by Jerri
I've never had a need to make buttermilk. It always seemed like it was meant for drinking or in pancakes, neither of which we'd be able to do since we're, for the most part, a gluten and dairy free family. But, it's been fun to dabble and post about the cheese cultures lately, straying to taste test...so I asked a beloved kitchen keeper and she said, Sure! You can make buttermilk with the Flora Danica! Well, okay then!
My steps:
- Heated 1 quart pasteurized whole organic milk to 185ºF
- Held the milk as best I could around 185ºF for 35-40 minutes
- Cooled to 77ºF
- Stirred in the Flora Danica.
- Insulated it in the same pot with an emergency blanket + big towel
- When done, stored in the fridge for 6 hours
My house is terribly cold for mesophilic cultures like cheese or yogurt, so overnight to maintain 77º would be impossible. Last time I tried to insulate a batch with just a towel, the temperature dropped to 65º. This time, it worked well!
I wrapped it all in a big fluffy towel, tying the handle with a shoelace:
11 ½ hours later, the temp had dropped to 70º, but it was ALREADY SOLID! In fact, I had accidentally tilted the pot, so it solidified at an angle. HA!
How thick was it? Thick enough that a happy face stayed put!
I tasted it before popping it in the fridge, and it was sour, more like a thin sour cream. Hmmm, I pictured buttermilk as runny/pourable and sour. I consulted my buddy, and she schooled me on a few things:
- Buttermilk traditionally is the leftover liquid after you make butter from cream. You then culture that liquid with a starter, but since there is no fat, the buttermilk is generally thin.
- What I have tastes sour because I have soured the milk using a culture, and it's possible it resembles sour cream because of the warm temperature and length of time, combined (longer time + warmer = more sour and thick).
- It's thick like sour cream because I used whole milk, which has the fat.
- This buttermilk can be used in any buttermilk task.
Now, how about after some time in the fridge? 6 hours later, bottom line, I have thick sour cream buttermilk. I like it!
See how thick it is, on a fork! Nothing dribbling off!
Someday I might have to try this buttermilk with some gluten free pancake batter.
What are you waiting for? Brave up and Get Fermented!