Butter churns are interesting implements used in the traditional process of making butter. They have a rich history dating back centuries and have played a crucial role in households, farms, and communities around the world.
A butter churn is a container or apparatus designed to agitate cream or milk until it separates into butter and buttermilk. It typically consists of a wooden or metal container with a handle or crank attached to a paddle or dasher inside. The churn is operated by hand, with the rhythmic up-and-down or back-and-forth motion creating the necessary agitation to transform cream into butter.
Butter Churns come in various shapes and sizes, reflecting the diverse cultural and regional practices of butter-making. They can range from simple hand-held churns used by individuals or small families to larger, more elaborate churns used in commercial settings.
Using a butter churn allows one to experience the traditional and time-honored method of producing butter. It connects us with our heritage, reminding us of the labor and craftsmanship involved in food preparation before the era of modern conveniences. Additionally, making butter with a Churn Offers a sensory experience, as the rhythmic motion and sound create a unique connection with the process.
Do you want to improve your digestion and gut health, make your bones stronger and even lose weight? Then you should add kefir to your daily diet!
Kefir might sound somewhat exotic to you, but we believe you should try to include this drink in your diet—especially if you’re familiar with kombucha or other fermented foods. The taste is quite mild and kefir brings so many health benefits to the table.
What is kefir?
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that originated in North Caucasus. It is very popular in Asia and Eastern Europe. It has a thick, creamy and slightly bubbly fermented texture as well as a mild sour taste. You can drink kefir as is, add your favorite sweetener to it or even use it for cooking pancakes, baking and more!
Here are all the nutrients contained in just one cup of kefir:
Protein: 9 grams
Calcium: 24% of the daily recommended value
Phosphorus: 20% of the daily recommended value
Vitamin B12: 29% of the daily recommended value
Riboflavin (B2): 25% of the daily recommended value
Magnesium: 7% of the daily recommended value
Vitamin D: 12% of the daily recommended value
Yes, all this goodness is in just one cup of this drink! You basically can replace your multi-nutrient supplement with kefir.
It’s a powerful probiotic
We’re somewhat used to yogurt being a probiotic, and it is a good one. Kefir just happens to be even more powerful. Kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of bacteria and yeasts. This makes the drink a very rich and diverse source of probiotics—especially compared to other fermented dairy products that usually contain fewer strains and no yeasts. That’s why kefir is so good for your gut health.
Kefir significantly improves digestive function, reduces bloating and even speeds up your metabolism so that your body can process food faster. That’s why doctors in Eastern Europe and Asia often recommend that patients with gut illnesses add kefir to their diet.
It helps you fight infections
It’s getting better and better, isn’t it? Kefir is a true superfood that can also help protect against harmful bacteria thanks to the Lactobacillus kefiri probiotic it contains. It can help you fight Salmonella, Helicobacter pylori, E. coli and other harmful bacteria. Also, kefir contains a type of carbohydrate called Kefiran that improves your protection against nasty bacteria.
It strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis
As a great source of calcium and vitamin K2—the latter helps the body process calcium—kefir is an ideal drink to keep your bones healthy. It improves the quality of bone tissue, thus making your bones denser and stronger. As a result, kefir can make you less prone to fractures.
Thanks to this, kefir also can reduce the risk of osteoporosis (a deterioration of bone tissue that increases the risk of fractures). This illness is a very big concern in Western countries—especially for older women. So it’s great news that a single cup of kefir per day can help prevent bone density issues.
It’s suitable for lactose-intolerant people
Thanks to the fermentation process, the lactose sugar that milk contains turns into lactic acid. That’s why people who suffer from lactose intolerance can surprisingly find themselves feeling OK after consuming kefir.
Of course, bear in mind that the fermentation process doesn’t make kefir a completely lactose-free drink. It just significantly reduces the amount of lactose sugar, which is the cause of lactose-intolerance symptoms. If kefir from cow’s milk still makes you experience discomfort, you can try goat or sheep kefir since milk from these animals contains less lactose sugar than milk from cows. And if the issue still bothers you, it’s always possible to make kefir from plant-based milk.
It may ease allergy and asthma symptoms
Both asthma and allergies are caused by an inflammatory process. Research shows that kefir can reduce inflammation in the body. Therefore, it might be helpful for people who struggle with allergies and asthma. However, the research is incomplete and we wouldn’t recommend putting too much faith in kefir in this case.
Nevertheless, this dairy drink can definitely become a useful and healthy addition to your diet.
It can help you lose weight
While being highly nutritious, kefir is low in calories. One cup contains about 104 calories, 11.6 grams of carbs and 2-3 grams of fat (depending on the type of milk used to make it). Despite being a low-calorie drink, kefir is incredibly filling too. So if you feel hungry at night and don’t want to binge-eat, a cup of kefir can save the day.
