How to Make Buttermilk - Once Upon a Chef (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my own buttermilk? ›

For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes. You can scale the recipe up or down depending on how much you need.

Buttermilk Substitute:

Buttermilk is simply milk that has curdled or fermented – there's no actual butter involved. The name refers to the taste! Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar for every cup of milk in a measuring cup. Stir and let sit for about five minutes before adding it to the rest of the ingredients.

Milk + Lemon Juice

It's often suggested that a shy cup of milk plus a tablespoon of lemon juice, vinegar, or cream of tartar is a reliable substitute for buttermilk, but let's be honest—when it comes to flavor, such replacements will always land in a distant second place.

The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes. If you don't have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tarter also work as great buttermilk substitutions.

This quick and easy buttermilk substitute is incredibly simple, and my hope is that you have what you need at home already. Here's what you need: Lemon juice OR vinegar. Fresh or bottled lemon juice OR distilled white vinegar will work equally well.

Store-bought buttermilk is thicker, tangier, and more acidic than traditional or homemade buttermilk. If you're preparing a recipe that calls for buttermilk, it's best to stick with store-bought, especially in baked goods that depend on precise leavening.

Opened buttermilk can last up to 14 days in the fridge and slightly longer than its expiration date if unopened. It can be frozen opened or unopened in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you notice any changes to the smell or look of your buttermilk, it's best to toss it to avoid getting sick.

Homemade Buttermilk Is Actually “Soured Milk”

Unfortunately, given the limited quantity of vinegar that you can add without negatively affecting flavor, the milk can only get so thick. Homemade sour milk is indeed much thinner than commercial buttermilk and tends to have a vinegary taste.

Yes, you can substitute sour cream! Thin it with milk or water to get the right consistency. For each cup of buttermilk needed, use 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup liquid. Editor's Tip: Sour cream has a higher fat content, so this will result in richer-tasting foods.

Milk and vinegar

Similar to the milk and lemon juice combination, milk and vinegar can also be used to mimic the acidic properties of buttermilk. Recipe: 250ml whole or semi-skimmed milk. 1 tbsp white or apple cider vinegar.

Is powdered buttermilk as good as regular buttermilk? ›

Dried buttermilk yields results nearly identical to liquid, with just two small differences: Baked goods made with dried buttermilk are slightly lighter in color than those made with liquid cultured buttermilk, and their flavor is a bit richer — more creamy-buttery than tangy.

Many years ago, all buttermilk was essentially “cultured.” Today, however, cultured buttermilk refers to skim milk that has been intentionally inoculated with lactic acid-producing cultures, usually Lactococcus lactis or Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Leuconostoc citrovorum.

You absolutely can freeze buttermilk. In fact, it's a great way to keep some of the fermented dairy product on hand for recipes that only need small amounts. This way, you don't need to buy another quart or half gallon and face the challenge of once again using it up before the expiration date hits.

Quick breads and pancakes get a real lift from buttermilk. Not only does it deepen the flavor of your bake, but the acid in the buttermilk works with leaveners like baking soda to give it a fluffier interior crumb and more rise. However, it does not react the same way with baking powder.

It's important to know that you can't simply use regular milk as a buttermilk substitute. This is especially true in baking since buttermilk's acidity works with the baking soda in the recipe to leaven. Here are some buttermilk replacements when you're in a pinch.

While the baking soda in your baked goods will react with both types of acid, the flavor simply won't be the same. So, when buttermilk is called for, especially in baking recipes, you're better off throwing on some sneakers and making the extra trip to the store.

Buttermilk is an excellent source of calcium. Your bones, teeth, and blood all include significant amounts of calcium, making it the most common mineral in your body. Calcium is not only important to your body's bone structures, but also critical to maintaining signaling systems in your blood.