Buttermilk is extremely high in protein and is essential for strong bones and muscles. It’s one of the most versatile condiments to have at home because you can make a lot of different dishes with it. The next time you go to the grocery store, do get some for yourself. In case you’re wondering, where is buttermilk in grocery stores, we’ve got you covered!
Buttermilk, as the name suggests, is a milk product. So naturally, the grocery stores keep it with the other milk goods in the dairy aisle. Explore the refrigerator section too, as sometimes buttermilk is kept with yogurts, as it stores well in cold temperatures. Also, checking the baking aisle is recommended for those who want powdered buttermilk for baking needs.
There are several brands available for buttermilk these days. It can confuse anyone. Therefore, you should consider some factors before buying, so you get the best kind. Read the rest of the article to find out more about buttermilk and where you can find it in the grocery stores. You’ll find out which brands are the best at the end too.
The Grocery Store Aisles That Have Buttermilk
Imagine you want to make pancakes, but you can’t find buttermilk in the grocery store. How frustrating is that? Some stores don’t organize and restock their aisles as frequently as they should. For that reason, most people find it difficult to locate the items they are looking for. So, depending on the grocery store’s organizational style, buttermilk can be anywhere.
Nevertheless, the suggested aisles listed below are the most common places to find them. As it has been previously stated, there are different brands, so, these also have different packaging. Therefore, read on to discover how to easily locate buttermilk in the aisles!
1. The Dairy Aisle
In most grocery stores, you would find buttermilk with other milk products. Whipped cream, heavy cream, and sour cream will all be stored along with it. Check the vegan milk or milk alternatives aisle too that has almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk. It can be challenging to find buttermilk with all of these products available that look the same.
Most buttermilk stocked in the dairy aisle come in boxes. So, look for cardboard boxes that are white or opaque in color. Some buttermilk can be labeled as ‘Cultured Buttermilk’. This indicates it’s a store brand type, which is made with specific good bacteria and not vinegar or lemon juice. These types of buttermilk last longer in the pantry compared to the natural ones.
2. The Refrigerator Section
Some grocery stores keep buttermilk in the refrigerator section, along with yogurt and butter. The precise temperature for its storage is 40 °F or 4.4 °C, which helps to prevent the accumulation of harmful bacteria. Hence, many grocery stores tend to keep buttermilk in their refrigerators.
Bottled buttermilk is usually stored in refrigerators. So, it might look like regular milk at a glance. Hence, do read the labels as you walk by them. Also, check the expiration date before you buy from the refrigerator section. As, according to the health codes of the USA, buttermilk can be kept for only 2 weeks in refrigerators.
3. The Baking Aisle
The baking aisle in grocery stores usually holds the baking goods, namely- flour, sugar, baking powder, and more. Hence, stocking buttermilk in the baking aisle is also common, since it’s a staple ingredient for baking. You can make so many dishes with it, including bread, cookies, and cakes. As buttermilk has more acid than regular milk, it makes baking goods taste better.
If liquid buttermilk cannot be found in the baking aisle, powdered buttermilk will surely be available. All you would need to do is, add a cup of water or milk to a quarter cup of powder, to make it a liquid. However, it would not have the same consistency as cultured buttermilk. For this reason, powder buttermilk would work best as a dry ingredient in baking.
What to Look for When Buying Buttermilk?
Buttermilk is the leftover liquid you would get, after making butter from whole milk. The consistency is thick, and the taste is tangy. Which is the opposite of how milk should taste. Hence, many people get confused about how they can make sure they are getting fresh buttermilk from grocery stores. So, here’s everything you need to know about them!
The basic thing you should look for while you’re at a grocery store is- check the expiry date on the buttermilk carton. Unopened ones last for 5-7 days even after the expiration date. Whereas the opened cartons will last for 14 days if kept in the refrigerator. So, do the math, and purchase buttermilk as per your needs. Don’t buy them in bulk.
Next, look for discolorations and chunks in the glass bottled buttermilk. If the product is not white and has certain spots where you can see yellow or brownish spots, don’t buy that one. Again, if you discover chunks that look like cottage cheese, then chances are the buttermilk has gone bad.
You can also check the smell if you want to. It’s not an option when you are in the grocery store though, as you won’t get the chance to open the bottle. However, it normally has a strong tangy smell to it, but when it smells sour or like rotten milk, do not purchase or consume it.
Sometimes you can find mold inside the carton boxes. It would look like black patches and will have a slimy texture. Colors such as green and blue also indicate molds. So, do check before you start using it. Mold might not affect the buttermilk’s taste right away because it takes 4-6 days before it affects it. Nevertheless, it’s best to throw it out.
What Are the Best Buttermilk Brands?
The brands mentioned below are among the best buttermilks. They have the perfect consistency for any sort of cooking and have the right level of tang for added flavors!
1. Animal Farm
This is one of the classics. I am sure you have seen this brand in the grocery stores, even if this is your first-time using buttermilk. It has the most deliciously light consistency, and flavor that is perfect for every kind of cooking.
It comes in a plastic bottle, which is opaque in color, and red lid. Animal Farm brand mainly produces full-fat buttermilk, so it should be stored with 100% cow milk in the grocery stores.
2. Garelick Farms
For low-fat buttermilk, Garelick Farms have been known for years. It can be an excellent choice for those who are lactose intolerant because it contains a very small amount of milk.
Also great for people who are on a diet as it has only 1.5% milk fat and 13g carbohydrate. However, the taste and consistency of this will not compete with full-fat buttermilk.
3. Hoosier Hill Farm
This is the dry buttermilk variety. It comes in a plastic jar with a lid. You would have to mix milk or water with it to get the watery consistency.
If you are someone who loves using buttermilk in every dish, this can be a great source for you. You won’t have to worry constantly about the buttermilk going bad.
Conclusion
Grocery stores can be confusing with all essential products stored together. It gets very difficult when you want to buy something specific, and can’t find it. So, I hope this article has helped to know where is buttermilk in grocery stores and other related areas.
Thanks for reading until the end and have a nice day!
