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    Home » Kitchen Science » How to make butter from cream

    How to make butter from cream

    September 16, 2018 By Emma Vanstone 6 Comments

    Did you know you can make butter from cream? This is a super simple way to make butter at home but does require a bit of effort.

    You need good quality double cream, a jar and some strong arms!

    This activity is a fun kitchen hack if you’ve got leftover cream and a great way to learn about colloids and emulsions too!

    A jar containing butter and buttermilk made from cream
    Image taken from Snackable Science

    The cream is basically fat droplets mixed in water. When you shake the cream in the jar the fat droplets stick together to form butter and a milky liquid called buttermilk.

    Glass jar and a carton of double cream for a making butter science activity

    How to make butter from cream at home

    You’ll need

    Double cream – at room temperature

    A container with a lid

    1 step method of making butter in a jar

    Let the cream warm up to room temperature.

    Half-fill the jar with the cream and shut the lid tightly.

    Shake the jar until you feel a lump form. You do need to shake quite vigorously so maybe round up some friends to help. First, the cream will thicken up a little like whipped cream.

    Butter in a jar made from cream

    Shake for longer and the cream will turn into a lump of butter with some milky looking liquid left behind. The milky liquid is buttermilk.

    Wash your hands and gently squeeze as much buttermilk from the butter as you can. Give it a rinse under the tap and taste it!

    What do you think of the taste? It should taste quite different to shop bought butter as it doesn’t have any added flavourings or preservatives.

    Why can you make butter from cream?

    When you think of a mixture of substances what do you think of? Probably not cream? Cream is a type of mixture called a colloid, it is made up of very tiny particles of fat dispersed in water. When you shake the cream the fat particles stick together, forming butter.

    cream separated into butter and buttermilk for making butter from cream

    Cream and butter are a type of colloid known as an emulsion.

    Did you know it was so easy to make butter?

    More ideas for science in the kitchen

    For more kitchen science ideas, check out my fantastic kitchen science experiments.

    As well as making butter from cream, did you know you can make glue from milk?

    How to make butter at home - butter in a jar from cream #kitchenscience #scienceforkids

    Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

      May 04, 2012 at 8:31 am

      I love this experiment it is a great hands on science activity

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        May 04, 2012 at 7:42 pm

        Thanks Cerys!

        Reply
    2. @BlueBearWood

      May 05, 2012 at 8:53 am

      Love this as well. Did go on to add any flavour? Think I’mm going to give this a go with the girls to take into school. 🙂

      Reply
    3. MsXpat

      May 07, 2012 at 6:27 pm

      LOL I thought that’s what it was in the last pic you posted of the creamy stuff.

      Reply
    4. Ticia

      May 08, 2012 at 10:08 pm

      I need to let my kids try this sometime. It’s been on my list a long time

      Thanks for linking to Science Sunday

      Reply
    5. Megan

      May 17, 2012 at 12:58 am

      I have done this with a group of middle school students and with my 4 year old. It was so much fun! We did it in a smaller container and added a marble to help the process and a bit of salt. Fun AND delish!

      Reply

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