Where to Find Buttermilk in the Grocery Store

Buttermilk is a fermented dairy drink obtained from the liquid that’s left in a churn after making butter. It’s non-fat and richer in cultures than your regular milk. 

Nowadays, buttermilk can be easily made by incorporating cultures into regular milk. It can be drunk straight or used in cooking and baking to make pastries because it acts as a leavening agent.

Oftentimes, it is used for marinating the best steaks, chicken, and even pork.

If you plan on using buttermilk in any of your recipes at home, here’s a short guide on how and where to find buttermilk in the grocery store.

Where do you find buttermilk in the grocery store?

You can find buttermilk in the Dairy section of most grocery stores. Most times, it sells under different name tags like “cultured buttermilk” or “churned buttermilk”.

The difference is that cultured buttermilk is made with low-fat bacterial cultures, while the churned buttermilks are the liquid that remains after milk is churned into butter.

If the grocery store you visit has a Refrigerator section, then you can also check there for buttermilk.

Refrigerator section in a grocery store containing dairy products

You can also use buttermilk in baking as it has more acid than regular milk, which will help greatly in raising pastries. So you can find it in the Baking aisle.

But you’re more likely to find the powdered buttermilk brands there.

Where can I get buttermilk?

Amazon

Amazon houses the best brands of buttermilk powders you can use to make yours at home. You can mix them with water to achieve the buttermilk result. You can also order them online without having to leave the comfort of your home.

Bob's Red Mill Milk Powder Buttermilk, 24 Ounce Packages (Pack of 4)
  • Case of four 24-ounce packages (96 total ounces)
  • Made from 100% all-natural cream buttermilk
  • An excellent source of calcium and protein
  • Use in all baked goods as buttermilk substitute
  • Packaged in Milwaukie, Oregon
Hoosier Hill Farm Buttermilk Powder, 1 Pound
Rehydrate this sweet cream buttermilk powder with equal parts water and you have buttermilk! If you don't use buttermilk often, this is a great product to have around for biscuits, pancakes and other baking projects.
Buttermilk Powder (4 oz, ZIN: 525347)
  • Our Buttermilk Powder is a perfect staple ingredient for a multitude of cooking uses. Buttermilk adds a subtle flavor and moistness to your recipes. Buttermilk is an excellent source of protein and is low in fat. - For liquid Buttermilk, mix 3 level tablespoons of Buttermilk powder and 1 cup of water.

Walmart

If you’re not sure where to find buttermilk in Walmart, it’s in the Dairy/milk section. You’ll find various brands of buttermilk there, like the Great Value 1% low-Fat cultured buttermilk. 

Kroger

Kroger has its own brand of buttermilk, which is the Kroger Cultured Whole Buttermilk. It’s in the Dairy section at any of the store’s outlets.

You can use the online store locator to find the exact aisle in your location and its pickup status.

Trader Joe’s

Like Kroger, Trader Joe’s sells its own brand of buttermilk. Though it’s not available for online ordering, you can always get it at any of the store’s outlets.

Alternatively, you can use grocery delivery services like Instacart to get it delivered to your home address.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is the number one stop for organic and natural food products. It’s where to find buttermilk if you need 100% assurance of flavor-free and diet-friendly produce.

Though you can’t order buttermilk from Whole Foods’ online store, you can still check its availability status before pickup. 

Meijer

Meijer is one of the cheapest stores to shop for grocery items. It’s where to find buttermilk when you’re on a tight budget. 

For as low as $0.99, you can walk away with Meijer’s own brand of buttermilk, and you can find it in the Dairy aisle.

But it’s best if you used the online store locator to find the correct aisle and availability status of the product before heading in-store.

Publix

Publix stocks buttermilk brands like the Organic Valley cultured & low-fat buttermilk brand. You can use the online shopping list feature to assemble your buttermilk purchases along with other items from the store.

You’ll also get information on the aisle locations before heading in-store to pick them up.


FAQs

What can be used in place of buttermilk?

You can use the following substitutes at home if you don’t have any luck finding buttermilk in the grocery store:

  • Lemon juice
  • Vinegar
  • Plain yogurt
  • Sour cream

Can I use milk instead of buttermilk?

Yes, you can use regular milk instead of buttermilk for cooking or baking.

However, if your recipe specifically calls for low-fat buttermilk, then you might want to use a milk brand with the same low-fat content.

Is Buttermilk supposed to smell?

It’s normal for buttermilk to have a smell, although this smell is usually tangy and more pronounced than that of regular milk. However, if you notice a pungent and sour smell, then it’s time to throw your buttermilk away as it’s become sour.


If you loved our piece on finding buttermilk in the grocery store, here are some other rich, dairy-infused products you might like also: