Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
BRK.44.67 |
Object Name |
Bowl, Butter-Working |
Description |
A wooden oblong-shaped butter working bowl. Handmade from a single piece of wood. |
Year Range from |
1850 |
Year Range to |
1900 |
Dimensions |
H-10.2 W-56.2 L-31.1 cm |
History |
The majority of farm families in Upper Canada owned a cow to produce milk. Milk was an essential product in many early settler households. With milk, families could make butter as milk soured less than a day before refrigeration. A small churn was used to make butter for the family. Milk was poured into a crock pot and left in a cool place (either in the barn, away from sunlight and thirsty animals) or the root cellar for a day. This allowed the cream to rise to the top. The cream was then skimmed off and churned usually by the children. After fifteen to twenty minutes, the contents of the churn were dumped into a wooden bowl. Using a spoon to hold the butter in place, the wooden bowl was tipped to allow the unchurned buttermilk to drain off. This step was repeated until all the liquid was drained. Finally, salt was sprinkled in liberally to delay decomposition. Reference: 'Food for Settlers' by Bobbie Kalman. Published by Cabtree, New York. 1982 |