Canning Butter for a rainy day!

Dad and I canned our own butter last year.  Generally I freeze my butter or margarine, but that does take up quite a bit of room if you are trying to store for long term.  Now I will have some margarine in the freezer, but butter on my fruitroom shelf.  Dad and I needed some butter last Sunday and rather than go to the store, I grabbed a jar off the shelf.  I have found this is easy to do and would make a great family home evening and working on your food storage at the same time.  NOTE:  you need to use real butter, not margarine.
I am going to try to grab some everytime I go to Costco for a while so I can stock it up.    

Heat pint jars (without bands) in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes.  (A dripper pan workds well for this.)  One pound of butter slightly more than fills one pint jar, so if you melt 11 pounds of butter, heat 12 pint jars.  While the jars are heating, melt the butter slowly (in a large kettle) until it comes to a slow boil.  Using a large spatula, stir the bottom of the pot often to prevent scorching.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Place the jar lids in a small pot and bring to a boil, leaving to simmer until needed.
     Stirring the melted butter from the bottom to the top with a or measuring cup with spout and handle, pour the melted butter carefully into heated jars through a canning funnel.  Leave 3/4" of head space in the jar.
     Wipe the tops of the jars, then place on hot lids and screw on the bands tightly.  Lids will seal as the jars cool.  The butter will separate into three layers: foam, oil and milk solids.  Once the lids "pop" and seal, shake the jars to mix your butter.  Do this every 15 minutes or so, until the butter retains more consistency throughout the jar.  (This may take up to an hour our longer.)  When just slightly warm, move jars to the refrigerator for an hour.
     Canned butter should store for 3 years or longer on a cool dark shelf. 
Note: It does not need to be refrigerated once opened, if used within a reasonable amount of time.

Hope this is something you will do in your family to help with your food storage.

Love,
Mom