How to make sour cream

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PRESENTATION

Homemade sour cream—seriously good—is a staple in kitchens worldwide, each with its own twist. In France, it is called "crème fraîche," and it's so, so good with tender baked potatoes or moist salmon. Then you’ve got Poland, where they dollop it on pierogi. I mean, it's the tangy touch these rich dumplings need. And across the U.S., sour cream recipe ideas are everywhere, especially in classics like New York cheesecake. Gives it that special creamy kick, for sure.

All these variations start with the same basic idea. Pretty simple. You take cream, let it sit with yogurt, and in about a day, bam! You have that smooth, gently fermented dairy. It’s amazing how a simple mix turns into something so versatile and loved worldwide. Curious about how to make sour cream at home? It’s really easier than you think. People have been crafting their own versions for years. And, honestly, making it yourself feels really, really satisfying.

The homemade sour cream you whip up is just as creamy and tangy as any store-bought option, maybe even more fresh since it’s from your own kitchen. Plus, you can experiment with the sour cream ingredients—try richer cream or different yogurts for unique flavors and textures. Whether you're prepping it for tacos, adding a scoop to soup, or finishing off a cheesecake, this ingredient finds a way to enhance the meal. What makes sour cream from scratch special is that homemade touch. You know, knowing you mixed and waited for that soft, mildly acidic finish just how you like it. It’s one of those essentials that brings a little extra joy to foods, no matter where you're cooking. And look, can't go wrong with that.

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INGREDIENTS
Fresh liquid cream 1 cup (250 g)
Natural plain yogurt ¼ cup (70 g) - whole

How to make sour cream

To prepare sour cream, start by pouring the liquid cream into a bowl 1. Then add the yogurt 2 and gently whisk until all the ingredients are combined 3

Cover with a clean dish towel or cheesecloth 4 and let rest at room temperature for 24 hours. After this time, take your sour cream, stir it quickly with a spoon 5, and transfer it into a glass jar 6: it will be ready to use in your recipes!

Storage

Store your sour cream in a glass jar with an airtight seal for up to 6 days in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended. 

Tip

To achieve a fluffier consistency, chill the sour cream in the fridge and lightly whisk it with an electric mixer before using it

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.