How To Make Sour Cream

Chef Uncategorized Cream, Sour 0 Comments

If you ever find yourself in the kitchen with a recipe that requires sour cream, only to discover that your container is nearly empty or worse, covered in mold, don't panic. You can easily make your own sour cream at home with just two ingredients and a little bit of effort. (And don't worry, you don't need to be a bodybuilder to do it. I managed just fine, and I haven't hit the gym since the 90s.)

Understanding Sour Cream

It's important to know that there are two types of sour cream: cultured and acidified. Cultured sour cream is made with bacteria, while acidified sour cream is made with an acid. Many store-bought sour creams are not actually made from cream but from milk thickened with artificial ingredients. Homemade sour cream may be slightly runnier due to the absence of artificial thickeners, but the flavor is unmatched.

Making Sour Cream at Home

Since you probably don't have lactic bacteria lying around, you can make sour cream at home using heavy cream and an acid like vinegar, lemon juice, or buttermilk. Simply mix the cream and acid in a clean, airtight container and shake or blend until thickened. Voila, homemade sour cream!

To Ferment or Not to Ferment

If you're using the sour cream immediately as a background flavor, you can skip fermenting and use it right away. However, if it's a crucial component of your dish, let it sit on the counter for a day to ferment and thicken before refrigerating. Personally, I usually refrigerate it overnight to thicken without fermenting, and it still tastes delicious.

Storage and Shelf Life

For optimal freshness, store your homemade sour cream in the back of the fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Storing it upside down can create a vacuum seal that slows down mold and bacteria growth. With proper storage, it should last about two weeks. This trick can also be used for other dairy products in containers or jars.

Recipes Using Sour Cream

Don't limit your homemade sour cream to just toppings; it can enhance a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes by adding moisture, tanginess, and tenderness. Get creative with your sour cream!