Buttermilk Substitute
For 1 cup of buttermilk, use 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar. Stir, then let stand 10–15 minutes until it thickens slightly and curdles. Below: the swap scaled to the amounts recipes use, plus every other option.
For 1 cup of buttermilk
1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
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Stir, then let stand 10–15 minutes until it thickens slightly and curdles.
Data & method: Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar: from King Arthur Baking, “Buttermilk substitute”; Greek yogurt thinned with milk: from King Arthur Baking, “Buttermilk substitute”. An automated test pins each ratio to its source. How we calculate →
Every option
Best swap Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar
1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Stir, then let stand 10–15 minutes until it thickens slightly and curdles.
Also works Greek yogurt thinned with milk
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt + ⅔ cup low-fat or skim milk
One part yogurt to two parts milk — King Arthur's pick where buttermilk's tangy flavour matters most.
Scaled to what your recipe calls for
Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar, computed for the amounts recipes actually use:
| Recipe needs | Use instead |
|---|---|
| ¼ cup of buttermilk | ¼ cup milk + ¾ tsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
| ½ cup of buttermilk | ½ cup milk + 1½ tsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
| ¾ cup of buttermilk | ¾ cup milk + 2¼ tsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
| 1 cup of buttermilk | 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
| 1½ cups of buttermilk | 1½ cups milk + 1½ tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
| 2 cups of buttermilk | 2 cups milk + 2 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar |
Need a different amount — or a different ingredient?
The calculator scales every option to your exact amount, for all 17 staples we cover.
Best swap Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar
1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Stir, then let stand 10–15 minutes until it thickens slightly and curdles.
Also works Greek yogurt thinned with milk
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt + ⅔ cup low-fat or skim milk
One part yogurt to two parts milk — King Arthur's pick where buttermilk's tangy flavour matters most.
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Weighing instead? 1 cup of buttermilk in grams: 245 g →
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of buttermilk?
The best swap for 1 cup of buttermilk is 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar — stir, then let stand 10–15 minutes until it thickens slightly and curdles. Source: King Arthur Baking, “Buttermilk substitute”. 1 more option below.
Which buttermilk substitute works best?
Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar is listed first. Greek yogurt thinned with milk also works (one part yogurt to two parts milk — King Arthur's pick where buttermilk's tangy flavour matters most).
How much substitute do I use for a different amount of buttermilk?
Scale the parts linearly. The table on this page covers the common amounts, and the calculator scales every option to exactly what your recipe calls for — never a vague "adjust to taste".