February 22, 2015

Goat Sized Butter Churn

Back in my back-to-the-land days I had a hand-crank butter churn. It was one of those small ones - a square gallon jar with a crank on top. I kept it for a long time in hopes that I'd someday have a cow for cream and butter. Along the way it got given away, something I've somewhat regretted. Of course, getting a gallons-worth of cream from goats is hardly feasible with the number of goats I keep. I've not minded my shake-a-jar method but I've still wished I had a butter churn.

You can imagine how delighted I was to find this one on Amazon. Made in France, it will hold 17 to 27 ounces of cream. At the time it was $87 so I added it to my wish list where it remained for some time. When the price went up I regretted not getting it sooner, but oh well. It continued to sit on my wish list.

The other day I was ordering something from Amazon and noticed that there was a "used - like new" one of these listed for $64. I jumped on it!

The amazing thing was that it wasn't used at all, it came wrapped and packaged like brand new.

Although I'm getting less than a quart of milk per day, I've been hand skimming my milk all along and storing the cream in the freezer. To try out my new churn I defrosted three cups (24 ounces). I let the cream sit out until it reached (approximately) the recommended 65° F (18° C), and then started churning. Within less than eight minutes ...


I do love proper low-tech tools.

Kidding starts next month here, and I am very much looking forward to trying Kinder milk. Kinders give such a high percentage of butterfat (about 7%), that between my new cream separator and butter churn, I should have a good supply of butter for both table use and cooking, plus buttermilk for baking and cheese making. I am so looking forward to that.

23 comments:

Michelle said...

I love it when you share your "lucky" (blessed!) finds!

Dawn said...

How spooky I am awaiting delivery of the same churn along with butter pats, I have enjoyed making butter for some time with the shaking method and have always wanted a manual churn, it cost £59.60 I have looked at several times and put off buying but decided to make an investment the other day :-)

Farmer Barb said...

Given that my two does stacked on on top of the other are still not as big as my Labrador Retriever, I have a hard time believing that I will ever get enough milk to make anything but a 1/4 cup of cheese! I will keep this on my maybe list. I am trying only to hold on to things I use often!

Mark said...

Another truly cool thing! It does my heart good to know that quality traditional low-tech appliances are still being made. I think it is a telling thing, however to learn that quality items, at least so far as I have found, are no longer made by companies in the US. I've no problem with buying quality items from whomever and where ever they are made, but it seems a little sad that our once proudly independent USA has seemingly abandoned many of the tools that enable true independence.

Mama Pea said...

I never knew they even made such a small churn! But what a find for you at this time. Our old hand churn (gallon size) remain packed away for the time being but I do think of it often.

Hoping what looks to be a plastic gear drive on yours holds up. But they do manufacture some very hi-tech, substantial plastics these days so it may be fine for many, many years.

Congrats on your churn and thanks for sharing.

Leah said...

Oh that looks delicious! Butter is something I want to make so bad! Thanks for sharing the new kitchen toy. I will have to go put it on my wish list as well.

Gill - That British Woman said...

does goats butter taste a lot different from cows butter?

Cat Eye Cottage said...

I'm so jealous of your cool butter tools, but even more so of your goats. I'm going to add this lovely gadget to my wishlist for one day!

PioneerPreppy said...

LOL can't beat that with a stick :)

Nice find!!!

Leigh said...

Michelle, providential!

Dawn, let's see, it seems £59.60 is $91.77. Seems like I got a good deal, especially considering you're so much closer to the manufacturer than we are. Still, it's definitely worth the investment!

Barb, you have Nigies, right? They give a high butter fant milk. Remember my Ziggy? She gave me less than a quart a day but I made butter and mozzarella and was it ever good!

Mar, that is so true about American manufacturers. There is likely a huge market for things like walk-behind tractors, but to most Americans, tractor means ride-on lawn mower. I don't think they want us striving toward independence!

Mama Pea, we wondered about the plastic gears as well, but this seems to be the only game in town.

Leah, the right tools make the work easier and more productive!

Gill, goat butter tastes great. I doubt most folks could tell the difference.

Candace, have you thought about Nigerian Dwarfs?

PP, great, isn't it? :)

Mama Mess said...

Congrats on your new churn! You'll have great fun in a few weeks! I miss my separator but don't have the space for it in this house anyway. Happy butter-ing!

Unknown said...

Oh how lovely and it doesnt require a power point. Often these manual tools are over priced as they are seen as novelty items whereas once they were everyday. Im glad you have ticked off one of the items on your wish list. Thanks for popping by my blog. I value your input.

Sandy Livesay said...

Leigh,

Talk about a really nice find!!!!

Every time I go to an estate sale I look for one. I've run across a few at these sales, the prices are to high to even consider $190, 200+ dollars. Next time I get on amazon to purchase something, I will search for one. I'm so happy you found a great deal on one. Congratulations, I can already see great butter coming your way :-)

Unknown said...

Oooo, fresh butter!

Leigh said...

Goodwife, thanks! Actually I'm wondering where to find room for all my new tools. :)

Lynda, I just love to find good manual tools!

Sandy, another place to try is ebay. Not as consistent, but there are good buys to be found.

Sarah said...

So glad that you were able to find this at a good price! Enjoy it!

Tina T-P said...

I'll bet that butter is very tasty on toast made on your wood fired grill. Yum.

Unseasonably warm here - it's been in the high 50's - everything is at least a month early in blooming/growing! The Shepherd/Landscaper is beside himself trying to get all the spring pruning done for his customers - & he thinks he's going to need to start mowing lawns in the next couple of weeks!! Hope all is well with your weather. T.

Frugal in Derbyshire said...

I love low-tech equipment too. it won't matter if you have a power failure with that.
What a bargain.

Debby Riddle said...

Wow eight minutes, I'm impressed!It's so cute!

Karen@ onthebanksofsaltcreek.com said...

Nigerian Dwarf goats are know for their high percentage of butterfat. However I have not tried to separate and make butter. Hopefully some day.

Congrats on the deal and good job waiting!

Renee Nefe said...

I could have used some of that on my bread this evening. and I should bake up the other half also...I put it in the freezer. yum

Frank and Fern said...

Hi Leigh. After looking at yours, I also got one of these butter churns. My mistake may have been not letting the cream warm up enough, but what I got was more like whipped watery butter instead of normal butter which is not very good at all. Any advice? This whipped butter stuff will probably end up in the pig bucket which will make them happy, but disappoints us. The only other idea we had is that I turned the paddles too fast. What do you think? Thanks!

Fern

Leigh said...

Fern, the trouble I have is when i warm up the cream too much; I've done better at fridge temp. When it's too warm the butter seems to be melted and doesn't separate from the buttermilk. I've stuck it in the fridge and used it anyway!

I do think you're right about turning the paddles. A slower speed is better, but I'm not sure why. Something to research.