Making butter

[numan]

Can anyone tell me how butter is made?

[Piper-AK]

You have to churn cream (ie shake it around) until the butter separates out.  I tried it once in a jam jar (with a silver sixpence to speed up the process) and nothing happened.

http://webexhibits.org/butter/

[numan]

Thanks Piper - my grand-daughter has this thing about making butter for some reason, so I'll give it a go, tho' I don't hold out much hope if you didn't get anywhere!

[kaktus]

The recipe in the link piper gave you suggest you should add salt. I would most definately do that, as it taste better that way.  Well at least I think that it tastes better :)

[numan]

Cheers Kaktus - I'll take your advice

[kaktus]

You're welcome numan - hope you and your grand-daugther have fun!

[spudqueen]

I remember reading someones autobiography (it might have been Pauline Collins?) and they recalled as a child running around all day with a little pot strapped to them to churn up butter - maybe you could try it out on your granddaughter!

[numan]

What a great idea!  That really made me laugh.. Thanks Spudqueen

[lady_p_gold]

oh we used to love doing that when I was young, getting some (what was then full fat milk with the cream on the top) and shaking it up in a bottle until a lump of butter appeared.  Whether it would work with today's milk I don't know but it was really very simple and satisfying as gradually it formed into a ball and left the whey behind.

[numan]

Yes, I'm quite looking forward to it myself.  Will probably give it a go at the weekend.   I'll let you all know how it came out in the end..