In an unfortunate moment the word Cream was adopted
into the English language as applying to the thick olea-
ginous fluid which rises to the top of milk after standing,
and from which butter and cheese are made. With a know-
ledge of Continental cookery we became familiar with the
Continental adaptation of the term, hence our acceptation
of the word is not only extensive but somewhat contradic-
tory and confusing, unless we are content to regard as
Cream every thickened fluid that has the oily parts of milk
for its foundation. Of the liqueurs called cremes, such as
creme de noyeau, these may be considered fancy names ;
also Creams in confectionery, as chocolate Creams. These
will be fully described under their particular headings, so
also will custards, cullis, and other terms that might be
confused with Cream.
Creaming, or Separating as it is technically called,
is brought about in either of two ways : by setting the
milk in large earthen pans in a dairy kept at an even
temperature, taking the Cream off with a skimmer as it
rises and accumulates on the surface ; or by the use of a
machine called a “ separator.” By the first, or “ setting ”
system, the oleaginous particles of the milk rise to the
For details respecting Culmary Processes, Utensils , Sauces, &c, , referred to, see under their special heads.
462
THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF PRACTICAL COOKERY.
Fig
55S. Cream-bowl (Dairy
Supply Company).
Cream — continued.
surface and collect in a thin stratum, provided the milk
is left quite undisturbed for some time. The now
celebrated Dr. Laval discovered that violent agitation
would have the same effect, and invented machines
called “ separators,” small ones being worked by
hand, while larger ones - require steam power. One
of the hand-power machines, called “ the Baby,” is
especially calculated to render good service where only,
two or three cows are kept. Experience shows that
this machine will extract
some 20 or 30 per cent,
more Cream from the milk
than can be obtained by
“setting.” It operates on
new milk at once, just as it
comes from the cow, the
cylinder at the top being
sometimes fitted with a cold-
water jacket so as to reduce
the temperature of the milk
if warm. The operation is
very simple : the milk is put into the cylinder at the top,
and by a rapid turning of the handle the Cream is
separated from the milk by a centrifugal action, and
after being collected by a specially arranged apparatus,
trickles out of one pipe, whilst the “ separated ” milk
pours out from the other.
Cream-setting pans are made of various sizes, styles,
and materials — those stamped
solid from silver-tinned steel
are excellent, being very strong
and durable ; those of white
porcelain with lips, are much
used, and look very clean and
attractive, but need not be
preferred to the steel pans so
far as results are concerned.
A Cream-spoon is very useful
for collecting the Cream as it
forms, but it is not so frequently
used as the skimmer.
A small bowl (see Fig. 558)
receives the Cream as it is
skimmed off. When the Cream
is required to keep for any
length of time, or for frequent
serving, a covered earthenware
jar, or “steen” (see Fig. 559) is
found to be very convenient, and the Cream is poured
into it from the collecting bowl.
Page 533
Presented as published in 1890. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
In an unfortunate moment the word Cream was adopted into the English language as applying to the thick oleaginous fluid which rises to the top of milk after standing, and from which butter and cheese are made. With a knowledge of Continental cookery we became familiar with the Continental adaptation of the term, hence our acceptation of the word is not only extensive but somewhat contradictory and confusing, unless we are content to regard as Cream every thickened fluid that has the oily parts of milk for its foundation. Of the liqueurs called cremes, such as creme de noyeau, these may be considered fancy names ; also Creams in confectionery, as chocolate Creams. These will be fully described under their particular headings, so also will custards, cullis, and other terms that might be confused with Cream.
Creaming, or Separating as it is technically called, is brought about in either of two ways : by setting the milk in large earthen pans in a dairy kept at an even temperature, taking the Cream off with a skimmer as it rises and accumulates on the surface ; or by the use of a machine called a “ separator.” By the first, or “ setting ” system, the oleaginous particles of the milk rise to the
For details respecting Culinary Processes, Utensils , Sauces, &c, , referred to, see under their special heads.
Fig
55S. Cream-bowl (Dairy Supply Company).
Cream — continued.
surface and collect in a thin stratum, provided the milk is left quite undisturbed for some time. The now celebrated Dr. Laval discovered that violent agitation would have the same effect, and invented machines called “ separators,” small ones being worked by hand, while larger ones - require steam power. One of the hand-power machines, called “ the Baby,” is especially calculated to render good service where only, two or three cows are kept. Experience shows that this machine will extract some 20 or 30 per cent, more Cream from the milk than can be obtained by “setting.” It operates on new milk at once, just as it comes from the cow, the cylinder at the top being sometimes fitted with a coldwater jacket so as to reduce the temperature of the milk if warm. The operation is very simple : the milk is put into the cylinder at the top, and by a rapid turning of the handle the Cream is separated from the milk by a centrifugal action, and after being collected by a specially arranged apparatus, trickles out of one pipe, whilst the “ separated ” milk pours out from the other.
Cream-setting pans are made of various sizes, styles, and materials — those stamped solid from silver-tinned steel are excellent, being very strong and durable ; those of white porcelain with lips, are much used, and look very clean and attractive, but need not be preferred to the steel pans so far as results are concerned.
A Cream-spoon is very useful for collecting the Cream as it forms, but it is not so frequently used as the skimmer.
A small bowl (see Fig. 558) receives the Cream as it is skimmed off. When the Cream is required to keep for any length of time, or for frequent serving, a covered earthenware jar, or “steen” (see Fig. 559) is
found to be very convenient, and the Cream is poured into it from the collecting bowl.