Implications of spreadability for dairy and bakery products

The spreadability of margarine and butter is of paramount importance for consumer acceptability. It is a physical property and results from the fact that these products consist of a dispersion of solid fat crystals in liquid oil.

The ratio of solid to liquid fat in a product is probably the most important factor determining hardness and spreadability. However, hardness and softness are not the only factors influencing spreadability; smoothness and brittleness are also important.