How to Make Sour Cream at Home

Sour cream is a very versatile ingredient. It can be used for baking, dips, sauces, salad dressings, or can be used plain as a condiment. Sour cream can be made easily at home using only a Mason jar, cream, and buttermilk. The process takes about 24 hours to complete and will yield 1¼ cups of buttermilk. The recipe can be scaled using four parts cream to one part buttermilk to make larger quantities.

Things You'll Need

• Mason jar
• Heavy cream
• Buttermilk
• Cheesecloth

Instructions

1. Sterilize the Mason jar using boiling water to remove any bacteria that may cause premature spoiling. Place it in a pot of boiling water for several minutes, then remove and dry thoroughly.

2. Add one cup heavy cream with ¼ cup of buttermilk to the hot Mason jar. Secure the lid tightly and shake the bottle until the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

3. Allow the cream to sit, covered, at room temperature until thick, or 24 hours at the least. The sour cream should cling to a spoon when finished.

4. If the sour cream is too runny, pour it over cheesecloth and allow all excess liquid to run out. Then place the cream back in a bowl or jar and cover.

5. Store the sour cream in the refrigerator. Use within one week for best results. Ensure the sour cream is chilled and stirred thoroughly before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• For sour cream with a lighter texture, substitute ½ cup of whole milk and ½ cup of heavy cream for one cup of heavy cream. White vinegar can be used in place of buttermilk.

• Do not use the sour cream if mold begins to form on top of the cream. Never use sour cream in dishes with high amounts of salt, as this may cause curdling. Boiling sour cream will cause it to curdle as well.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish