Knowing how to can butter at home provides a number of benefits and is something that even those with limited kitchen experience can do. Canned butter offers a convenient way to preserve the rich flavor of fresh dairy products for later use, and it’s also economical since you can buy ingredients in bulk and make multiple batches. To help you successfully can butter at home, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide.
Introduction
The process of canning butter is relatively simple and straightforward, but there are several important steps that must be completed correctly in order to ensure a safe and tasty end product. To get started, it’s essential to gather the right tools and ingredients.
Why Can Butter?
Canning butter allows it to be shelf stable and you can store it without refrigeration. This can be important in case of power outages. It is also much cheaper to can your own butter than to buy it canned or freeze-dried. Butter is just one of those staples you don’t want to be without!
Getting Ready
Tools and ingredients required:
- Large pot Amazon Basics 8 quart Stainless Steel Pot with Lid
- Canning jars with lids and rings 16 oz Mason Jars with Lids and Rings on Amazon
- Butter (unsalted is preferred)
- Water
- Pressure canner Presto 23 quart Pressure Canner
- Slotted spoon
- Jar lifter or other tools for handling hot jars Stainless Steel Canning Tool Kit
- Canning funnel
Once you’ve gathered the necessary materials, it’s important to properly clean and prepare the jars and lids before beginning the butter canning process.
Generally, for canned butter, half-pint jars are best for most families’ usage needs. Larger than that and some may end up going to waste.
Preparation Steps to Clean and Prepare the Jars and Lids
To ensure a safe and successful outcome, it’s important to take the time to properly clean your jars and lids. The best way to do this is by boiling them for at least 10 minutes in a large pot of water. Alternatively, you can put your jars on a cookie sheet the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. This may be easier since you don’t have to worry about drying the jars.
It’s also a good idea to ensure that your jars and lids are still in good condition before using them. The lids and rings can be put in a pan to sterilize by bringing to a boil.
Once you’ve cleaned and prepared the jars and lids, it’s time to move on to the butter canning process itself. Leave the jars in the oven or pan of water to stay warm until ready to use.
The Butter Canning Process
The first step is to boil the butter in a large pan. Place as much butter as you plan on canning into the pan and allow it to melt. It’s important to stir the melted butter so that any pieces of milk solids don’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. This will remove some of the water content.
Once all of your butter is melted, carefully ladle it into each jar until they are full. Make sure to leave about a half an inch of space at the top of each jar. After filling each jar, wipe the rims and place the lid and ring on top of the jar and tighten it down.
Finally, place your jars into a pressure canner and process them for 90 minutes to fully seal. Once finished, remove the jars from the canner and allow them to cool, shaking them every 10 minutes or so to mix the milk solids, which may separate, back into the butter. After the jars have completely cooled completely store in a dark place.
To ensure that your canned butter has the best shelf life possible, store in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat. It is also important to check the jars periodically for signs of spoilage. If any of your jars do not seal properly, discard them.
Shelf-Life of Canned Butter
This is an easy and relatively safe way to preserve butter for extended periods of time. With this method, you can ensure that your butter stays shelf stable for up to 5 years per some sources but you should be rotating your butter out and using it.
Safety while Canning Butter
Safety precautions should be taken when handling butter that has been canned. Always wear heat-resistant gloves when handling jars, lids and rings as these will be hot. Use a jar lifter to carefully remove the jars from the canner. Allow them to cool completely before storing in a dark place away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat. If any of your jars don’t seal properly, you should discard the butter and not consume it.
Can you Water Bath Can Butter?
There are people who water bath can butter but I was not comfortable doing it that way. I had a pressure canner and figured why not be as safe as possible.
Does Canned Butter Taste Like Butter?
Canned butter does taste like butter but the texture is different, in my opinion, than fresh butter. It seems a bit grainy to me but the taste is great and it can be used in recipes and sauces just as you would fresh butter.
Conclusion
Canned butter is an easy and safe way to preserve butter for up to 5 years. If you are going to attempt canning butter, make sure to take safety precautions such as wearing heat-resistant gloves and using a jar lifter. Canned butter does taste like fresh butter but the texture may be slightly different due to the grainy consistency. It can still be used in recipes and sauces just like fresh butter. With canned butter, you can enjoy the taste of butter for years to come.
For more on home canning for beginners click here
For a pressure canning guide click here.