How to Make Buttermilk

What Is It?

Originally, buttermilk was made from the leftover liquid from churning butter (thereby the name buttermilk). Natural fermentation thickened it slightly and gave it a mildly tangy flavor. That’s because the naturally occurring bacteria ate the milk sugars.

Lactic acid makes an excellent probiotic. However, most store-bought buttermilk is pasteurized, so you’re not getting what your Grandma’s grandmother made. If you can get it with live bacteria, you have a goldmine.

My Auntie saved money by adding ¼ cup of buttermilk to two cups of regular milk. She shook it well in a glass jar, then left it on the countertop overnight. The next day, she had fresh homemade goodness ready to go in the fridge. It lasted a week in the refrigerator, but you could definitely halve the milk to one cup.

Easy Substitutes

In most recipes (not all), you can use a cup of sour cream or plain yogurt for each cup of buttermilk. Plus, the following recipes give you three more options.

Dried buttermilk powder is ideal if you love making your own ranch dressing seasoning mix. Then you don’t have to worry about it going bad before you can use it up. Besides, you can add it directly to the dry ingredients or a dry rub.

How to Make Buttermilk Substitutes From Regular Milk

Method 1. Pour whole-fat or low-fat milk into a glass measuring cup or jar. Stir in a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for about 10 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened, curdled, and tastes sour. Use as needed or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Method 2. Add ¾ cup yogurt or sour cream into a glass measuring cup or bowl. Get it with live cultures for probiotic benefits. Add the milk and stir until fully combined; it should have the consistency of heavy cream. You can use it right away or store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Method 3. Pour a cup of milk into a glass measuring cup, small bowl, or jar. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. It should thicken slightly and curdle. That’s because the cream of tartar acidifies the milk the same way it activates baking soda in baking powder.

Method 4. If you use buttermilk regularly and have a tablespoon or two left in the carton, you can keep it going as long as it has live culture. Add a tablespoon per cup of fresh milk, stir well, and let it sit on the countertop for 12-24 hours. It will thicken and become pleasantly sour.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• White vinegar works best if using vinegar. For obvious aesthetic reasons, colored vinegars look a little off.
• While freshly squeezed lemon juice works well, so does the bottled stuff. I won’t tell.
• Sometimes, milk goes sour without spoiling (your nose will tell you the difference). That’s precisely what it is: soured milk. If you feel safe, use that in a baking recipe and save some money.

What Buttermilk Does for Recipes

Once, I was out and decided to use regular milk. It was still good, but I could tell the difference.

Baked goods with buttermilk have a subtle tanginess, and the acidity reacts with baking soda for a beautiful rise. It makes them light, fluffy pancakes with a hint of that tang.

It also makes a good marinade for chicken and pork as it tenderizes the meat and moistens it while cooking. I still remember the first time I enjoyed baked chicken marinated in buttermilk at a friend’s place.

For those who love DIY cheese, it’s a good way to acidify milk before adding the coagulant. Homemade cheese is fantastic.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Store-bought buttermilk usually lasts 2-3 weeks after opening. The acidity makes it harder for harmful bacteria to grow. Store it in an airtight container and shake it to remix before using it.

You can also freeze it! Freeze it in an airtight plastic freezer container or an ice cube tray for 2-3 months. Pop frozen buttermilk cubes into a freezer bag. Then, thaw just what you need in the microwave.

Sweet and Savory Recipes Using Buttermilk

• Southern Fried Chicken
• Buttermilk Pie
• Southern-Style Cornbread
• Homemade Waffles
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
• Red Velvet Cake
• Nashville Hot Chicken

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”ezJvfTwO” upload-date=”2020-07-27T03:10:45.000Z” name=”How To Make Buttermilk” description=”Learn How To Make Buttermilk at home using three simple buttermilk substitute recipes that you can easily whip up in no time. A must-have on your next baking session or pancake cravings!” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]