Self-Sufficiency in Style
gadgets and gizmos
the cream separator
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Self-Sufficiency in Style gadgets and gizmos the cream separator
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For making cream,
skimmed milk, butter and most cheeses,
you will need a cream separator. It is still possible to buy hand powered models, although whether those in antique shops are likely to be in working order is doubtful. |
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The machinery used to separate the cream from the milk is quite delicate -
and rather expensive.
We had difficulty finding a small model at a reasonable price from a reliable supplier. The instructions were badly translated from the German - and the importer was not well informed. However, cheaper models are available in the US and we will see if we can help a little. |
All of the electric machines look much the same. |
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This morning's straight from the cow, last night's from the refrigerator. |
Each morning, following milking, the new milk is added to that from the
night before. This is full cream milk, of course, nothing taken away and
nothing added.
Like so many people we prefer skimmed or reduced fat milk for tea, although some full cream milk is held back as necessary. Full cream milk may be used for some cheeses, adding to coffee and for one or two recipes that call for the real McCoy ...and the cat, who can certainly tell the difference between full cream and skimmed milk |
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The milk is heated to 32 degrees Celsius. |
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The warm milk is poured into the top of the separator.
The machine is switched on so that the motor can reach full speed, this takes about 30 seconds, before the milk is released from the top and into the machine proper. There a centrifuge system is spinning away ready to separate the milk |
| As the milk is separated into its components, one nozzle gives cream, the other skimmed milk. |
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The skimmed milk is allowed to cool and, in this case, poured into bottles
for freezing.
We will drink this during the parts of the year when the cow is either dry, or when her calf is taking all the milk. The cream will either be used straight away, perhaps made into ice-cream or butter , or frozen in tubs for use in the "dry" season. |
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Now, come the important bit...the machine is partly dismantled and washed
very carefully.
And, the difficult bit...put together again. In our case, the factory had wrongly assembled the machine prior to despatch and we copied the mistake. It had to be sent right across Europe and back again, before anyone realised what had gone wrong. |
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| You can find out what other Gadgets and Gizmos can do for you. The Pasta-maker and Ice Cream Maker are attachments to the Kenwood. The Bread-maker is, like the Cream Separator, a separate machine. |
Milk separators are expensive, complicated, fragile and more temperamental
than the user, but they are an indispensable aid to self-sufficiency.
Both the cow and the separator are there to be mastered. |
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assertiveness at the brutally named Hangman's Cottage, just to the south of Misery Corner. |
