Learn all the tips and tricks for Freezing Buttermilk to save money and prevent food waste. A stash of frozen buttermilk can be used for breakfast recipes, dressings/sauces, baked goods, and it makes a fantastic marinade!

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Buttermilk is a super versatile ingredient, but sometimes you can’t use the whole container before the expiration date. With just a few simple tricks, you can build your own freezer stash of frozen buttermilk to use in so many delicious recipes.

I love to keep buttermilk on hand for making Whole Wheat Pancakes, Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Whole Wheat Waffles, Greek Yogurt Ranch, Whole Wheat Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins, Apple Pie Pancakes, or even Air Fryer Ravioli. And buttermilk is perfect for making these Crispy Air Fryer Green Bean Fries.

Sure, there are buttermilk substitutions out there, but sometimes you just want the real stuff without having to run to the store.

Can You Freeze Buttermilk?

Yes! Thanks for the high-fat content in buttermilk, it freezes incredibly well. Once thawed, you may notice some separation but a quick whisk by hand or an immersion blender will return it to a perfectly useable state. It won’t be as thick as it was when it was fresh, but you’ll still get that great buttermilk taste.

How Long Does Buttermilk Last in the Freezer?

You can keep frozen buttermilk in a conventional freezer for up to three months, or 6-12 months in a deep/stand-alone freezer.

How to Freeze Buttermilk

There are a lot of different containers you can use for storing frozen buttermilk. I prefer jam (8 oz) or wide-mouth pint canning jars (16 oz) and muffin tins. You could also use ice cube trays or the original packaging as long as there is a secure way to close the lid and the container isn’t completely full. You need to allow for the buttermilk to expand as it freezes.

To freeze buttermilk in canning jars, select clean wide-mouth jars. Allow for 1 inch of headspace (the space between the top of the liquid and the top of the jar) to give everything room to expand in the freezer.

How Do You Defrost Buttermilk?

If freezing in jars, you can defrost at room temperature for a few hours by placing it in a bowl of cool water. Alternatively, you can put it in the fridge overnight. Do not microwave frozen jars as they could crack.

If you froze in muffin tins or ice cube trays and stored in freezer bags, you can defrost directly in the freezer bag placed in a bowl of cool water. Additionally, you can microwave the cubes on low power in a microwave in 30 second bursts.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes on Freezing Buttermilk

To prevent waste, freeze the buttermilk in portions that you know you’ll use for favorite recipes. Once you have defrosted it, you’ll need to use it within two days.
If you know you’ll need to defrost your portions quickly, it is best to freeze them in smaller portions so they’ll melt faster.

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