Grocery prices in stores do not always correspond to actual costs, and dairy products are one of the most notable examples. Sour cream turns out to be several times more expensive than milk, although it is technologically obtained from it.
Why is store-bought sour cream so expensive?
A liter package of milk with a fat content of 3.2–4.5% can be bought for 100 rubles, while sour cream from the same volume of raw materials is sold for 300. At the same time, it is not difficult to prepare sour cream even at home, which indicates an inflated markup, said Elena Tarasova, author of the blog “Culinary College” (18+).
Of course, packaging, transportation and rental are included in the retail price, but the gap still remains noticeable. The homemade version is cheaper and tastes closer to a natural rustic product.
How to make sour cream from regular milk in an hour
The recipe does not require special ingredients or bulky utensils. We will cook in a water bath – it’s convenient and simple.
Take a saucepan, place a terry towel on the bottom and place a liter jar of milk inside. Pour water into the pan so that the jar is almost completely in it.
Bring the water to a boil and heat the milk until almost boiling. Remove the jar and cool it on the counter at room temperature.
Sourdough and aging
Add starter to warm, but not hot milk – regular sour cream will do at the rate of 2-3 spoons per liter. Stir, cover and leave for about 45 minutes until completely cooled.
All that remains is to strain the mixture through cheesecloth, separating the whey. The resulting sour cream is thick, fatty and much tastier than the store-bought product.
