How To Make Buttermilk with Regular Milk

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If you were wondering how to make buttermilk with regular milk, it is so simple and all you need are two simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. This recipe is a great alternative for times when a recipe calls for buttermilk and you don’t have any on hand.

Buttermilk being poured into a glass.

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Never buy store bought buttermilk ever again. I bet you didn’t realize how easy and cost efficient it is to just make your own substitution for buttermilk at home. This simple hack will come in handy for so many recipes.

For delicious recipes using buttermilk, check out this recipe collection from Southern Living.


BUTTERMILK RECIPES

Air Fryer Biscuits | Sweet Irish Soda Bread | Southern Blueberry Cobbler

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What We Love About This Recipe

Buttermilk was a byproduct of when they use to churn butter. The whey was left out to ferment and thicken and then used for baking so nothing went to waste.

  • Ready Minutes: Make buttermilk at home and have it ready to use in minutes.
  • Easy Ingredients: Why buy store-bought buttermilk when all you need is 2 ingredients!
  • In a Pinch: This hack is perfect when you need buttermilk for recipe but you don’t have any on hand.
A measuring spoon in the buttermilk.

Alternative of Buttermilk Ingredients

I bet you didn’t realize how easy it is to make buttermilk from milk. To learn more about the nutrition of buttermilk, visit the USDA.

  • Whole Milk: It is important that you use milk that is higher percentage, such as whole or 3% milk, skim milk will not give the best results.
  • White Vinegar
Vinegar and a measuring cup.

Equipment Needed

  • Spoon
  • Liquid Measuring Cup

How to Make Your Own Buttermilk Substitute

These are the basic steps for How to Make Buttermilk from Regular Milk. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions, prep time and total time.

STEP 1: COMBINE VINEGAR AND MILK

In a bowl, combine a scant cup of milk with a tablespoon of vinegar and stir gently.

STEP 2: ALLOW TO CURDLE

Allow the mixture to sit for an estimate of 5 minutes it will curdle giving it the buttermilk tangy flavor and thick texture.

Prep and Storage Tips

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

As the vinegar causes the milk to curdle, I recommend holding off to making homemade buttermilk just before you are about to use it.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

Yes! Buttermilk will last up to three months in the freezer. Freeze in ice cube trays and portion out what you need,

Frequently Asked Questions

CAN I SUBSTITUTE LEMON JUICE IN PLACE OF VINEGAR?

You can substitute using lemon juice for vinegar as it will also yield similar results as the lemon juice works similarly to the white vinegar. You can also use apple cider vinegar.

CAN YOU MAKE DAIRY-FREE BUTTER?

You can actually make vegan buttermilk substitution using this technique with almost any non dairy milk, I recommend using soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. However I do not recommend using almond milk as it has a lower fat content and is thin, almost like skim milk.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

This recipe can easily be doubled or halved, just increase or decrease the ingredients proportionally, the ratio is 1 cup of milk to 1 tablespoon of vinegar.

CAN YOU MAKE BUTTERMILK?

You can easily make buttermilk from just 2 ingredients, not need to buy a carton of it when you probably already have whole milk and vinegar.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN USE TO MAKE BUTTERMILK.

To make buttermilk with yogurt or even cup sour cream, whisk together 1 cup of plain yogurt with ½ cup milk.

DO YOU USE BAKING SODA OR BAKING POWDER WHEN COOKING WITH BUTTERMILK?

When a recipe calls for baking soda it usually calls for some type of acid to make the appropriate reaction, so buttermilk, yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, etc is used.

A top shot of the finished product.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: You can use apple cider vinegar in place of white vinegar.
  • Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed lemon juice will work similarly to the vinegar in making buttermilk.

What to Make with Buttermilk Replacement

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Buttermilk in a measuring cup.
5 from 3 votes

How to Make Buttermilk with Regular Milk

Yield: 1 cup
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
If you were wondering How to Make Buttermilk with Regular Milk, it is so simple and all you need is whole milk and white vinegar.
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk, whole milk is recommended
  • 1 Tablespoon white vinegar

Instructions

  • Add the vinegar to the milk.
  • Gently stir the mixture and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
  • The milk will begin to curdle, giving it the texture and taste of buttermilk.

Expert Tips

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: You can use apple cider vinegar in place of white vinegar.
  • Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed lemon juice will work similarly to the vinegar in making buttermilk.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 372mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 301mg | Iron: 0.1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Other
Cuisine: American

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