Can’t use that quart of buttermilk soon enough? No problem! You can freeze buttermilk so that you can use it later in your favorite recipes.
Buttermilk is a versatile cooking and baking ingredient that brings tangy creaminess to Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and marinades and makes Buttermilk Cornbread light and fluffy. It’s an essential ingredient in a number of recipes, so keep some on hand!
Jump to:
What gives Fried Chicken Sandwiches their characteristic tenderness under the breaded coating? What makes Buttermilk Biscuits fluffy? What makes Creamy Garlic Dressing with Cilantro so creamy?
Buttermilk, that’s what.
Buttermilk, the highly underrated dairy product is a powerhouse in the kitchen. On family farms it’s the liquid left after churning butter, but commercially it’s a cultured milk that’s slightly thick and tangy. It does wonders for marinades, dressings, baked goods, and any number of recipes that call for buttermilk.
The only problem is that it’s not cheap and unless you’re in the habit of using it, it can be difficult to use up the full quart. You can culture your own buttermilk, of course, to reduce costs a bit, but you still need to use it up.
Can you freeze buttermilk?
Yep, you sure can!
Why Do This
It helps you avoid food waste and save time and money. If you’ll use it eventually but can’t just right now, why not freeze it to use later and buy yourself some time and money?
Freezing buttermilk and other ingredients you can’t use before they spoil is a great way to extend their shelf life, stock your kitchen, and make the most of your grocery dollar.
Ingredients
All you need is buttermilk! This can be cultured buttermilk that you make yourself or the commercial style that you picked up in the dairy section of the grocery store.
Make sure that it smells good. Usually it smells fresh and creamy, though it might have a slight sour smell. It won’t smell bad. If it does, discard it; freezing won’t help.
So long as your buttermilk is fresh, you should have no problems freezing it to use later.
Step-by-Step Instructions
You’re most likely to use buttermilk in 1- or 2-cup portions so freeze it already measured and ready to go. You can use small freezer-safe containers with lids or freeze it in 1- or 2-cup Souper Cubes (like large ice cube trays).
If you use individual containers, be sure to label them before you fill them and leave ½-inch headspace to allow for expansion.
If you use Souper Cubes, transfer the frozen bricks to a labeled, ziptop freezer bag in the freezer.
Thawing Instructions
To thaw buttermilk to use in recipes, transfer the container to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. If you used Souper Cubes, you can transfer a 1-cup brick into a wide-mouth mason jar and place that in the fridge.
Allow the buttermilk to thaw completely before whisking it to recombine any milk fat that may have separated. Then use it in your recipes.
FAQs
If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can make a “sour milk” to use in baking recipes by combining 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with regular milk to equal 1 cup. Allow this to set for a few minutes before using in your recipe. It tends not to work well in marinades and dressings.
Alternatively, you can combine equal parts of milk with sour cream or plain yogurt. This works in all kinds of recipes.
Buttermilk is a thick, cultured milk that is excellent in dressings and marinades. It also adds lift to baked goods, thanks to the acidity present. It’s often used in scones, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, and fried chicken recipes.
Buttermilk Recipes
How to Freeze Buttermilk
Instructions
- Pour the buttermilk into 1- or 2-cup freezer-safe containers and place in the freezer. Once firm, remove the cubes from the trays and store in an airtight container in the freezer.
- To use: thaw completely in a dish in the refrigerator before using in your recipes.
Leslie
Could you also freeze them
In ziplock bags in 1/2 cup increments?
Jessica Fisher
Freezing in bags can get a bit tricky since they can leak. You can do it, just be careful to seal it completely and freeze flat on a tray in case it leaks prior to freezing.
Diane
Thanks for the info on freezing buttermilk.