Canning Butter

[havejoy]

I just found out butter can be canned and it stays good on the shelf for at least three years. And you don't need a pressure canner to do it.

[Elgama]

I just found out butter can be canned and it stays good on the shelf for at least three years. And you don't need a pressure canner to do it.

closer to 40 years i know people opened some from ww2 and it was fine

-Charley

[havejoy]

No kidding! Wow! I'm going to can a bunch while it's on sale.

[Stars15k]

Yep, it's been used canned for years, decades, maybe even centuries (the process not the product) in India. It's called ghee. They slowly melt and remove the solids that settle out. That's what gets rancid. Several groceries around here (NE Indiana) carry it on the shelf; many Indian customers would stock up when butter was clearance marked (like close-dated) to spend all night canning.

What I've always wondered is does anyone still "glass" fresh eggs? I've heard that was done (from a local Amish woman) but hadn't been done in a long time by their community because eggs are so cheap and plentiful. Supposed to be a world away from powdered.

[SmilingRedhead]

How does one 'can' something? I don't know anyone who does it here in England to preserve their food... Is it a common thing to do in the States?

[havejoy]

Most everyone I know cans meats and vegetables. "How" you can depends upon "what" you can.

[havejoy]

We also vacuum seal things like chocolate chips, dehydrated fruit and most nuts.

[pam]

Yes how do you can butter?

[Elgama]

Yep, it's been used canned for years, decades, maybe even centuries (the process not the product) in India. It's called ghee. They slowly melt and remove the solids that settle out. That's what gets rancid. Several groceries around here (NE Indiana) carry it on the shelf; many Indian customers would stock up when butter was clearance marked (like close-dated) to spend all night canning.

What I've always wondered is does anyone still "glass" fresh eggs? I've heard that was done (from a local Amish woman) but hadn't been done in a long time by their community because eggs are so cheap and plentiful. Supposed to be a world away from powdered.

the Scots have pickled eggs - being able to can stuff in the UK isn't easy as we are now advised even in church books not to can vegatables etc, so the equipment needed isn;t available I know my husband wanted to

-Charley

[WANDERER]

Canning isn't done a lot here/possibly because things grow all year round and with freezers it's become a bit of a lost art. Health concerns are also there. It's a much bigger thing in the U.S. Dehydraters are more popular locally.

It's possible to find lids, bottling equipment and stuff through the greenie/environmental/back to basics suppliers and forums so you can try there Elgama (a friend has finally found a non-U.S source for replacement lids). I'm involved in some of the local forums, not UK based.

Question: is canned butter exactly the same as ghee? My friend said never again after her canned butter exploded everywhere and we can't get vegetable shortening here readily so as an alternate source it might be good. I'm just not sure you would be able to use ghee in the place of butter for cooking?????

[havejoy]

To can butter you take pint jars and put them in the oven at 250F for 25 minutes. Slowly melt the butter and bring it to a boil for at least 5 minutes. Have the lids and rings boiling for at least 3 minutes.

Pour the boiling butter into the hot pint jars almost to the top. Make sure the rim of the jar is clean, then put on the lids and rings. Wait a little while and you will hear the plink of the lids sealing.

Shake the jars every 5 minutes for about an hour to keep the butter from stratifying as it cools.

You're done!

[havejoy]

Ghee is different than canned butter in that you start with unsalted butter and then boil/simmer off the water. The protein will settle out on the bottom and then you scoop off the top and that is ghee.

[amightyfortress]

Ball Blue Book of Preserving, that's what you need.

[Abraham]

Yes you can 'can' butter but it is much much better and easier and so much tasier of you order it from Australia. The butter and cheese for that matter will last about 20 years on teh shelf.

We canned butter and though after 1 year it was not 'bad' it looked gross. So yes you can but there is a better way. I will have to get the company and it is shipped out of California. It is the best both the cheese and the butter. Commercially canned it safer, esp. with working with butter.

[WANDERER]

Ballantyne, Victoria canned butter/cheese powders? Looking for an Aussie outlet, probably easier to get in California.

[havejoy]

The butter powder taste leaves a lot to be desired. That's why I'm happy to be canning my butter.

[WANDERER]

Ok...have come across people that mix in milk and salt into ghee to make a butter version. Sounds awful doesn't it...LOL...but doable if you need to : )

[amightyfortress]

Ok...have come across people that mix in milk and salt into ghee to make a butter version. Sounds awful doesn't it...LOL...but doable if you need to : )

Sounds alot better than that Frankenmargarine they sell in the stores. At least it's milk, salt, ghee, not a chemistry experiment :)

[MorningStar]

I've never heard of canned butter! Cool. One less thing to live without in an emergency. :)

[Traela]

I think I would use the home-canned butter for baking, and save the "real" butter in the freezer for toast.

The commercially canned butter is hideously expensive - $5.00 for a 12 oz. can. But it might be worth getting a few.

[Guest Username-Removed]

I recently tried some canned butter from a manufacturer - Whoa - it was really gross! I also tried some of thier canned cheese, and that was a lot better.

[Traela]

I may have to try this. Butter is on sale this week, 4/$5.00.

[mattro]

I canned butter a couple weeks ago for the first time. It turned out very bitter, with a strong aftertaste. Can anyone give suggestions why, or is this normal for canned butter?

I followed some instruction very closely. My stove is hard to simmer, I might have boiled it too much.

[meredith14]

I never had tried to make it but I can tell you that NOTHING is going to taste like the real thing. You just have to find one that you can live with and "get" by with.

OR...

get a cow and make it that way!

[havejoy]

I canned butter a couple weeks ago for the first time. It turned out very bitter, with a strong aftertaste. Can anyone give suggestions why, or is this normal for canned butter?

I followed some instruction very closely. My stove is hard to simmer, I might have boiled it too much.

My canned butter tastes the same as butter that's been stored in the refrigerator so .........not sure what happened unless you might have scorched it??