We’re back to helping you avoid kitchen disasters by being prepared – with common ingredient substitutes, of course! Today we’re talking about sour cream and what other common household ingredients (or combination thereof) you can use as a handy substitute when you’re in a bind. Most of these substitutes work best with recipes that use sour cream in a baking recipe or casserole. For sauces or dips, you’re better off substituting any sour cream with Greek yogurt, which is more similar to sour cream than any of the other substitutes we mention below.
Sour Cream Substitute
Before you opt for one of these replacements, keep in mind your end goal. If you’re using a sour cream substitute for baked goods, you can get by with pretty much any of these suggestions. For a sauce or dip, you’re going to get better results with a substitute that’s thicker and has a similar consistency to actual sour cream, and that pretty much limits you to Greek yogurt. But, if you find yourself in a serious bind in the kitchen, try these simple three sour cream substitutes.
Plain Greek Yogurt
Like we’ve already mentioned, Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream. In fact, it’s probably the best sour cream replacement out there. It’s similar texture and consistency works for all kinds of situations, from muffins to sour cream and onion dip. Seriously. To substitute, use a 1:1 ratio of plain Greek yogurt to sour cream.
Plain Yogurt
Plain yogurt can also work if you’re really in a bind. The only potential issue that may crop up is that yogurt isn’t as thick as sour cream. This can add a little extra moisture to baked goods. However, it can also make things a little too runny. To minimize this, you can strain the yogurt through a fine sieve to get rid of excess water. This can also help thicken up the yogurt before you use it.
Buttermilk+Butter
Another quick solution for when you’re out of sour cream is a combination of buttermilk and melted butter. Mix 3/4 cup of buttermilk with 1/3 cup of butter (melted) for every 1 cup of sour cream. While this might seem like a strange combination, this can work well – especially for baked goods.
Do you have any tips for using a sour cream substitute? Share them with us in the comments!
