close attention to butter when making pastry because the amount of water it contains can affect those flaky layers. While water content isn’t listed on Australian butter labels, the fat percentage can give a good indication. The exact water amount is unknown because the remaining percentage also includes milk solids and salt, but this gives a good indication.

The higher the fat, the less water overall! 

For example, if a butter shows 80g of fat per 100g, that’s 80% fat – and the remaining 20% will include water, along with milk solids and salt. So, when choosing butter for pastry, aim for one with the highest fat content - it usually means a drier butter and better results! 

Check out The Dairy Kitchen for creative ways to use your pastry and plenty more baking inspiration!