How To: Shake Cream into Butter Like a Boss

Shake Cream into Butter Like a Boss

Don't panic the next time you pull an empty tub of butter from the fridge. If you have some heavy whipping cream, save yourself a trip to the grocery store and just make your own. When heavy cream is shaken violently for a long enough duration, it turns to butter—and if you're doing it by hand, it also feels like your arm turns to jello.

WARNING: Shaking cream into butter may result in an amazing workout. Use of video content is at own risk.

For this experiment, use heavy whipping cream and fill a mason jar about halfway with it. Shake hard for about 2 minutes until the liquid turns to a thick whipping cream. When the cream is so thick it won't shake anymore, feel free to take a 2 minute break. You'll need it.

After letting the whipping cream sit for 2+ minutes, pick it up and shake violently again for another 1-2 minutes.

It probably won't feel like anything is happening, but after a minute or two, you'll feel the cream break loose, and a bit of liquid start sloshing around. Then, all of a sudden—you'll have butter in an instant.

Shake for about 30 seconds more, then open the container, pour off the "traditional" buttermilk, and you should be left with a nice ball of butter—with no chemicals or preservatives. Mix in a little salt and you have salted butter.

If you don't want the workout, you can also use an electric mixer to make butter from heavy cream.

Enjoy!

"Quick Clips" are videos of random science experiments in a minute or less. For other projects, check out my other articles here on WonderHowTo or see the videos at thekingofrandom.com.

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1 Comment

Adding a marble to the jar helps to 'shake it up' a little quicker. We've used this as an activity for preschoolers and it makes it easier for them.

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