Butter Pat

Scotch hands

Scotch hands are wooden spatulas used when making butter. They are used to press freshly churned butter to remove the watery buttermilk during the butter finishing process, as well as to distribute salt through the butter. Removing the buttermilk and adding salt helps to prevent rancidity in finished butter. One side of the paddle will be ribbed or grooved to allow the buttermilk to drain away from the butter during pressing. The ungrooved side may be used for shaping the butter into final form. The highest quality Scotch hands are made out of sycamore wood, but they can also be made out of metal.

Butter

Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 81% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condiment, and used as a fat in baking, sauce-making, pan frying, and other cooking procedures.

butter pat

Noun

1. A type of wooden paddle used to shape butter.
2. A piece of butter formed into a ball or other shape for table use.