Butter spray products like Winona have become increasingly popular as people look for ways to reduce their calorie and fat intake without sacrificing flavor. Winona butter spray claims to contain 60% less fat and calories than real butter, but is it a healthy alternative? Here we’ll examine the ingredients, nutrition facts, and potential benefits and drawbacks of using Winona butter spray.
What is Winona Butter Spray?
Winona butter spray is a liquid butter flavored spray made by Conagra Foods. It aims to provide the rich taste of butter with fewer calories and less fat. The spray contains water, canola and/or soybean oil, maltodextrin, salt, natural and artificial flavors, beta carotene (for color), propellant, and citric acid.
Unlike stick butter which is 100% fat, Winona contains less than 1 gram of fat per serving. It relies more heavily on oils, natural flavors, and artificial flavors to mimic the taste of real butter. The propellant allows it to be dispensed as a liquid spray.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a 1 second spray (0.4g) of Winona butter spray:
| Amount per Serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Trans Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 35mg | 2% |
| Total Carbohydrate 0g | 0% |
| Protein 0g | 0% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
As you can see, a tiny 1 second spray of Winona contains almost no fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, or protein. The only nutrient present is 35mg of sodium, which is just 2% of the daily recommended value.
Benefits of Winona Butter Spray
There are several potential benefits to using a butter flavored spray like Winona rather than regular butter:
Lower in Fat and Calories
The most obvious benefit is the reduction in fat and calories. Winona contains 0g fat and 0 calories per spray, whereas butter contains 11g fat and 100 calories per tablespoon. For anyone watching their saturated fat or calorie intake, Winona provides huge savings. Just a couple sprays can make foods taste rich and buttery for virtually no calories or fat.
Convenience
Butter sprays like Winona offer greater convenience than stick butter. You don’t have to soften it or dig it out of a container. Just a quick spray from the bottle makes spreading and cooking easier. The spray format also allows for more precise portions and less waste.
Lactose-Free
Butter spray contains no milk proteins, so it is suitable for those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance. People avoiding dairy can still get a buttery flavor without GI discomfort.
Kosher
Winona butter spray has kosher certification from the Orthodox Union (OU). This makes it suitable for those following a kosher diet.
Non-GMO
According to the company, Winona butter spray is made without GMOs (genetically modified organisms). This appeals to consumers who prefer to avoid GMOs in their foods.
Potential Downsides of Winona Butter Spray
However, there are some potential downsides to consider with butter sprays:
Highly Processed
While butter is minimally processed, Winona contains refined vegetable oils, artificial flavors, preservatives, and propellant gases. These types of processed ingredients may be less healthy than the simple ingredients in regular butter.
Not Necessarily Lower in Saturated Fat
While Winona is lower in total fat, it’s not necessarily lower in saturated fat. The canola oil it contains still provides some saturated fat. Depending on your diet, butter may actually be a healthier source of saturated fat.
Contains Potential Allergens
Even though it’s lactose-free, Winona isn’t suitable for people with soy or canola oil allergies due to the vegetable oils it contains. Butter would be the better choice for people avoiding those ingredients.
Higher Sodium
Winona provides 35mg sodium in just a 1 second spray, which is more sodium than you’d get in a pat of butter. People watching their salt intake may want to be mindful of how liberally they use the spray.
Less Nutritious
Butter contains small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Winona isn’t a significant source of any vitamins or minerals. So butter could be considered more nutritious.
Environmental Impact of Propellants
The propellant gases (like nitrous oxide) used in Winona have a global warming impact. There are concerns over the accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere.
Ingredients in Winona Butter Spray
Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients in Winona:
Canola Oil
After water, canola oil is the primary ingredient in Winona butter spray. Canola oil is extracted from rapeseed plants and is one of the most widely used cooking oils. It is valued for its neutral flavor and high smoke point.
Like all vegetable oils, canola oil is 100% fat, mostly unsaturated. But it does contain some saturated fat – about 7% of the total fat content. So Winona isn’t as low in saturated fat as you might assume.
Natural and Artificial Flavors
To replicate that creamy, fatty butter taste, Winona relies on natural and artificial flavorings. Natural flavors could come from dairy, plants, or animals. Artificial flavors are synthesized in a lab to mimic natural butter flavor.
