Under 30 minutes

Buttermilk, three ways

Name: Buttermilk, three ways
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 200 ml Or 1 cup x full fat milk; 1 tbsp Lemon juice or vinegar; 200 ml Or 1 cup x full fat milk; 2 tsp Cream of tartar; 4 tbsp Soured cream; 2 tbsp Water

By Tom · Updated 17 August 2026

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About 20 min
Easy

Buttermilk is one of those ingredients that we don't often think about until it pops up randomly in a recipe and you realise you don't have any in the fridge. The purpose of this post is to solve that problem.

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The recipe

Buttermilk, three ways

Buttermilk is one of those ingredients that we don't often think about until it pops up randomly in a recipe and you realise you don't have any in the.

10 min prep
10 min cooking
Easy

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities

Measurements

Ingredients

Buttermilk method 1. the acid method

200 ml Or 1 cup x full fat milk
1 tbsp Lemon juice or vinegar

Buttermilk method 2

200 ml Or 1 cup x full fat milk
2 tsp Cream of tartar

Buttermilk method 3

4 tbsp Soured cream
2 tbsp Water

Tick things off as you go — they stay ticked if you close the page.

A dotted underline means the amount has been rounded to something you can measure.

Method

Buttermilk method 1. the acid method

Step 1
Simply mix both ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes. This method will be lumpy when you fist look at it but don't worry, this is completely normal. Give it a good stir before using.
Step 2
I prefer to use lemon juice for this method. However, any vinegar (1 tbsp) will also work. I would advise on using a light vinegar such as white wine vinegar or cider vinegar as I imagine it would not be too appetising using balsamic vinegar.

Buttermilk method 2

Step 1
Mix Both ingredients together and set to one side for 10 minutes before using.
Step 2
Mix well before use.

Buttermilk method 3

Step 1
Mix both ingredients together. This recipe is ready to use immediately.
Step 2
This recipe is always 2 parts soured cream (4 tbsp) to 1 part water (2 tbsp).

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Questions people ask

How long does buttermilk, three ways take?

About 20 min from start to finish, of which 10 min is prep and 10 min is cooking. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, as written. If you are cooking for a strict vegetarian, the one to check is the cheese: several hard cheeses are made with animal rennet.

Buttermilk, three ways