We’ve mentioned that kefir can help speed up your metabolism. Here is a little tip for you: Try adding one teaspoon each of ginger powder and cinnamon per cup of kefir (depending on your tolerance of these spices). Such a drink can greatly boost your metabolism and help you stay fit.
How to make kefir at home
Now, let’s see how you can make this dairy drink at home. The process is fairly straightforward. Frankly, it is quite difficult to mess it up.
You will need:
1 pint of milk of your choice
½ tsp kefir grains
1 slice of lemon or 1 drop of lemon oil (optional)
A fine-mesh non-metal strainer
A non-metal bowl
Paper towels or coffee filters (or a clip-top jar)
Step 1
Add the milk and kefir grains to a jar. Cover the jar with paper towels or coffee filters and secure them with a rubber band. This will help prevent bugs and dust from getting into your kefir. If you’re using a clip-top jar, you will just need to close the lid without using any paper towels or coffee filters.
Step 2
Put the jar in a warm and dark place. The temperature should be 65-85°F (18-29°C). Leave the mixture to ferment for 18-24 hours. It’s easy to tell when your kefir has already fermented. The mixture will be thicker and smell of fermented food. If there is yellowish liquid that has separated from everything else, that’s OK. It just means that next time you will need to either use more milk or reduce the fermentation time.
Step 3
Place a strainer over a bowl. It’s important to use non-metal items because metal can negatively impact the quality and taste of kefir. If you don’t have a non-metal strainer or its mesh is not fine enough, you can put a thin kitchen towel inside.
Pour your kefir mixture into the strainer while stirring it with a non-metal spoon, gently pushing it through the mesh. When all the liquid appears in the bowl, you will be left with kefir grains in your strainer. Just add them to another pint of milk and you can start the fermentation process all over again.
Step 4
It’s time to consume your homemade kefir! Drink it plain or add lemon slices or lemon oil for some additional freshness. You can play around with mint and sweeteners as well. Adjust the kefir to your taste without any worries.
Homemade kefir will stay fresh in the fridge for 7-10 days. If you somehow manage to store your kefir for longer, there is no need to throw it away. Use it as a base for fluffy pancakes or cake batter!
An alternative method
While kefir doesn’t need as much warmth as, say, yogurt to ferment, it can be tricky to keep it at the required temperature during the winter and summer. Also, not everyone might like the fermentation smell passing through the paper towels or coffee filters you used to cover the jar.
A milk pasteurizer will automatically keep the mixture within the required temperature range while also protecting it from any dust or bugs. You can also use this machine to make yogurt and other fermented dairy products. And of course, it’s irreplaceable for properly pasteurizing fresh milk. As you might know, all fermented dairy foods require you to use pasteurized milk, as any foreign bacteria might spoil the process or be harmful to you. So if you want to make fresh milk safe without killing all the nutrients it contains by boiling it, a milk pasteurizer is a must-have for your kitchen.
You can check out all the milk pasteurizers we offer to find the one that fits your needs. If you need any help with choosing one, we are always ready to assist you. Just drop us a line!
We hope you will enjoy your homemade kefir and it brings you numerous health benefits!
Humanity is used to the idea of consuming animal-derived milk and dairy. We’ve been enjoying it since 8,000-10,000 BC. It’s been a cornerstone of our diets for ages. We value dairy for all the health benefits it brings, from filling us with energy to helping us build strong bones, develop muscles, improve our gut health and more. Milk boosts our immune system and works as an anti-inflammatory remedy and a probiotic.
Milk is still a very important part of the diet of people around the world—especially in poorer countries since it is a valuable source of calories and can help prevent issues in malnourished children. Many of us also just appreciate the taste of dairy products.
With that said, plant-based milk and dairy have become overwhelmingly popular lately. Today, cafes are expected to offer a range of plant-based milks for you to put in your coffee. And the amount of dairy products made of plant-based milk has increased significantly. In many places, it’s possible to find ice cream, fermented dairy, cheeses and other products made of plant-based milk.
In this article, we will try to figure out if plant-based milk can replace animal-derived milk in terms of health benefits.
Animal-derived milk—processing and nutritional value
The value of animal milk is hard to overestimate. It’s clearly beneficial and it’s considered to be important to consume for a good reason. This product is rich in proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and numerous vitamins and micronutrients. We’ve recently conducted extensive research on all the health benefits and nutritional value of animal-derived milk. You can check it out here.
