Butter Paddles

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Does anyone have a source for good butter paddles? I looked in Lehman's (I went to the store) and they have a good curved paddle, but their slotted one is cheap. Cumberland General Store's paddles look the same as Lehman's, as far as I can tell from the drawing in the catalog. I have been just using my hands, and this melts the butter. Is there another way to get the buttermilk out? I'm not quite sure even how to use the paddles once I find decent ones! I assume you need one flat or curved paddle and one slotted. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), September 18, 2000

Answers

Mary, I have no experience with butter paddles, but we always used a spoon, wooden or metal, and a rubber spatula. I don't think you really need to buy a one-use item, unless someone says butter paddles really work much better, and you are making a lot of butter!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), September 18, 2000.

I use a spoon and a plate and lots of cold tap water. I wash the butter by repeatedly spreading it back and forth across the plate. I was shown how to do this by an older friend who grew up in the Arkansas Ozarks. It certainly isn't necessary to buy butter paddles to get good butter. Just makes sure you wash the butter until the water runs clear. It is nice to use a colored plate to see the buttermilk.

Little bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), September 18, 2000.


Ditto. I just use a wooden spoon or a flat wooden "spoon" which ought to be sold wherever wooden spoons are sold.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 18, 2000.

Thanks very much everyone! I'll use the plate and spoon (maybe a rubber spatula would work, too?). It will be a lot cheaper than the price of those paddles. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), September 18, 2000.

Rubber spatulas work fine, and are readily available. Get good 'uns, like rubbermaid. The cheap ones aren't worth the time it takes to carry 'em home.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), September 18, 2000.


I'll second that post! Over the years, dear hubby has brought home all manner of spatulas (spatulae?) and I can tell you from experience that the low-name and no-name brands are completely worthless. One or two Rubbermaid or other high-end jobbers will outlive twice the cost in cheapo wonders.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 18, 2000.

Anything sturdy enough to not break under pressure will work well. I have used flat wooden spatulas before. Just press the butter against the side of the bowl to squeeze the buttermilk/wash water out.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), September 19, 2000.

My favorite is a wooden rice paddle given to me when I was stationed overseas. You can probably find one if you ever get to an Asian market or maybe if you get to a mall, sometimes they have them in some of the "chef" type stores. What I'd like to find is a ceramic, unglazed bowl because when I'm pressing the liquid out the butter is quite slippery can slide out of the bowl.

-- Anne Tower (bbill@wtvl.net), September 19, 2000.

Butter paddle--was what my Mother used to spank me when I was growing up/ she willed it to me & I used it on my daughter---it is on my kitchen wall & when the grandsons are acting up/ my daughter tells them Grandma has not forgot how to swing that paddle!!!!! I go get it off the wall & in a stirn voice say--"anyone want to see if I still remember how???" Of coarse no one does!!! ha/ So the butter paddle had two uses in our household!!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), September 19, 2000.

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