Make your own tangy, delicious Buttermilk. An heirloom kitchen staple, Buttermilk cultures at room temperature. Reusable- by reserving a bit from each batch, you can continue to make Buttermilk over & over!
Buttermilk is a fermented dairy drink. Traditionally, it was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cultured cream. Since modern butter in western countries is usually not made with cultured cream, but uncultured sweet cream, most modern buttermilk in western countries is cultured separately. A starter culture helps with this process. Buttermilk is common in warm climates where unrefrigerated milk sours quickly.
You will receive:
2 packets of Buttermilk starter culture & instructions.
You will need:
one quart canning jar or other glass jar
coffee filter or paper towel to cover jar,
and elastic band to secure cover
wooden or plastic spoon
2 cups milk (avoid ultra pasteurized or UHT milk)
1 Buttermilk starter culture packet (save 2nd packet in freezer for future use)
Activate your starter culture:
1)Put 2 cups milk in your jar. Add starter packet and stir until well dissolved. Cover with coffee filter & secure with elastic band.
2)Allow to culture at room temperature - 68° to 74° F is ideal. Choose a draft-free spot, out of direct sunlight, where your Buttermilk won't be disturbed. Check after 12 hours to see if it has set. When set, it will have a slightly gelatinous consistency and will pull away from the side of container when it is tipped. If not set, leave for up to another 36 hours, checking every few hours. When set, refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Your Buttermilk is now ready to enjoy. Be sure to reserve some back for your next batch.
Making the next batch:
1)Put 3 cups milk in a jar. Add 1/4 cup of your finished Buttermilk ( always reserve some back for your next batch) and mix well. To make larger batches, use the same ratio: 1/4 cup finished Buttermilk per 3 to 4 cups milk.
2)Allow to culture for 12 to 18 hours (faster than when activating starter). Check every few hours until set. Larger amounts will take longer to set. When set, refrigerate for 6 hours. Your cultured Buttermilk is now ready to enjoy as is, or used in all kinds of recipes.
3)Buttermilk can be consumed straight, and it can also be used in cooking. In making soda bread, the acid in buttermilk reacts with the raising agent, sodium bicarbonate, to produce carbon dioxide which acts as the leavening agent. Buttermilk is also used in marination, especially of chicken and pork.