But there is another side of milk. When unpasteurized, it can cause health issues due to the harmful microorganisms it might contain. That’s why it’s mandatory in most countries to pasteurize milk gathered for sale. Small farms must pasteurize their dairy too—even if they’re selling it to just a couple of people. However, many people who gather milk for their own use avoid this step (usually because they believe that pasteurization makes milk less beneficial for their health and worsens its taste).
Here are our thoughts on whether pasteurized milk is better or worse than raw milk:
While that might be true, it largely depends on the method of pasteurization. The best one is Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) pasteurization. It requires heating milk to 135-150°C for just a few seconds. This method allows you to preserve as many nutrients and vitamins as possible and doesn’t change the milk’s taste.
It’s easy to pasteurize milk at home with a pasteurizer. You can also use this machine to make fermented dairy products! Check out our range of pasteurizers if you want to get one for your kitchen. And if you have any issues with choosing the most suitable one, you can always reach out to us.
As we learn more about all the benefits of animal-derived milk, a few questions arise: Why has plant-based milk become so popular? Why do people choose it instead of animal-derived milk? The simple answer is that plant-based milk can also bring many health benefits.
But there are other reasons why people switch to such milk. First of all, they might want to stop consuming animal-derived products altogether and go vegan for their own reasons. Secondly, some might simply like the taste of plant-based milk better.
Another reason would be lactose intolerance. People who are allergic to lactose (sugar that is found in milk) experience many unpleasant symptoms when consuming animal-derived dairy. That’s why they turn to plant-based alternatives. However, there are so many options for lactose-free animal-derived dairy that you don’t necessarily have to give up the taste and texture of traditional dairy.
Lastly, with vegetarian and vegan diets becoming so popular, plant-based milk has become trendy as well. As a result, some people switch to these drinks with the sole goal of following something that is considered to be in vogue.
Benefits of plant-based milk
Plant-based milk can be divided into five types:
Cereal-based
Legume-based
Nut-based
Seed-based
Pseudocereal-based
Obviously, the health benefits of each type of plant-based milk come from the products each milk alternative is made of. For legumes, the benefits are that they’re rich in carbs, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Chickpeas are full of fibers, monosaccharides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides. Soy contains a lot of carbs, proteins, lipids, fatty acids and amino acids.
Seeds contain animal-like proteins (when heated, enzymatically treated or presented with acids, they behave like those found in animal-derived milk). Pumpkin seeds have a lot of lipids, protein and carbs. Flaxseed is rich in fatty acids. Often, seed-based milk is made of sesame seeds, but it’s not a very advantageous animal milk alternative, as sesame seeds lose quite a lot of health benefits when processed to become plant-based milk. When fermented with lactic acid β-glucosidase, though, sesame milk gains quite a strong antioxidant effect. That’s why it’s best to use this drink for making fermented dairy alternatives.
Cereal milk is quite popular too. Oats are high in fiber, vitamin E, β-glucan and polyunsaturated fatty acids. They also work well as a probiotic. Moreover, they contain flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids and other bioactive phytochemicals. Rice is low in protein but high in nutrients. When fermented, it contains a lot of calcium, iron and magnesium, and works as a probiotic.
Nut milk is perhaps the most popular option. Almonds contain a lot of monounsaturated fatty acids, protein, fiber, manganese, vitamin E, antioxidants and more, which makes this milk alternative the healthiest plant-based milk. It’s also considered to be the best-tasting plant-based milk. Coconut milk can increase high-density lipoprotein, thus contributing to lowering cholesterol levels. It’s also a great alternative to animal-derived milk when it comes to making dairy products or cooking dishes that should contain dairy.
Let’s highlight some important facts about plant-based milk and animal-derived milk (we’re using cow’s milk as an example of animal milk):
Coconut milk
Pros:
Low in calories.
Tastes good.
Cons:
No proteins.
Rich in saturated fats.
Soy milk
Pros:
Rich in protein.
Can be part of a balanced diet.
Cons:
Not everyone is a fan of the taste.
May be an allergen.
Almond milk
Pros:
Can be part of a balanced diet.
Low in calories.
Tastes good.
Cons:
Can be an allergen.
Rice milk
Pros:
Almost the same caloric value as cow’s milk.
Works well for making fermented plant-based dairy.
The main concern is that industrial plant-based milks often contain quite a few undesirable ingredients such as preservatives, thickeners and sweeteners. They might cause issues for your digestive system. Pesticides and other things plants are often presented with might become a health hazard as plant-based milk is made. All that dangerous stuff will appear in your milk alternative. The best approach, in our opinion, is to make plant-based milk at home from ingredients that were checked for any harmful elements.
