I Tried the Viral Butter Run Challenge — and It Sort of Blew My Mind
It gives the term “churn and burn” a whole new meaning.
Photo Credit: Laura Denby
Running is one of my favorite hobbies, and the better I get at it the more time I spend doing it. That’s why I need to multitask. Sometimes I’ll listen to a book while running, other times I’ll make a few quick phone calls. But never have I multitasked quite as much as I did this week while testing out the viral butter run. If you haven’t heard of it yet, runners across social media have discovered that they churn butter on their five to six mile runs by harnessing the jostling, bouncing motion and utilizing it to churn that salty cream into fresh, spreadable butter.
As a runner and chef who fully appreciates the decadence of homemade butter, I knew I had to give it a try. Sure, you can easily buy butter at the grocery store — but you can’t buy freshly-churned butter at the grocery store. There are few things I love more than salty, creamy butter, but making it from scratch at home can be time consuming. That’s why I love any shortcut to getting fresh butter fast — but not too fast. About nine minutes per mile for six miles, to be exact.
Here’s the thing: there are no circumstances under which you would need to churn butter while running. I’m not sure there are reasons you’d even want to churn butter while running. But as far as TikTok trends go, at least this one legitimately works. And if nothing else, it’s fun and productive, which can’t be said for every trend we see on the internet. I started out as an enthusiastic skeptic and finished as a bonafide butter-run-fanatic. The butter I churned while running was absolutely delicious, and once I found a comfortable way to carry the bag of cream it really took no effort at all. Oh, except for all that effort it took to run six miles. Here’s how it went.
What Is a Butter Run?
A butter run is a viral fitness trend that consists of runners strapping a bag of heavy cream and salt to themselves while they run. Some people shove it in their sports bra, others place it inside their running vest. The constant jostling motion churns the butter as you go. The trend picked up speed (literally) about a month ago, and runners across social media have been trying it ever since.
Photo Credit: Laura Denby
How the Butter Run Works
Churning butter the old-fashioned way is pretty simple. Churning it the new-fashioned way is simple too. To start, simply pour heavy cream (I used about a cup) and a few sprinkles of salt into a zip-top bag. Make sure the bag is completely closed, then place it inside another zip-top bag. Double-bagging is essential to prevent any spills or splashs — I learned that the hard way on my first run. I neglected to zip the bags as tightly as I should’ve, which meant I was getting sprinkled with cream every few steps. It took me a mile or two of running to realize it, so you can probably imagine how unpleasant that was.
Once everything is combined in the bags, place them inside your running vest. Keeping the bags as secure as possible is key to comfort while running (no one likes to feel extra bouncing or jostling) so the tighter the vest the better. The running motion churns the cream into butter as you go, and after about six miles you can strain the solids to separate it from the buttermilk and you’ve got fresh butter.
I started out with the bag shoved in the front of my vest, which didn’t work very well. The bags kept slipping out or sliding to the side, and the bulging appearance was a little ahem, awkward while running in public. After about a quarter of a mile I realized that my vest had a large pocket in the back (intended for a cellphone) and I was able to cram the bags in there. From then on it was smooth sailing—everything stayed in place and I hardly felt like I was carrying anything at all. I was shocked to open my bags and find that so much of it had churned. Once I strained off the excess buttermilk and tasted the butter, I was even more shocked to realize how delicious it tasted: rich, creamy, tangy and fresher-than-fresh.
Photo Credit: Laura Denby
How Long Does It Take To Churn Butter?
I tested this method across a few different distances, starting at three miles. After my first three mile run I was left with mostly cream, only a few small bits of solid. A few days later I doubled my distance and ran for six miles. After that, I was left with mostly solid butter and just had to strain off a small amount of buttermilk.
Is It Safe To Eat?
The main question you might be asking yourself is just how safe and sanitary this is. As long as you fully seal both zip top bags, there’s no concern of sweat getting inside the butter (a gross visual I know, but worth clarifying!) In terms of food safety, according to the USDA butter can be left at room temperature for days. Keep in mind that room temperature generally ranges from around 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’ll want to be careful if you’re running outdoors in hotter temperatures for long periods of time. According to the USDA, perishable food should not be left outside of refrigeration for more than an hour if the temperatures outside reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
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