Shake, Rattle, and Churn: The History of Making Butter

The Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum, located at The Culinary Institute of America at Copia, in Napa, CA, is a collection of more than 4,000 culinary artifacts. The exhibit’s collection of butter churners, includes an example from an American Shaker community, dating from 1850 – 1890. This butter churn uses a plunge-like agitator paddle to make the butter. Even with several helping hands, making butter in a churn like this one was a very laborious and lengthy process.

Learn more about the museum and visiting hours: https://www.ciaatcopia.com/chuck-williams-culinary-arts-museum/

Watch videos about a selection of museum artifacts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVtTKvDDq_huEOZFb2GNC3ybFk_WnGFyX

Special thanks to Williams Sonoma Inc. Corporate Archives for sharing photography for use in this video series.