Also, remember that vegan milk is low in proteins, calcium and vitamin D. So if you decide to replace animal-derived milk with it, make sure to get enough of those micro and macronutrients from other foods or supplements.
The best plant-based milk for coffee
Now, let’s talk about the fun part: the taste. While everyone has their own favorite when it comes to flavor, plant-based milk hits differently when mixed with coffee in terms of both taste and texture. Also, different vegan milks behave differently when heated and introduced to the acidity of coffee.
Soy milk
Its taste is quite neutral, which is a good thing when it comes to adding it to your cup of coffee. It offers similar performance to animal-derived milk when heated. But it might curdle when presented with the acidity or the temperature of the coffee.
Almond milk
Its nutty and bitter taste can be a good addition to coffee. Almond milk adds a nice extra flavor, but due to the lower protein content, it’s quite watery. It can also split when added to coffee.
Coconut milk
This milk alternative is the best one in terms of texture. It’s creamy and dense, so it makes a good base for froth and foam. However, it’s quite sweet. That’s why those who love the acidic and bitter taste of coffee might not like adding coconut milk to their drink. Also, the bubbly foam of coconut milk fades quicker than that of animal-derived milk.
Oat milk
Taste-wise, this is the best partner for coffee thanks to its wheaty notes. It’s also rather thick and creamy, so it makes a good foam and stretches well. Unfortunately, it might curdle when combined with coffee.
Cashew milk
This milk alternative is quite expensive because of the priciness of cashew nuts. However, it is very similar to cow’s milk when it comes to creaminess. The nutty flavor complements the coffee quite deliciously, but it’s rather sweet, so if you love a bitter cup of coffee, cashew milk is not for you. The foam it creates is very bubbly and fades quickly while also having a “bubble bath” texture that many might find unpleasant.
Rice milk
It has a neutral taste that is good for not spoiling your favorite coffee. But rice milk is also quite watery, so if you’re craving an Americano with milk, add this alternative to espresso. This plant-based milk also performs poorly if you want to make some foam with it.
Final thoughts
Everyone should decide for themselves whether they want to stick to animal-derived milk or switch to vegan alternatives. It all comes down to your preferences in terms of diet and flavor. Plant-based milk can offer quite a lot of health benefits, but it all depends on the way a producer processes all those legumes, nuts, seeds or cereal.
As adamant lovers of homemade products, we want to encourage you to make your own plant-based milk at home—especially since it’s rather easy to make!
Goat milk cream could be a natural product that comes from goat milk, however, unless you've got a milk cream separator a number of that cream goes to be pretty troublesome to get rid of.
Now that doesn't mean that you just cannot get the bulk of the cream of the goat milk, it simply implies that some are getting to be left behind.
The only downside is you may have to be compelled to either freeze the cream till you've got enough for your formula otherwise you are getting to have to be compelled to purchase a cream separator at the shop to supplement what comes off the goat milk.
How To Separate Goat Milk Thick Cream
As mentioned higher than, the best thanks to separate the cream from the goat milk is to use either a manual or electric cream separator.
These have come back a protracted manner in recent years and a tabletop version appropriate for a smaller quantity of milk is currently promptly accessible.
A cream centrifuge is largely a centrifugal device that separates the cream from the milk therefore you finish up with cream and milk.
There are each all-metal ones and ones that are made from plastic.
While the plastic ones are cheaper, my recommendation is to settle on one that's all metal therefore it lasts for years to come back.
Of course, must you decide to not pay the cash to shop for a cream separator, there's different to get rid of the cream from the goat milk.
Simply enable the goat milk to take a seat within the white goods nightlong or a minimum of between the morning and evening milking, then use a metal spoon to scoop off the maximum amount of the cream as you'll.
The cream will rise to the highest of the jar because the goat milk cools.
If you set your goat milk in an exceedingly clear glass instrumentality, it's simple to differentiate the cream from the goat milk as a result of the cream goes to make a thick darker white layer on the terribly prime of the goat milk.
When you take away the cream with a spoon it will appear reasonably thick and gloppy.
This is traditional.
Now by removing it employing a spoon, you're getting to miss some and additionally find yourself with a bit of milk within the cream.
Tips For Separating Thick Cream From Goat Milk
I like to relax my goat milk in pint canning jars crammed not quite 1/2 full once I pasteurize the goat milk.
While smaller amounts of milk mean there's a diluent layer of cream that forms on prime, I want this can be what works best on my behalf of me.
Now, if you retain your milk within the white goods for terribly long, or maybe freeze it, a thicker layer of cream would possibly type on prime of the goat milk, particularly if you probably did not savvy all scraped off with a spoon throughout your initial strive.
