We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How can I Make Homemade Butter?

Amy Pollick
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,857
Share

As recently as 80 years ago, people made their own butter most of the time. Even though most butter churns have been relegated to museums and kitchen corners as treasured heirlooms, it is still possible to make homemade butter. The process looks a little different, but the idea is the same.

First, set a gallon or so of water chilling in the freezer or refrigerator. This will be used to rinse the homemade butter later on. Heavy cream, or whipping cream, is usually sold in pints, and this will do well for a start. For the shaking method, pour the cream into a glass jar or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. The container should be about half-full. A couple of clean marbles can be placed into the container to help speed the process, but be careful if using a glass jar. The marbles can break the glass.

Now, start shaking. Vary the speed and direction, but keep at it. This project, incidentally, is great for children's groups. Each child gets a turn at shaking the jar, and by the time it gets around the room, it's usually nearly turned to homemade butter. Small yellow grains will appear first, and then a lump of butter will form in the jar. At that point, it's time to stop.

If making the homemade butter in a blender or food processor, or with a mixer, the process goes much more rapidly than the half hour or so it takes to shake it by hand. The mixer or processor can be set on medium speed, until the grains appear. Then the speed should be turned to low until the lump of butter forms. This takes five to 10 minutes.

After the butter forms, strain it through cheesecloth, to get the buttermilk out. Leaving the buttermilk in will make the butter go rancid quickly. This is where the cold water comes in. Hot water would melt the fat. Pour some over the butter, squeezing it in the cheesecloth. Continue rinsing and squeezing -- or pressing the butter against the side of a bowl with a wooden spoon -- until the water runs clear. What is left is homemade butter, just like you find in the grocery store. The homemade butter can then be used just as any other butter.

A pint of whipping cream will yield about one-half cup of butter, or about one stick. It isn't generally a very cost-effective way of getting butter these days, but making homemade butter does carry the satisfaction of having accomplished something good for oneself.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Amy Pollick
By Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick, a talented content writer and editor, brings her diverse writing background to her work at WiseGeek. With experience in various roles and numerous articles under her belt, she crafts compelling content that informs and engages readers across various platforms on topics of all levels of complexity.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick, a talented content writer and editor, brings her diverse writing background to her work at WiseGeek. With...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-can-i-make-homemade-butter.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.