What is the butterfat percentage in commercial butter?
Commercial versions of butter typically hold about 80 percent fat and 15 percent water. Traditional handmade varieties may contain as little as 65 percent fat and up to 30 percent water.
Questions about Butter
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the first butter factories appear in the United States?
The first butter factories appeared in the United States in the early 1860s. This development followed the successful introduction of cheese factories a decade earlier.
Who invented the centrifugal cream separator used for making butter?
Swedish engineer Carl Gustaf Patrik de Laval marketed the centrifugal cream separator successfully in the late 1870s. This device sped up the butter-making process significantly.
Which countries prefer cultured butter versus sweet cream butter?
Cultured butter is preferred throughout continental Europe while sweet cream butter dominates in the United States and the United Kingdom. French butter often has an 82 percent butterfat minimum compared to the 80 percent minimum in the U.S.
When did Swift and Company begin packaging butter in sticks?
This practice is believed to have originated in 1907 when Swift and Company began packaging butter this way for mass distribution. Four-ounce sticks are commonly produced in two different shapes due to historical differences in printers.