Mystery Tool: Revealed!

What this isn't:

• a rolling pin for one enormous slice of pizza
• a biscuit brake (a tool for making beaten biscuits)
• a coconut cracker

This very interesting piece of equipment is a butter worker from the late 1800s. Back in ye olde tymes, the woman of the house would churn butter for household use and sale.

After cream is churned into butter, the new butter is still fairly damp with buttermilk. She could knead the new butter by hand to remove the excess liquid, or she could use a butter worker. She could also use the worker to help her knead in salt and a coloring (usually carrot juice) if she wanted to punch up the butter's color.

This great tool was one of many unique implements we saw at the Johnson & Wales Culinary Archives and Museum. I'll be posting a full trip report for you all soon!