You bought buttermilk for the world’s fluffiest pancakes, and they were a huge success. But maybe you don’t often bake or cook with buttermilk, so now you’ve got half a carton left over.
It’s been sitting in your fridge for a couple of days and you don’t want to let it go to waste.
But can you freeze buttermilk, or will the freezer kill the cultures in buttermilk?
Buttermilk is freezer friendly and placing buttermilk in the freezer does not kill the cultures. The freezing temperatures only deactivates the cultures. The cultures will reactivate when the buttermilk thaws. However, make sure to not thaw buttermilk in the microwave as that can kill the cultures.
Don’t let your leftover opened buttermilk carton go to waste!
Freeze it and use it in your favorite buttermilk-based recipe in the next 3 months.
What Is Buttermilk?
You’ve baked or cooked with buttermilk but maybe you’re wondering what it actually is and what culture is used.
Buttermilk was originally created by collecting the tart residual liquid from churning butter. Hence why it’s called Buttermilk since it’s the milk leftover when creating butter.
In present day, buttermilk is made by adding live lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis or Lactobacillus bulgaricus, to low-fat milk. The result is a tart, thick, and creamy liquid.
Simply put, buttermilk is fermented dairy.
How To Freeze Buttermilk
There are a few ways you can freeze buttermilk. Let’s cover the 3 most common ways for freezing buttermilk.
Ice Cube Trays
Ice cube trays are a great way for portioning out small, useable sizes of buttermilk. This is the most preferred method since you will not need to thaw out your entire batch of buttermilk but only the amount you need.
Follow these steps for freezing buttermilk in ice cube trays:
- Shake the buttermilk thoroughly
- Measure 1 tablespoon of buttermilk per ice cube (so you know the exact amount)
- Place the tray into the freezer
- Remove the ice tray the following day and transfer the frozen cubes into a plastic bag
- Write the expiration date on the bag which is 3 months from today
Plastic Bags
Another method for freezing specific portions of buttermilk is to use plastic bags. This is another great method to ensure that you will only thaw out the portion of buttermilk that you need for your recipe.
Follow these steps for freezing buttermilk in plastic bags:
- Shake the buttermilk thoroughly
- Pour the buttermilk into a measuring cup
- Measure the amount you frequently use (1 tablespoon, 1/2 cup, 1 cup, etc)
- Pour the measured amount into a plastic bag
- Squeeze the air out and seal the bag
- Lay the bag flat in the freezer
- Write the expiration date on the bag which is 3 months from today
Jars and Airtight Containers
The last method for freezing buttermilk is to use jars and airtight containers. Typically this method is just to store the entire batch of buttermilk instead of portioning it out. This method is a good method to use if you plan on using all the buttermilk that’s placed into each jar or airtight container.
Follow these steps for freezing buttermilk in jars and airtight containers:
- Shake the buttermilk thoroughly
- Pour the buttermilk into a jar or airtight container
- Leave some room at the top for the liquid to expand as it freezes
- Label the portion size and expiration date on the container, which is 3 months from today
This method is easy, but thawing will take longer because your buttermilk will freeze into one big block.
How To Thaw Frozen Buttermilk
There are two methods for thawing frozen buttermilk.
Thawing Overnight In Fridge
The first and best method is to thaw your frozen buttermilk in the refrigerator overnight. It will thaw evenly and will be ready to go for your morning pancakes!
Try to plan ahead of time because this method is the easiest and most foolproof.
Bowl Of Warm Water
If you’re in a hurry and you need buttermilk fast, the second option for thawing is to place your plastic bag filled with frozen buttermilk into a bowl with lukewarm water.
Change the water every 20 minutes until the buttermilk is fully thawed. The center of the frozen buttermilk may take a little longer to thaw, but it should defrost fairly quickly especially if you’ve frozen your buttermilk flat in a bag.
This method will take much longer if you are defrosting from a jar or airtight container.
How To Use Thawed Buttermilk
Thawed buttermilk will retain its cultures and taste, but the texture will change. There may be some water leakage and separation, but you should be able to whisk it back together.
You can use thawed buttermilk as you would normally in baked and cooked dishes. It will work as an excellent brine for fried chicken. It will contribute creaminess, tang, and moisture to any baked good, including cake.
If you enjoy drinking buttermilk as you would kefir, it would be best to drink it fresh rather than thawed from frozen as there will be some textural changes.
How To Tell If The Buttermilk Has Gone Bad
Generally, an opened container of buttermilk lasts approximately 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Buttermilk must be stored in the fridge or freezer since it is not counter safe meaning harmful bacteria will grow if left out.
You can tell if your buttermilk has gone bad or spoiled if it develops lumps or has visible mold. When you pour spoiled milk you will notice chunks of buttermilk will be stuck to the carton or container. Bad buttermilk may also have a pungent smell.
If your buttermilk has gone bad then toss it out. Freezing bad buttermilk will not make it edible.
Frequently Asked Questions On Buttermilk
Below are some frequently asked questions that I hear on buttermilk.
Can You Freeze Buttermilk?
Buttermilk is very freezer friendly. The cultures will deactivate while frozen, but they will not die. They will reactivate when you thaw the buttermilk.
This means you can absolutely freeze buttermilk to preserve it for future use. The texture may change a little bit, but it will still be useable in baked or cooked recipes.
How Long Can Buttermilk Be Stored In The Freezer?
Fresh buttermilk keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months. However, The longer the buttermilk stays in the freezer, the more its flavors and textures will change.
So try to use the frozen buttermilk as soon as possible to preserve its pronounced tangy aromas and flavors.
There are a lot of great recipes that call for buttermilk including pancakes, chocolate cake, biscuits, cornbread, coleslaw, and fried chicken. The opportunities to use up your leftover buttermilk are endless, so keep it fresh by storing it in the freezer without fear of spoilage!
Can You Substitute Buttermilk?
If you’re out of buttermilk, you can create a substitute by combining milk and lemon juice or vinegar. A good ratio of milk to acid is 1 cup to 1 tablespoon.
The lemon juice or vinegar added to the milk mimics the texture of cultured buttermilk with live lactic acid bacteria.
However, when you make your own using this method, you are missing out on the cultures.
Final Thoughts
Next time you have leftover buttermilk, save it by placing it in the freezer. Do not let it go to waste.
It’s very easy to freeze and even easier to thaw when you need it. The freezer does not kill the cultures; it only deactivates them. The cultures in your buttermilk will reactive when you thaw it.
So save that excess buttermilk in the freezer so you can easily pull it out the next time a recipe calls for it.
