Molecular structure
butyric acid
Cooking relevance
Butanoic acid (PubChem CID 264) is a short-chain fatty acid that contributes pungent, sour, and slightly rancid notes to fermented and aged foods. It develops during bacterial fermentation and fat breakdown, particularly in aged cheeses and fermented dairy products. Its sharp, vinegary character influences the overall flavor profile of these foods, though it is typically present in small concentrations.
- aroma
- pungent · sour · slightly rancid · vinegary
- culinary role
- byproduct of fermentation and fat oxidation in aged dairy; contributes to tangy, complex flavor
- mass spectra
- 214 experimental spectra
Mass spectrum
A real measured fragmentation pattern · 1 of 214 experimental spectra
Sensory signature
How this molecule tastes and smells · gold is measured, dashed is a model estimate
Receptor binding
Measured in literature · peer-reviewed · how this compound interacts with biological receptors
Research associations
Literature-derived · peer-reviewed sources only · not medical advice
Research papers
92 peer-reviewed papers reference this compound · top-cited shown
Foods containing this compound
Verified Data
Compound identity and culinary context are continuously cross-referenced across open scientific databases and maintained by Foodgeist's enrichment pipeline.
The Geist can be wrong. Some flavor, taste, and pairing values are model-predicted, not lab-measured.

























