Butter churn
1490168
214110662
2008-05-22T03:36:42Z
Mandarax
191757
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/76.102.166.14|76.102.166.14]] ([[User talk:76.102.166.14|talk]]) to last version by ClueBot
[[Image:TibetanWomen,ButterChurn.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tibet]]an women demonstrating use of the butter churn at the [[Field Museum]]]]
[[Image:Leeds butter churn.jpg|thumb|A barrel-type butter churn]]
[[Image:childbutterchurn.jpg|thumb|A typical plunger-type butter churn used by American pioneers]]
A '''butter churn''' is a mechanical device used to agitate [[milk]] [[cream (food)|cream]] until it becomes [[butter]]. [[Churning (butter)|Churning]] the cream brings its fat globules together and causes them to clump into lumps of butter, leaving a liquid called [[butter milk]].
The physical phenomenon which occurs is called ''phase inversion'' - the inner phase and outer phase of an [[emulsion]] exchange places: oil in water emulsion (cream) becomes water in oil emulsion (butter).
Many configurations of churns were used throughout history. The end-over-end churn stands about 4 feet high and swings on a central axle. The "barrel churn" was similar but rolled on its long axis. The plunger-type is harder work than the end-over-end or barrel churn. A plunger or ''dasher'' has to be moved vigorously up and down by hand.
The upright plunge or dash churn is the earliest kind of churn. There is evidence that this type was in use by [[Circa|C.]] 600 AD<ref>[http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-100-103-159-C Churn lid record, The Scran Trust]</ref>. The barrel churn was one of the agricultural innovations of 18th century Europe<ref>[http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0302hsted/030205ellis/030205butter.cheese.html Ellis: Butter and Cheese, Soil And Health Library]</ref>.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://webexhibits.org/butter/kitchen.html Several types of butter churn illustrated and described]
[[Category:Food utensils]]
[[Category:Butter]]
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