Some consumers prefer to avoid artificial flavors when possible. But these flavorings are what allow Winona to provide a butter taste without any actual butter.
Beta Carotene
To give it a rich yellow color resembling real butter, Winona contains beta carotene as a coloring agent. Beta carotene is an antioxidant found naturally in fruits and vegetables like carrots.
While not the most natural option, beta carotene is one of the more innocuous food colorings. Our bodies convert it to vitamin A, so it provides some nutritional value.
Propellant
The propellants in Winona butter spray are what allows it to be dispensed as a liquid spray. Common spray propellants include nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and propane.
Propellants replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are banned due to ozone depletion. However, some still have global warming effects when released.
How Does Winona Butter Spray Compare to Real Butter?
To determine if Winona butter spray is a healthier choice, let’s compare it directly to real butter:
Fat Content
– Winona: 0g fat per serving
– Butter: 11g fat per serving
Clearly, Winona provides drastic fat savings compared to regular butter.
Saturated Fat Content
– Winona: 0g saturated fat per serving
– Butter: 7g saturated fat per serving
Again, Winona appears to be superior for saturated fat intake. However, it still contains small amounts of saturated fat from the canola oil.
Calories
– Winona: 0 calories per serving
– Butter: 100 calories per serving
No contest here – Winona offers huge calorie savings versus real butter.
Sodium Content
– Winona: 35mg sodium per serving
– Butter: 11mg sodium per serving
Surprisingly, Winona actually contains over 3 times more sodium than butter. Not ideal for those restricting sodium.
Nutritional Value
– Winona: No significant nutrients
– Butter: Small amounts of vitamins A, D, E and K
Butter contains more vitamins, so it offers slightly more nutritional value. Though the amounts are relatively minimal.
Ingredients
– Winona: Refined oils, preservatives, artificial flavors, propellants
– Butter: Milk and cream
Butter has far simpler, more natural ingredients compared to the processed contents of Winona.
Taste
– Winona: Mimics butter flavoring through oils and artificial flavors
– Butter: Real dairy flavor
Most would consider real butter to have superior flavor. But Winona does a decent job of replicating it through artificial means.
Environmental Impact
– Winona: Propellants contribute to global warming
– Butter: More natural, less chemical processing
Butter has a smaller carbon footprint without chemical propellants and extensive processing.
How to Use Winona Butter Spray
Winona butter spray can be used in place of regular butter in most applications:
Sautéing and Cooking
The spray allows you to grease pans and sauté veggies without the extra calories and saturated fat of butter. Be aware the propellants can affect high heat cooking.
Baking
A few sprays in muffin tins or cake pans prevents sticking. For recipes, replace each tablespoon of butter with 2-3 seconds of spray. The lack of fat means adjustments are needed.
Making Toast
Lightly toast your bread then spritz on some Winona spray for flavor without the saturated fat from butter spreads.
Popcorn Topping
Drizzle the spray over freshly popped popcorn to mimic the classic buttered popcorn taste without the guilt.
Scrambled Eggs
Add a quick spray to scrambled eggs at the end for butter flavor without altering the cooking fat or texture.
Seafood
Mist salmon fillets, shrimps or other seafood with spray before cooking for added richness.
Is Winona Butter Spray Healthy: The Verdict
So is Winona butter spray ultimately a healthier choice than real butter? Here is the final verdict:
Pros of Winona Butter Spray
– Dramatically fewer calories and fat grams
– Lactose-free
– Convenient spray application
– Kosher and non-GMO
Cons of Winona Butter Spray
– Highly processed ingredients
– Not necessarily lower in saturated fat
– Contains potential allergens
– Higher in sodium
– Less nutritious than butter
– Negative environmental impact of propellants
The Bottom Line:
Winona butter spray makes sense for those strictly limiting calories or fat intake, or who need the convenience of a spray. However, real butter is more natural, nutritious, and environmentally friendly.
For heart health, neither butter nor Winona provide optimal fatty acid profiles. Grapeseed oil, olive oil, and avocado oil are healthier choices.
In moderation, real butter can be part of a balanced diet for most people. Just watch your portions and enjoy it with healthy whole foods. Ultimately, your personal dietary needs should guide whether products like Winona fit into your routine.