How many calories are in margarine?

A tablespoon of regular 80 percent fat stick margarine (14g) is 100 calories, and a teaspoon is 36. A whole stick is 810 and a cup is 1,628. Per 100g it comes to 717 calories.

Margarine vs butter: which has fewer calories?

Neither, in any way that matters. A tablespoon of margarine is 100 calories against 102 for butter, because both are about 80 percent fat. The real gap is in the fat itself: 15.2g of saturated fat per 100g for margarine against 51.4g for butter, and zero cholesterol against 215mg.

Does margarine still contain trans fat?

Not in the US any more. USDA's older composite for stick margarine lists roughly 15g of trans fat per 100g, from the partially hydrogenated oil that used to hold it solid. The FDA removed partially hydrogenated oils from the food supply in 2018, so current US margarines list 0g trans per serving. Imported brands are worth a label check.

It depends on the brand, and stick margarine often is not. Many stick formulas include whey or nonfat milk solids for flavor, even though the fat itself is vegetable oil and cholesterol reads zero. Several tub spreads are certified vegan, so the ingredient list is the only reliable answer.

Is margarine keto-friendly?

On the numbers, yes: 0.7g of carbs per 100g, which is 0.1g in a tablespoon, and 80.7g of fat. Whether it belongs on a keto plate is a separate argument about seed oils, not about carbs.

How do tub spreads compare with stick margarine?

A 40 to 49 percent fat tub spread runs about 401 calories per 100g, roughly 56 per tablespoon, because water takes the place of the missing fat. That water is also why low-fat spreads ruin pastry and make cookies spread flat.

How much sodium is in margarine?

Salted stick margarine carries 751mg of sodium per 100g, which is 105mg per tablespoon, a little more than salted butter. Unsalted versions exist and are the ones to buy when you are already salting the dish.

Is margarine fortified with vitamins?

Yes. It carries 819mcg of vitamin A per 100g, about 115mcg in a tablespoon, plus 9mg of vitamin E, all added during manufacture. Butter's vitamin A comes from the cream instead and lands in a similar range.

Can you bake with margarine instead of butter?

Stick margarine at 80 percent fat swaps in one for one, since the fat and water balance nearly matches butter. Tub spreads at half fat do not, and the extra water is what turns a shortbread into a cracker.