Just check the goat milk before you employ it and scrap off any that continues to be.
If you employ a cream separator for goat milk, however, this could not happen because the machine should take away all of the creams.
How To Use Thick Cream
There are several uses for cream.
Recipes like frozen desserts incorporate a combination of goat milk and cream.
Homemade topping needs the employment of cream.
Another fashionable use for cream is this goat milk butter formula.
Of course, there are different uses for cream likewise, and albeit, I favor taking away the cream from our goat milk before drinking it just because I don't just like the feel of the clod of cream once I drink it.
For people who favor laying aside their own cream and not using any factory-made cream in the least in their recipes, a simple thanks to trying this is to freeze the cream mistreatment identical technique wont to freeze goat milk.
Making dairy products by hand is too tough. So, if you manage a dairy farm, you must grasp the significance of each and every machine that is employed in the dairy industry. We will discuss the cream separator in this post, which is used to separate the cream from the milk.
With the advent of technology, any task can now be completed with the assistance of machines. If you want to start a dairy business, you must first grasp the importance of each machine that is utilized in the industry. Dairy equipment must be used with care in order to remain in good working order for a long time. Dairy machines contain a variety of equipment, including:
Cream Separators
Milk Pasteurizer
Butter churner
So, in this essay, we will go through the cream separator in great detail. If you want to start a dairy business, you should read this article attentively. First and foremost, you must learn how to use a milk cream separator.
What is a milk cream separator?
The milk cream separator is the most important piece of dairy equipment for separating milk from the cream. There are two types of separators on the market: manual and electric cream separators. Small business owners typically employ manual cream separators, but electric cream separators are used to create enough or too much cream from milk. The following are the main components of a separator:
Casing
Milk receiving tank
Electric Motor
Drum
Cream and skim milk receiver
The float chamber
To get the greatest quality product, you must verify all of the parts ahead of time. Let’s try to know the principles of the cream separators.
Principle of cream separators
Separators come in a variety of materials, productivity, and capacity, as we mentioned in the previous paragraph. Furthermore, you have the option of using a manual or electric cream separator, all of which operate similarly. These separate milk from cream, with the help of a drum and plates found in a milk separator. Separation of contaminants is also part of the separation process, which ensures that you get a high-quality product or cream.
The process of Separating Milk
If you’re using an electric cream separator, you’ll need to turn on the switch first and then wait for the engine to start correctly.
After that, pour roughly 1 liter of water into the cream separator before pouring the milk in.
After that, you must boil the milk at a high temperature for at least 2–3 minutes and repeat the process.
Separates the cream from the milk and stores it in the utensil at the end.
We'll walk you through some helpful hints for choosing the best cream
separator for your dairy business in this article.
The
capacity of a cream separator does not reflect the amount of milk that can
be processed.
When a
manufacturer claims that cream separators can separate 100 liters of
milk in an hour, this does not imply that it can separate 100 liters of milk.
The separators will become clogged with fat, grass particles, and other debris
over time. It is for this reason that the separator must be halted after 45
minutes of operation, the drum must be unwound, and the cream separator for
home use must be turned off. It will only take you 15 minutes.
Inquire with the manufacturer about what you should do while operating the
machine.
Plastic
isn't always the enemy.
Plastic in dairy equipment, on the other hand, is beneficial in a
variety of ways you may not have considered. Without a doubt, the plastic would
break easily and will not smell pleasant. Metal is popular among many
individuals.
Plastic, on the other hand, is a fantastic solution, and its use will
not disturb you in the least. This option is both less expensive and more
effective.
Check
the parts that come into contact with food.
Stainless steel is the best material for all of these alternatives.
Aside from that, anodized aluminum is an option. After that, you have the
option of choosing between aluminum and polycarbonate. You should avoid using
tin-plated pieces since the material can peel off and rust, lowering the
quality of the milk. As a result, make intelligent choices to ensure that the
end consumer receives high-quality milk and dairy products.
The
type of engine that is installed in the machine.
There are two types of engines: those with a brush and those without.
Electronics are present in brushless motors, which help to manage the engine
speed and can precisely react to voltage surges.
Brush engines are less complicated and do not have any electronics.
Furthermore, it allows you to alter the speed of action, which is ideal for
separation.
The motor with brushes is the best option because it is safe and does
not require a lot of electricity. As a result, the likelihood of the machine
breaking down is minimized.
Is
there a vacuity in fixing hooks in the division?
Fixing beaters are demanded safety purposes so that the division is
fixed to the milk
cream separator container. However, the division won't break and
the girding objects aren't going to get damaged, If someone hits it by
accident. The milk vessel has to fix hooks attached to it which increases the
stability.
