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Home > Beginner Basics > 2 Ingredients Homemade Buttermilk

2 Ingredients Homemade Buttermilk

Published: Aug 11, 2021

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homemade buttermilk substitute in a glass jar with text overlay
homemade buttermilk substitute in a glass jar with text overlay

Make homemade buttermilk substitute in less than 5 minutes using just 2 ingredients. Use fresh homemade buttermilk in any recipe preparation such as pancakes, biscuits or to marinate/brine meat or as a batter for fried foods!

homemade buttermilk substitute in a glass jar
Jump to:
  • Why make your own buttermilk at home?
  • What is buttermilk?
  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make homemade buttermilk
  • FAQ’S
  • 2 Ingredients Homemade Buttermilk

Why make your own buttermilk at home?

1. Buttermilk is one of those ingredients that is not in your pantry. This easy buttermilk substitute recipe comes handy when you need buttermilk for baking or other recipes.

2. You can easily make your own buttermilk using just 2 ingredients.  And the prep work is less than 5 minutes.

3. Waiting time (resting time for buttermilk) is the only time consuming part. Let it sit on counter for 5 to 10 minutes, and you have buttermilk substitute ready.

4. Half or more of the carton of store bought buttermilk often goes un-used every time you buy from store. Make at home just the amount you want. No wastage!

5. It freezes well. You can make ahead and freeze it for up to 3 months.

6. Homemade buttermilk substitute is hardly even a recipe. Make it once and you’ll not have to refer or search for recipe once again.

What is buttermilk?

Traditional buttermilk is a non-fat, thin liquid that is left after churning butter from cream. Buttermilk is rich in taste and has helpful cultures that develop when cream is left at room temperature for few hours.

Buttermilk today is simply curdled milk. Usually not a by-product of churning butter from whole milk, but adding lactic-acid producing bacteria cultures to pasteurized milk. The lactic-acid producing bacteria make buttermilk slightly sour and prevents unwanted bacteria growth.

Ingredients needed

All you need is

  • 1 cup milk, any milk whole diary milk or use coconut milk or soy milk (for vegan option)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar
all ingredients for homemade buttermilk substitute

How to make homemade buttermilk

Start by squeezing 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into a bottle or jar.

squeezing lemon juice into a jar

Pour 1 cup whole milk or low fat milk into the jar.

pouring milk into the jar to make homemade buttermilk

Stir it together.

making homemade buttermilk

Let it sit for minimum 5 minutes to maximum 30 minutes on the counter.

Milk will curdle from acidic lemon juice and the buttermilk substitute can be used in recipes that call for buttermilk.

Give it a stir before using in any recipe.

simple homemade buttermilk substitute in jar

FAQ’S

Can I use any milk?

You can use any kind of milk. Skim milk, 2% milk. For diary-free option use coconut milk or soy milk or even almond milk.

How does buttermilk help in baked goods?

Buttermilk gives baked good light, moist and tender texture. As buttermilk is acidic it activates baking soda in recipes and helps baked goods raise.

Alternative ways to make buttermilk substitutes?

Buttermilk substitutes are acidified buttermilk. There are many ways to make buttermilk substitute-
Using freshly squeezed lemon juice
Using vinegar
With cream of tartar
Or simply substitute buttermilk with plain yogurt. Plain yogurt is fermented diary product.

How to make vegan buttermilk substitution?

If you want to make vegan or diary free homemade buttermilk substitution simply substitute regular diary milk with diary free milk such as coconut milk or soy milk.
For 1 cup coconut milk or soy milk add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or 1 tablespoon vinegar.  Allow it to sit for 5 minutes before using it in recipe.

How to use homemade buttermilk substitute?

There are so many uses of homemade buttermilk substitute. Use it in-
Buttermilk biscuits
Buttermilk pancakes
Cornbread
Brine for chicken or any meat
Batter for fried food
Soaking to tenderize food before frying
Pound cake
Soda bread
Chocolate cake
Or make buttermilk ranch dressing for saladsbrined chicken soaked in buttermilk in zip lock bag.

Can you drink buttermilk?

“Churned buttermilk” is safe from drinking. i.e buttermilk got from churning butter from cream and the left over liquid (buttermilk) is safe. Traditional made buttermilk is potent source of probiotics and active cultures that aids in digestion, soothes tummy.

Whereas buttermilk substitute made by stirring acid to milk may not be used for drinking. It’ll work for cooking/baking though.

How long does homemade buttermilk lasts?

Homemade buttermilk will stay good for 3 days refrigerated.

Can I freeze homemade buttermilk?

Buttermilk freezes well. Freeze in air-tight containers or pour into ice cube trays and freeze it. Store frozen buttermilk cubes in zip lock bag.
Take the amount of buttermilk you need from freezer, thaw it in refrigerator before use.

USE BUTTERMILK IN THESE RECIPES:

Bang Bang Shrimp

Southern Fried Chicken

Chicken Nuggets

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simple homemade buttermilk substitute in jar
homemade buttermilk substitute in a glass jar
5 from 1 vote

2 Ingredients Homemade Buttermilk

Jyothi Rajesh
📋RECIPE: Make homemade buttermilk substitute in less than 5 minutes using just 2 ingredients. Use fresh homemade buttermilk in any recipe preparation such as pancakes, biscuits or to marinate/brine meat or as a batter for fried foods!
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Resting Time 10 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup
Calories 152

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup milk any milk whole diary milk or use coconut milk or soy milk (for vegan option)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Start by squeezing 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into a bottle or jar. Pour 1 cup whole milk or low fat milk into the jar.
  • Stir it together.
  • Let it sit for minimum 5 minutes to maximum 30 minutes on the counter.
  • Basically milk will curdle with lemon juice and this buttermilk substitute can be used in recipes that call for buttermilk.
  • Stir it before you use in recipe.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 338mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 396IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 277mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Nathalie says

    November 19, 2023 at 4:49 pm

    5 stars
    Very easy to do & very convenient👌

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      November 20, 2023 at 10:00 am

      So glad to know you liked the recipe Nathalie. Thank you!

      Reply

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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

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