35+ Recipes Using Buttermilk (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with my buttermilk? ›

Buttermilk is a versatile ingredient that can add lift to baked goods for the fluffiest pancakes, waffles, and biscuits, tenderize chicken and other proteins, give rich texture and tangy flavor to dressings, and shine in delicate desserts like buttermilk panna cotta.

Tip: To substitute buttermilk for milk in a recipe, use 2 teaspoons less baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon more baking soda than called for in the recipe for every cup of buttermilk used. Baking with Sour Cream: The creamy texture of sour cream makes baked goods more moist than if you used milk.

You can freeze buttermilk in its original carton, but only if you've already used some of it. Liquid expands as it freezes, so it needs a little bit of room to grow. You can also freeze buttermilk in an ice cube tray (this is especially handy if you'll only use a little bit at a time).

Buttermilk is used when making quick breads such as pancakes, waffles, biscuits and muffins. Buttermilk is made up of a variety of acids – the results of the fermentation process, which give baked goods a couple of benefits. First, the acidity provides tangy flavor to balance all kinds of sweet baked treats.

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.

Buttermilk is a boon for our digestive system. Healthy bacteria and lactic acid in buttermilk help digestion and improve our metabolism. It also helps maintain regular bowel movements and helps people who suffer from constipation.

Buttermilk can work great as a substitute, but it's a little trickier since it's so much thinner than sour cream. In baking, we'd recommend only using 3/4 cup of buttermilk for every cup of sour cream called for. The batter may look a little thinner, but it should still bake up nicely.

Next time you want to reach for an ice-cold glass of milk, try buttermilk instead. Just be sure to look for churned or “old-fashioned” to get the true product. You can also use it to add a little extra flavor to some of your favorite recipes that call for milk.

You can use either fresh buttermilk or buttermilk powder (mixing 1 cup of water with 4 tablespoons of buttermilk powder). The rich taste is the same for either type of buttermilk. If you can't get a hold of buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon with 1 cup milk.

Give the buttermilk a good shake, and pour it into ice cube trays by the tablespoon. Stick the trays into the freezer. Once the buttermilk is fully frozen, pop the cubes into a zipped plastic freezer bag. Label the bag and date it so you'll know when you should use or toss the frozen buttermilk.

Can buttermilk be substituted for heavy cream? ›

Substitutes for Heavy Cream in Savory Dishes

Half and half and buttermilk are great options here, adding more body to soups, stews, and sauces. Whole milk will often do the trick, though you might need to introduce another thickening agent, such as flour or cornstarch, to get the consistency you're looking for.

After 12 to 24 hours, the mixture will thicken. The longer you leave it out, the thicker and tangier the buttermilk will be. Depending on how warm your kitchen is, it may also take longer. Once the buttermilk has reached the texture and flavor you desire, store it in the refrigerator for up to a month.

If we used only baking soda, it could neutralize all of the buttermilk's acid. And we'd lose that tanginess! However, by including baking powder as well (which has its own acid), some of the buttermilk's flavor is left behind, and there is still enough leavening for fluffy pancakes.

In baking, you will most often see recipes calling for low-fat and whole buttermilk rather than their lean counterpart. When you remove fat completely from buttermilk, the acid from the buttermilk is front and center and may cause curdling in egg-based recipes, such as custards.

The answer is absolutely, yes. In short: It's tart, refreshing, and seemingly pretty good for you. Despite the delicious-sounding name, buttermilk isn't butter, nor is it exactly milk. Traditionally, this liquid was the byproduct of churning cream into butter.

Low-fat buttermilk is creamier and more flavorful than regular low-fat milk, so it's perfect for mashed potatoes (this herbed recipe from Dash and Bella also contains butter, but it sure sounds good); creamy soups, like a buttermilk summer squash soup from 101 Cookbooks; or sauces, like Jean-Georges Vongerichten's fish ...

Buttermilk is a secret weapon of many restaurant chefs. They pre-soak chicken, fish and other meats overnight before cooking to give it a hint of tanginess. The good bacteria in buttermilk also speed up the breakdown process; hence it's perfect as a meat tenderizer.

Buttermilk never expires. Ten days after the expiration date, just boil it for a few minutes and let it settle for a while. It makes a great dry yogurt in the form of cookies.