Homemade Buttermilk

It only takes 2 ingredients to make your own Homemade Buttermilk...

Often, I have gone to the grocery store and purchased a quart of buttermilk with intentions of using it right away. I find myself walking down the dairy section and that quart of buttermilk is staring at me convincing me that pancakes are on the menu for the weekend. Then life happens and I don't get to it. It moves from the front of the fridge to the back and gets forgotten.

Rather than wasting, I find it is easier just to make what I need. The two ingredients needed to make Homemade Buttermilk are staples in my house and probably in yours too - milk and lemon juice or vinegar.

It's so simple to make homemade buttermilk that anyone can do it. Consider it a science experiment of sorts. Adding acid - either lemon juice or vinegar - to milk makes it curdle.

The name buttermilk is deceiving. Buttermilk contains no butter and is actually low in fat as it's usually made with low fat or nonfat milk. I usually use whole milk which results in a richer taste.

Old fashioned buttermilk is the liquid leftover after butter is churned. I frequent a nearby farmer's market where raw milk and real buttermilk are sold. If you get a chance to see real buttermilk in real glass bottles, you might notice some separation and a difference in consistency. When I used it to make my salad dressing, it was thinner, but had a fresh taste.

Cultured buttermilk is what is commonly found in the market. Check the label. It will probably list low fat or nonfat milk, salt, and sodium citrate or cultured low fat/nonfat milk, low fat/nonfat milk, and salt. I don't want to think about the ones that have added thickener. Please, don't buy those.

Most recipes call for 1 cup milk then adding 1 tablespoon of either lemon or vinegar. That makes 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon of buttermilk. One tablespoon of added liquid could be enough to change your recipe. Here's a better way. For every cup of buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup and add milk to make 1 cup. Let it sit for 10 minutes. That's it. I have used whole, 2%, low fat, or nonfat milk and all worked fine. Use it in your recipe as you would buttermilk purchased at the market.

You won't have to worry anymore if you don't have that carton of buttermilk in your fridge.

Make it yourself!

Homemade Buttermilk

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Homemade buttermilk is very easy to make and now you can have it whenever you need it for a recipe. 

This recipe makes a true 1 cup measure of homemade buttermilk by adding the lemon or vinegar to the measuring cup first, then adding milk to make 1 cup. 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Author: Natalie Gregory

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
• approx. 1 cup milk whole, 2%, 1%, skim

Instructions

• Add the lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1 cup.
• Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Use as you would buttermilk in your recipe.

Did you make this recipe? I would love to see how it turns out. Tag me on Instagram @thegeneticchef or tag #thegeneticchef and tell me all about it!