Is Sauermilch the same as buttermilk?
No. Sauermilch (also called Dickmilch) is milk that has soured and thickened naturally into a jelly-like mass. Buttermilk is either the liquid left over from making butter or a cultured, deliberately soured milk. Both are sour dairy products and can sometimes replace each other in baking, but they are not the same product.
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In this article
What is Sauermilch?
Sauermilch, also called Dickmilch (thickened milk), is fresh milk that has fermented naturally. A fermented-milk guide describes it as a thick coagulated mass, like jelly, that pulls away from the container walls when ready. In Germany it is eaten for breakfast with grated rye bread and optionally raw sugar or cinnamon sugar.
How is it made?
- Leave fresh milk in a warm place for one to two days; its own sugars and bacteria start fermentation.
- When thick, gently remove the whey and keep the curd-like mass.
- To speed things up, stir a little yogurt into the milk before warming; this takes about 8 hours depending on how well it thickens.
Pasteurized milk that has soured by accident is a different matter: a food writer notes that pasteurized milk that has soured is starting to spoil, while raw milk that sours is safe to drink. Do not drink milk that smells or tastes truly off.
What is buttermilk?
The same food writer says buttermilk is either cultured on purpose to taste sour, or the liquid left over from making butter.
Sauermilch vs buttermilk
| Sauermilch / Dickmilch | Buttermilk | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Fresh milk soured | Churning liquid or cultured milk |
| Texture | Thick, jelly-like | Thinner, drinkable |
| Taste | Sour | Tangy |
Can you substitute one for the other?
This is general kitchen guidance, not a tested rule. In baking, plain yogurt thinned with a little milk is the usual stand-in for either product. Use less liquid if you swap thick Dickmilch for buttermilk, and add some if you go the other way.
People also ask
Is Dickmilch the same as Sauermilch?
In a fermented-milk guide the two names are used for the same thickened soured milk.
Can I use Sauermilch instead of buttermilk?
Often yes in baking, but Sauermilch is thicker, so you may need to thin it. Results vary.
Is soured milk safe to drink?
Raw milk that sours naturally is considered safe; pasteurized milk that has soured is starting to spoil, so discard it if it smells or tastes off.
Sources
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