Powdered Milk vs Buttermilk: The Ultimate Verdict

Today’s matchup is an interesting one: powdered milk versus buttermilk! These are two milks that undergo different processes, making them essentially unique versions of regular cow’s milk!

Their transformations come with unique benefits and drawbacks, providing us with some really cool characteristics! We’ll check all those out today, and also compare the two in a head-to-head showdown that’ll determine which one of these milks is the better one!

You’ll learn about their nutritional profiles, their textures, flavors, culinary uses, and more! Then, you’ll know exactly which one you should opt for. 

Let’s jump in!

Comparing powdered milk vs buttermilk

At first glance, powdered milk and buttermilk are quite similar. Both are animal-based, meaning that neither are good for vegan diets. 

Since they’re from cows, neither powdered milk or buttermilk are suitable for paleo diets, and they both have high carbs and sugar contents, making them poor choices for keto diets as well.

You’ll find milk as an allergen in both of them, and they both contain lactose.

	Powdered milk (nonfat)	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Type	Animal-based	Animal-based
Allergens	Milk	Milk
Vegan?	No	No
Paleo?	No	No
Keto?	No	No

Differences between powdered milk and buttermilk

The main difference between powdered milk and buttermilk is how they were processed, creating differences in taste and texture.

Powdered milk is basically regular cow’s milk with all the water taken out – it’s a “dry” milk. The water content in powdered milk is usually less than 5%, which is done through evaporation. This gives it an amazing shelf-life – you can put it in your pantry and forget about it until you need it!

It’s often described as having a slightly cooked or heated flavor from the drying process, and sometimes has a bit more of a grainy texture than regular milk. It comes in different fat contents too, so that’ll affect the flavor and texture.

Buttermilk is tangy and slightly sour, and has a much thicker and creamier texture than powdered milk. Just like powdered milk, it’s made through a process that uses regular milk – a probiotic culture is added to ferment it here!

How to use powdered milk vs buttermilk

There are many ways in which you can use powdered milk and buttermilk, including: 

Powdered milk:

• Use instead of regular milk.
• Bake with it.
• Put it in your coffee or tea as a creamer.
• Add water to turn it into liquid milk.
• Add it to your smoothies. 
• Make yogurts, pancakes, and waffles.
• Keep it as an emergency food storage.

Buttermilk:

• Drink by itself or use like kefir. 
• Use it for marinades and brines.
• Tenderize meat with it.
• Moisten different bakes like pancakes, cookies, and cakes.
• Use it to make thick and creamy dressings and dips.
• Make the many recipes that call for its tangy flavor and creamy texture.

Can you substitute powdered milk for buttermilk?

Generally speaking, you can use one or the other in most things. 

They will have different tastes and textures, which will affect things like smoothies, yogurts, and bakes, and it may be better to use the ingredient called for in a recipe – for example, buttermilk is often called for because it has that distinct tanginess and thickness, and does a really good job of adding moisture to bakes. Powdered milk doesn’t have those qualities to the extent that buttermilk does, so be aware when switching these out for one another!

Nutrition: Powdered milk vs buttermilk

Powdered milk and buttermilk are quite similar in their nutritional profiles at first glance. They’re both high in carbs, they both have almost the same amount of sugar, both are good sources of protein, and they have decent calcium and vitamin D contents. 

However, powdered milk often loses out on vitamin C and some B vitamins due to the drying process, as those vitamins are heat-sensitive. That’s why powdered milk is often fortified with A and D vitamins to compensate.

Buttermilk also has probiotics in it, which is a nice benefit!

Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.)	Powdered milk (nonfat) – equivalent to one cup liquid milk.	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Calories	80	120
Total fat (saturated)	0 g	2.5 g (2 g)
Total carbs	12 g	15 g
Total sugars (incl. added)	12 g (0 g)	11 g (0 g)
Protein	8 g	10 g
Calcium	20% DV	25% DV
Vit D	15% DV	10% DV

How to store powdered milk and buttermilk

To store powdered milk, keep it in the sealed container or bag that it usually comes in and put it in a cool and dry place – the fridge would be the best! Nonfat powdered milk can last for up to 3-5 years with cold, proper storage. Once you open it up, try to use it within a few months for the best quality! You can also check out coconut milk powder if you need something that lasts even longer or is vegan. 

Buttermilk should be stored in the fridge, and lasts around 7 days unopened. Keep an eye on the best-before date, and use it within 5 days once you open it for the most freshness! Some brands state that it’ll last up to 14 days after opening, but that can really depend on several things and should be taken with a grain of salt – keep an eye on it if you’re wanting to store it for that long!

Powdered milk vs buttermilk: The ultimate verdict

So, which milk variant is for you?

Powdered milk is a great choice if you want something that lasts a long time, and it has a similar nutritional profile to buttermilk. Its taste is generally a bit different than regular milk, but has similar properties.

Buttermilk has a unique taste that’s not for everyone, but it works wonders in recipes that call for it. Plus, it has a decent nutritional profile and some unique uses that powdered milk can’t compete with.

Overall, powdered milk is the better choice if you need something with a long storage life, but buttermilk is the better choice for basically all other uses with its flavor profile, thick and creamy texture, and relevancy in baking and cooking!

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