Where Can You Find Real Butter and Buttermilk?

When it comes to finding real butter, whether for cooking or spreading, it's essential to understand the difference between genuine butter and its impostors. This guide will help you navigate through the aisles of your local supermarket, and even teach you how to make your own!

Identifying Real Butter

The first step to finding real butter is to look for the simple and straightforward label: “Butter.” When shopping in a supermarket, you should opt for packages that prominently display the word “butter” in large, friendly letters on the front. This ensures you're getting a product that contains only cream and salt, making it the real deal.

Three common products that you might encounter are:

Margarine: Usually, the packaging won’t say “butter,” but might instead list hydrogenated oils. This means the product isn’t just butter but also contains additional ingredients, making it less pure and perhaps less healthy. Margarine is usually labeled as a “spread” rather than butter. Butter Substitutes: Alternatives like spreads or butters that mention hydrogenated oils in the ingredients list are not to be confused with real butter. They are typically made from vegetable oils and contain emulsifiers and other additives, which give them a spreadable consistency but a different taste and texture.

Homemade Butter for Real Butter Lovers

For those who truly value the taste and quality of real butter, homemade options are a rewarding choice. Making your own butter is not only a fun culinary exercise but also allows you to know exactly what is going into your food.

Gather Your Ingredients: Start with high-fat cream. The higher the fat content, the creamier the butter will be. Whip It! Whip the cream until it turns into whipped cream. Continue whisking until the mixture separates into butter and butter milk. This process is called churning. Draining and Seasoning: Place the butter in a colander and run cold water over it to rinse out excess butter milk. Use your hands to squeeze out any remaining liquid. If desired, add a pinch of salt for flavor.

For a truly cultured, flavorful butter, you can make a simple addition:

Start with Cultured Cream: Add one tablespoon of plain yogurt with live cultures and one tablespoon of cultured buttermilk to your cream. Allow the mixture to sit covered at room temperature for 24–48 hours. This process encourages fermentation, adding a tangy, buttery flavor. Churn the cultured cream: Once the mixture has thickened, churn it to turn it into butter using the same method as above.

Locating Buttermilk Near You

Buttermilk is another frequently sought ingredient, widely available in supermarkets and easy to identify. Typically, it is found in the dairy section and is known as cultured buttermilk.

If you're having trouble finding buttermilk in your local store, a simple search online or in nearby locations can yield several options:

Supermarket Chains: Major US supermarkets, such as Kroger, Publix, and Costco, often stock buttermilk. Target and other large retailers may also carry it. Natural Food Stores: Many natural food stores, including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, regularly stock buttermilk. Local Dairy Farms: In some areas, local dairy farms may sell fresh buttermilk directly to consumers.

For a more customized approach, use search engines like Google:

Where can I get buttermilk near [Your Location]?

This will provide a list of nearby stores that sell buttermilk. Additionally, you can make your own buttermilk using a starter culture, which is easily available online through retailers like Amazon.

With these tips, you can ensure that you're always using the real thing—whether it's butter or buttermilk—for your cooking needs!