What Is Buttermilk and How Can I Use It?

Buttermilk is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 1,347 recipes to get you started.

What is buttermilk?

Buttermilk  refers to a number of dairy drinks. Originally, buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream. It also refers to a range of fermented milk drinks, common in warm climates where fresh milk would otherwise sour quickly.

Whether traditional or cultured , the tartness of buttermilk is due to the presence of acid in the milk. The increased acidity is primarily due tolactic acid, a byproduct naturally produced by lactic acid bacteria while fermenting lactose, the primary sugar found in milk.

As lactic acid is produced by the bacteria , the pH of the milk decreases and casein, the primary protein in milk, precipitates causing the curdling orclabbering of milk. This process makes buttermilk thicker than plain milk. While both traditional and cultured buttermilk contain lactic acid, traditional buttermilk tends to be thinner whereas cultured buttermilk is much thicker.

Nutrition

Where found

Buttermilk is usually found in the dairy section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Buttermilk is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does buttermilk weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using buttermilk

There are 1347 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Buttermilk Waffles

Buttermilk waffles with chopped cashews folded into the batter and a quick fresh blueberry compote spooned over top. Light, crisp, and ready for weekend brunch in under 25 minutes.

Buttery Blueberry Banana Muffins

Blueberry banana muffins combine ripe mashed bananas, fresh or frozen blueberries, and tangy buttermilk for tender, double-fruit breakfast muffins dusted with powdered sugar.

Yummy Whole Wheat Waffles

Whole wheat buttermilk waffles with wheat germ for extra nuttiness. Six simple ingredients, crisp outside and tender inside, perfect for fresh fruit and maple syrup.

Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Cheddar mashed potatoes made creamy with buttery Yukon Golds, tangy buttermilk, and extra-sharp cheddar melted right into the mash. Fresh chives add a green oniony bite to this lighter comfort-food side.

Buttermilk Waffles with Raspberry Sauce

Buttermilk waffles with raspberry sauce trade syrup for a bright purple-red puree spiked with orange zest. The tang of buttermilk and lift from baking powder give crisp-edged waffles a fluffy interior.

Best Peanut Butter Chip Brownies

Lighter peanut butter chip brownies use prune puree instead of butter for moisture, with egg whites for structure. Fudgy chocolate brownies studded with peanut butter chips, no oil required.

Applesauce Chipotle Cornbread

Chipotle cornbread bakes in a hot cast iron skillet with puréed chipotles, applesauce, and buttermilk for smoky heat and a crisp crust. Low-fat Southwestern twist on classic cornbread.

Blueberry Muffins with Nutmeg Topping

Bakery-style blueberry muffins with nutmeg sugar topping. Three flours, butter, and buttermilk give a tender crumb and tall domed tops crowned with crackly spiced sugar.

Cathy's Buttermilk Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes made with bacon drippings and folded egg whites for impossibly tall, fluffy stacks with a smoky-savory undercurrent. Twenty minutes from bowl to plate. Old-school Southern breakfast.

Dad's Berry Buttermilk Scones

Dad's berry buttermilk scones bake whole wheat dough studded with blueberries or blackberries into wedges with crisp sugar tops. A wholesome breakfast scone made in cake pans.

Easy Cocoa Buttermilk Pancakes

Cocoa buttermilk pancakes whip up in 20 minutes with a tender, slightly tangy crumb and rich chocolate depth. Quick weekend breakfast served with berries, nuts, and syrup.

Robert's Baking Powder Biscuits

Robert's classic baking powder buttermilk biscuits with just five ingredients. Tall, flaky, and tender with a golden crust. The Sunday breakfast biscuit done right.

Buttermilk Pepper Biscuits

Buttermilk pepper biscuits with a generous hit of cracked black pepper, tangy buttermilk, and shortening for a soft, flaky pull-apart crumb. Hand-shaped, baked tight together, ready in under 30 minutes.

Classic Breakfast Buttermilk Pancakes

Fluffy buttermilk pancakes from scratch with tangy buttermilk, melted shortening, and classic diner texture. Perfect breakfast pancakes in 20 minutes.

Buttermilk Pecan Waffles

Buttermilk pecan waffles with crispy edges, pillowy centers, and toasted pecan crunch baked right into the iron. The buttermilk-soda combo is the secret to that classic Southern-style lift.

Buttermilk Waffles with Cherry-Almond Sauce

Buttermilk Waffles with Cherry-Almond Sauce recipe

Estelle's Best Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes with both baking powder AND soda for maximum lift, plus a splash of oil for a tender bite. Eight ingredients, fluffy stack, ready in 15 minutes.

Breakfast Apple Pancakes

Quite easy to make, and I liked these apple pancakes especially served with maple syrup. Yum!

Gruyère Whole Wheat Biscuits with Herbs

Gruyere whole wheat biscuits, flaky buttermilk biscuits laced with nutty Gruyere, fresh thyme, and marjoram. Cold butter and whole wheat pastry flour give them tender, savory layers with a wholesome edge.

Yummy Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Blueberry buttermilk muffins with browned butter, tangy buttermilk, and a juicy berry burst in every bite. A bakery-style classic that earns its golden domed top with a hot oven and a light hand.

Avacado Buttermilk Sherbet

Avocado buttermilk sherbet blends ripe avocado with tangy buttermilk, honey, sugar, and lemon juice into a soft, pale green frozen dessert. Creamy without dairy fat, tart without sour. Naturally vibrant color, no food coloring.

Whole Wheat One Bowl Chocolate Cake

Moist chocolate cake made healthier with whole wheat pastry flour, canola oil, and buttermilk. Hot coffee deepens chocolate flavor for 12 servings.

Awesome Ginger Spice Waffles

Gingerbread-style waffles with molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, half whole-wheat flour for body. Topped with vanilla yogurt and bright fruit, they taste like holiday morning.

Regina's Cheddar Biscuits

Cheddar buttermilk biscuits with cold butter cut into flour, grated cheese folded into the dough, and golden tops baked tender and tall. A flaky brunch-table staple.

Country Style Buttermilk Pancakes with Berry Sauce

Country Style Buttermilk Pancakes with Berry Sauce recipe

All 1,347 recipes