Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Making Butter

This month we made butter for the first time. It was easy and loads of fun to watch whipped cream turn into butter. As it whips past the stiff peaks it gradually takes on a yellowy color, and just when you think it will never go to butter, BAM! In the blink of an eye, all the buttermilk falls out and voila! Butter.





Once the butter has formed, simply drain off the buttermilk, and rinse the butter well under water, kneading it to remove any remaining buttermilk, which could cause it to turn rancid.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love making butter. It tastes so good. Did you keep the buttermilk?

Paige said...

I just love the fun and interesting things your family does as unschoolers! It, along with a few other important things, has seriously made me contemplate homeschooling my own son (who is only 22 months as of now). I never would have considered it before having a child.

Anonymous said...

I've just made my first two batches of butter during the last two weeks. The first time I used my blender. It was hard to get it all out and it seemed really hard on the blender. The second time, I used my Kitchen Aid mixer which even has a splatter guard but, it was still such a mess. I had it splatter three/four feet away. I see by your pics that you used your mixer. Any tips? Did you not have this problem?

P.S. I've newly discovered your blog and am enjoying it.

Danielle said...

Thanks for the comments!

Courtney, I just slowed the mixer down drastically once the buttermilk started separating. I didn't have a whole lot of splashing. *shrug*

Segolily, that's a wonderful thing to hear! My kids led me down this amazing path—why should someone else get to share all these amazing learning moments with them? Every day is a gift!

Anonymous said...

We don't have goats or cows to give us our "whipping cream" just yet....can you do this with "whipping cream" purchased from the store? I also just discovered your blogsite although I have been following you around in the various groups that we both subscribe to. Who knows? Maybe we will meet in person one of these days. :)
Wilda and the girls in Savannah,TN

Babette said...

Bless the Kitchen Aide makers.

Anonymous said...

How neat! (And oh how I love your nice big sink...)

laura said...

we made butter years and years ago with the kids. we used a jar and store bought whipping cream. and just let them shake it until they got tired. worked great and was a lot of fun. we've done ice cream in double bags this way too. kid energy rocks.

Anonymous said...

Pretty cool - I wouldn't have thought about trying to make butter. I hadn't stopped by your blog in a while - it looks like you are going really well. Tell 'dh' that I said hello.

Danielle said...

linda--I love my sink, too. I can put loads of dishes in it and even brine a whole turkey.

Steve J! Great to hear from you! Jim says hello. We'd love to hear how you guys are doing: my email is danielle dot conger at gmail dot com

Alex Polikowsky said...

gosh Danielle, I got all these cows and milk and have not made any butter yet!
You always inpire me...from parenting to making butter!!!!!!!!