Buttermilk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Buttermilk (disambiguation)
| Buttermilk, low fat Nutritional value per 100 g | </tr>
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| Energy 40 kcal 170 kJ | ||||||
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| Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. </td></tr></table> |
Buttermilk is the liquid left over after producing butter from full-cream milk during the churning process. It has a slightly sour taste. It is quite popular as a refreshment in India. Many breads are made with buttermilk, and it is also used in creamy soups and sauces.
Most of the modern, commercially-available, "buttermilk" in supermarkets is not genuine buttermilk, but rather cultured buttermilk, that is milk to which souring agents (Streptococci bacteria) have been added to simulate the traditional product. The sour taste, or tartness of "cultured buttermilk" is a result of a fermentation process in which the Lactococcus bacteria turn lactose into lactic acid. As the pH drops in this reaction the milk becomes tart. At this point, casein, a milk protein, precipitates as it is no longer soluble under acidic conditions, causing what is called clabbering or curdling. The acidity of buttermilk inhibits bacterial growth, and this gives it a long refrigeration life. This process can be repeated when making sour cream with slight alterations.
Note that it may be difficult to find buttermilk that is not low-fat in some areas, but it is possible to augment it with cream that has risen to the top of some varieties of store-bought whipping cream. Still, many people enjoy cultured buttermilk as part of a health-conscious diet, particularly in Germany. It is consumed daily by the majority of people in Southern India.
In baking, regular milk can be substituted for buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup of regular milk. Allow the soured milk to stand for ten minutes before adding to recipes.[1] This method can be used with soy milk or rice milk for vegan/vegetarian consumption.af:Bottermelk da:Kærnemælk de:Buttermilch es:Buttermilk fr:Babeurre nl:Karnemelk pl:Maślanka fi:Piimä sv:Kärnmjölk
