Blueberry Muffins
Bakery-Style Blueberry Streusel Muffins
Bakery-Style StreuseleasyCleanup score 2 of 5
Eggs and dairy
Sour cream: what it is, how to pick and store it
Cream thickened and soured with cultures: tangy and rich. Full-fat sour cream is less likely to curdle when you stir it into something hot.
How to pick it
Check the date. For sauces, use full fat and stir it in off the heat.
How to store it
Refrigerate it covered, and use a clean spoon each time. It doesn't freeze well (it turns grainy).
- Keep the fridge at 40°F or colder and the freezer at 0°F. (FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart)
- Don't leave it out of the fridge for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F). (USDA FSIS, Danger Zone)
Have some left over? Recipes that use up sour cream.
Out of sour cream? What to use instead
- Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount (full-fat for baking). Tangier and a little less rich.
- Crème fraîche: The same amount. Richer and milder, and it doesn't curdle in hot sauces.
- Cottage cheese, blended: The same amount, blended smooth with a squeeze of lemon. Milder and less rich, with more protein.
- Plant-based sour cream: The same amount. Close for dips and toppings; in baking, cakes can be a little denser.
Sour cream: cups to grams
| Measure | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 230 g |
| ½ cup | 115 g |
| ⅓ cup | 77 g |
| ¼ cup | 58 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 14 g |
| 1 teaspoon | 4.8 g |
Weights from USDA FoodData Central. Sour cream: converter and grams to cups
Recipes with sour cream (23)
Corn on the Cob
Broiled Street-Style Corn with Cotija and Lime
Broiled Street-StyleeasyCleanup score 4 of 5
Homemade Salad Dressing
Buttermilk Herb Ranch-Style Dressing
Buttermilk HerbeasyCleanup score 5 of 5
French Onion Dip
Caramelized French Onion Dip
Caramelized OnioneasyCleanup score 4 of 5
Baked Potatoes
Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes
Twice-BakedmediumCleanup score 3 of 5
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce
Red Chile SauceeasyCleanup score 3 of 5
Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip WalnuteasyCleanup score 3 of 5
Homemade Salad Dressing
Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
Chunky Blue CheeseeasyCleanup score 5 of 5
Potato Latkes
Classic Crispy Potato Latkes
ClassicmediumCleanup score 2 of 5
Banana Bread
Classic One-Bowl Banana Bread
ClassiceasyCleanup score 4 of 5
Seven-Layer Dip
Classic Seven-Layer Dip
ClassiceasyCleanup score 4 of 5
Mushroom Stroganoff
Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff
Creamy Sour CreameasyCleanup score 2 of 5
More recipes with sour cream
- Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas
- Crispy Oven-Baked Fish Tacos
- Crispy-Skin Baked Potatoes
- Ground Beef Taco Salad
- Hot Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- New York-Style Cheesecake
- Rainbow Veggie Cream Cheese Pinwheels
- Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
- Sweet Potato and Scallion Latkes
- Weeknight Beef Stroganoff
More eggs and dairy
ButterEggsMilkParmesanCheddarHeavy creamAll 60 ingredient guides
Pick and store tips are in our own words. Storage times and safe temperatures are only shown where a U.S. government source gives them, named on each line; for anything not listed here, see USDA's FoodKeeper app.