Dried buttermilk powder makes baked goods more moist, more tender, and more tasty. It’s also great to keep on hand for when you run out of buttermilk, a Southerner’s nightmare!
But its best kept secret? Dehydrated buttermilk powder makes for a great addition to all sorts of savory seasoning and herb mixes. Next time a recipe calls for a dried ranch packet, try making your own ranch seasoning mix—or incorporate it into your next chicken rub—for a bump of savory tang.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
What Is Buttermilk Powder?
Dry buttermilk powder is essentially dried or dehydrated buttermilk. This means it has all the same milkfats and properties that make buttermilk so tangy, rich, and good, but without the moisture or liquid added.
Buttermilk powder is formulated at a large scale from the byproduct of milk-making, which has strict USDA regulations making it safe to drink. This makes buttermilk powder extremely consistent and effective across cooking techniques, from baking to barbecuing (yes, barbecuing!).
Tips
Buttermilk powder is a baker’s secret weapon. Whisked into the flour, it doesn’t just add tanginess and seal in moisture, it also helps with browning to get that perfectly golden exterior on things like biscuits, pie crusts, and scones.
Related: What Is Buttermilk? How To Use It In Southern Cooking
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
How To Use Dry Buttermilk
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Add it to baked goods like pie crusts, biscuits, or pancakes. Just one to two tablespoons of added buttermilk powder in pastries like pie crusts or biscuits improves flavor and texture. In many baked goods, dried buttermilk powder acts the same way that any sort of fat (like butter—or whole buttermilk) might in a recipe without the added moisture.
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Add to a seasoning mix or dry rub. Next time your chicken recipe calls for a ranch seasoning packet (as many of ours do), make your own mix with a combination of buttermilk powder, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, black pepper, dried chives, and dried parsley.
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Make your own liquid buttermilk. Milk and vinegar or lemon juice are often touted as the best way to make your own buttermilk, and while this method works just fine, there are occasions where even milk is out of the question! With buttermilk powder, all you need is water. Mix about 1/4 cup of buttermilk powder with every 1 cup of water (or milk).
Related: That Buttermilk In Your Fridge Isn’t Actually Buttermilk
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