Homemade Buttermilk

Submitted by not_amused01234

"Buttermilk keeps well, but is expensive to buy. Make your own buttermilk, and reserve some to make a new batch. Halve or double recipe for your needs. Prep time includes cooling."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 2
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 cup cultured buttermilk
• 4 cups milk

directions

1. Bring milk to almost scalding, then LET COOL to body temperature [Milk is scalded by heating it to 180-185°F (82°C).].
2. Add buttermilk.
3. Mix well. Transfer to a sterile container, like glass or a thermos.
4. Cover and keep warm overnight. The inside of a foam cooler is ideal.
5. The starter has inoculated the milk, and this will incubate the culture, thickening into real buttermilk.
6. Recipe may be doubled for quarts or gallons with a 1 to 4 ratio of buttermilk to milk.
7. If the buttermilk is very old, however, the lactic acid bacteria may have lost their ability to produce acid rapidly. About once a week, a fresh batch of buttermilk may be made from an older batch. Take great care to prevent contamination during the reinoculation process. Cultures may be carried successfully through many inoculations if care is taken. However, it is best to start with new buttermilk from the store after five or six inoculations.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

Made for PAC, Spring 2007 ~ One more great way to cut cost, especially if you use a lot of buttermilk [I seem to be heading in that direction more & more]! My dad used to drink the stuff, but I haven't gotten there yet ~ the most I'll do is taste to make sure it's still OK! Anyway, I'll be using this in several recipes within the week! Thanks for sharing!