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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Article

    How to tell if buttermilk is bad?

    Published: Jan 16, 2025 by Lisa Killian ยท This post may contain affiliate links. Please read myย  disclosure policy.

    โ†“ Jump to Recipe

    How to tell if buttermilk is bad? Here are all the tips and signs for knowing when to use or toss buttermilk!

    goof buttermilk in a pyrex measuring cup
    Fresh buttermilk is a great addition to recipes!

    Buttermilk is a tasty addition to buttermilk chocolate cakes, orange buttermilk scones, fried chicken tenders, dressings, and more! It lasts a long time and has been used in recipes for generations!

    What is Buttermilk?

    Current day buttermilk is fermented cultured milk. It is a thicker than milk, slightly lumpy, liquid.

    Originally buttermilk was made by beating heavy cream past the whipped cream stage, to get butter. When butter forms there is leftover liquid which is buttermilk.

    That liquid was then left out overnight to ferment naturally. Todayโ€™s buttermilk has live cultures in it to help it ferment- similar to yogurt.

    good buttermilk on spoon showing a few little lumps
    You can see the little lumps on the spoon- this is good buttermilk.

    What should buttermilk smell like?

    Buttermilk has a sharp tangy and slightly buttery smell. It should not smell super sour, but more like a mild vinegar.

    What does buttermilk do in recipes?

    The acidity from the fermentation of buttermilk helps balance out sweetness, it activates baking soda in baked goods, producing fluffy batters, and it breaks down proteins to give a softer crumb or tenderize meat.

    pouring good buttermilk into a bowl
    Good buttermilk will be thicker than milk but still pour- even if it splatters a bit!

    Can you drink buttermilk?

    Yes, people from all different cultures consider buttermilk a standalone drink. I distinctly remember my own grandmother pouring a glass or two!

    How to store Buttermilk?

    Buttermilk should be stored in the refrigerator in its original container. Before using make sure to shake thoroughly since it can separate.

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    Buttermilk can be frozen buttermilk for up to 3 months. I like to freeze leftover buttermilk in cubes (using these trays), then store in Ziploc baggies.

    water and fat in buttermilk separated
    Here you can see the buttermilk solids and liquids have separated while it sat out.

    How to tell if buttermilk is bad?

    If buttermilk is extremely thick, coming out of the container in large lumps, and/or has a very sour smell, it is bad. There might even be some mold on the lid of the buttermilk or floating on top.

    close up of bad curdled buttermilk
    Bad buttermilk is very thick and had large chunks.

    How long is buttermilk good for?

    An opened container of buttermilk will last 14 days in the refrigerator and can last slightly longer than its expiration date.

    How long is Buttermilk good for after the expiration date?

    Buttermilk is good for about a week past its expiration date if it has been kept refrigerated. This is due to the fermentation in buttermilk allowing the buttermilk to last longer.

    Always check buttermilk for freshness even if it's not expired yet.

    thick bad buttermilk on spoon
    You can see how thick this bad buttermilk is.

    Buttermilk Substitutions?

    Powdered Buttermilk- this is a shelf stable powder that can be purchased online or at some grocery stores. Mix the powder with water and voila you have buttermilk you can use in recipes. (affiliate link)

    Milk Substitution- Simply add 1 tbs of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk, let it curdle a bit, then use in place of buttermilk!

    Sometimes you just need a little bit of buttermilk and donโ€™t want to have to buy a whole large carton- that why itโ€™s nice to be able to use a quick substitute!

    how to tell if buttermilk is bad pinterest pin
    Don't forget to pin this recipe!

    If you like thisย helpful food articleย make sure to read all aboutย how to freeze strawberries,ย how to freeze corn,ย how to freeze bananas, andย how to toast bread in theย 

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    buttermilk recipe featured image

    How to make buttermilk substitute?

    Sometime you just need a little bit of buttermilk and donโ€™t want to have to buy a whole large carton- that why itโ€™s nice to be able to use a quick substitute!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin
    Author: Lisa Killian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 1 cup

    Ingredients

    • 1 tbs lemon juice or white vinegar
    • 1 cup milk

    Instructions

    • Combine milk and lemon juice. Stir and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles slightly.
      1 tbs lemon juice or white vinegar, 1 cup milk
    • Once it is slightly thickened and lumpy use in a recipe as a 1:1 ratio for buttermilk.
      buttermilk in a pyrex measuring cup

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 396IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 301mg | Iron: 0.01mg

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    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Susan says

      March 03, 2024 at 6:20 am

      5 stars
      I have tried this recipe and it works great.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 11, 2024 at 4:10 pm

        Yay so glad it worked for you!

        Reply
    2. Mindy says

      May 09, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      Hi! I regularly culture my own butter milk for baking/cooking only. I do also give a few tablespoons to my dog for her tummy. I refill my small container and let it sit out overnight. You can do this by leaving a small amount of buttermilk at the bottom of the carton and adding new regular milk to it. Shake it and set it on the counter. If you want to drink it, look up info on culturing yogurt. Itโ€™s basically the same thing, and this method would make sure you have the cultures correct for human consumption.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        May 16, 2023 at 2:47 pm

        Oh that's neat!

        Reply
        • Teresa DeMeyer says

          August 13, 2023 at 11:12 am

          My grandmother made her own Buttermilk. This was in the late 50โ€™s early 60โ€™s.
          She had a lake cabin in Michigan and we would go there in the summer. Before we would get there ? (a few days) she would set out a carton of milk on the window sill and then after it soured she would make โ€œJohnny Cakesโ€ on a black iron pot belly stove. The only cooking means she had. They were so good. This just brought back all those memories.
          Thanks
          Terry

          Reply
          • Lisa says

            August 22, 2023 at 3:38 pm

            That sounds amazing! I feel like our grandparents did so much in cooking that we've lost today!

            Reply
    3. Donna L Holcombe says

      April 18, 2023 at 8:38 am

      I've recently learned that this substitution does not work for most gluten free flours. This explains what went wrong the last time I tried it.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        April 20, 2023 at 5:44 pm

        Oh interesting, gluten free baking can be tricky for so many reasons! Hope you find something that works!

        Reply
    4. Satin says

      October 02, 2022 at 8:14 am

      Thank you for including photos in your explanation of what good and bad buttermilk looks like! They were especially helpful.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        October 03, 2022 at 12:56 pm

        Yay! So glad I could help!

        Reply
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