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Can I use milk instead of buttermilk for fried chicken?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 22, 2026

Can you use milk instead of buttermilk to make fried chicken? If you don't have buttermilk on hand, use milk and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar per cup of milk. This is a great substitute for buttermilk.

What happens if you use milk instead of buttermilk?

Store bought buttermilk is a slightly sour milk that comes from a combination of milk and lactic acid. It is thicker than plain milk, with a subtle tang. In recipes that call for buttermilk, it is not recommended to replace buttermilk with plain milk, because the absence of acid will not produce the same end result.

Can I soak chicken in milk instead of buttermilk?

Reasons why buttermilk is used to marinate or soak chicken prior to cooking: Buttermilk is acidic. In fact, if you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make a buttermilk substitute by combining 1 cup of milk with either 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Can I use normal milk for fried chicken?

Regular milk, Chase says, is too light and thin, and it will not yield the same perfect crust. Chase's secret to perfect fried chicken is to make sure it is "perfectly dry before it hits the fryer.

Is buttermilk necessary for fried chicken?

While most fried chicken recipes recommend buttermilk for various reasons, this easy recipe is made without. Not needing buttermilk or a buttermilk replacement is a great way to avoid a quick trip to the store and can allow you the fun of making chicken without tracking down miscellaneous ingredients.

33 related questions found

What is the secret to good fried chicken?

To get you started, here are our ten best tips and tricks for cooking fried chicken perfectly.

  1. Fry it twice. ...
  2. Use Crisco. ...
  3. Or try frying in duck fat. ...
  4. Cook it sous vide first. ...
  5. Go for the dark meat. ...
  6. Add dried limes. ...
  7. Bake the chicken first. ...
  8. For extra crunch, use a cornstarch dredge.

Can I use egg instead of buttermilk for fried chicken?

Don't skip the eggs in the buttermilk mixture, because the eggs help the flour coating stick to the chicken. Use a thermometer for your oil. This will give you a much more accurate temperature resulting in the perfect crispy chicken.

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

You can use any kind of milk, but if your recipe calls for a certain type of buttermilk — such as low fat — it may be best to use a similar type of milk to make a substitute. To make 1 cup (240 mL) of buttermilk substitute, add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of vinegar to a liquid measuring cup.

What does Soaking chicken in milk do?

The calcium in milk is thought to kick-start a natural enzyme in the chicken that helps it tenderize. It also breaks up the acidity and heat. (That's true for non-dairy milk, like coconut milk, too.) As an added bonus, the milk creates a creamy sauce that will keep a roast chicken even juicier.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of buttermilk?

A great alternative to buttermilk to give your recipes that desired tang when you don't have buttermilk on hand.

How long should you soak chicken in milk?

Cut the chicken into frying pieces. In a shallow bowl beat the eggs and then stir in the milk, salt, and pepper. Soak the chicken in the milk mixture for 5 to 10 minutes.

Can you marinate in milk instead of buttermilk?

Buttermilk Substitute for Marinades and Brines

For the best tenderizing flavor, opt for a scant cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, then add seasonings like salt, freshly ground pepper, paprika and minced fresh garlic or a dash of garlic powder.

Should you soak chicken in milk?

Milk Is also a brilliant tenderizing and soaking agent as it works in two ways with chicken. The lactic acid destabilizes the protein, and the calcium accelerates the natural breakdown process. It provides the answer to why to soak the chicken in milk.

What's a substitute for buttermilk?

All you need to make a substitute for buttermilk in baking recipes is milk and white vinegar, or lemon juice. I typically opt for 2% or whole milk and fresh lemon juice, but bottled will also do the trick. Measure one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup.

What is a quick substitute for buttermilk?

The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes. If you don't have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tarter also work as great buttermilk substitutions.

What is the best buttermilk substitute?

The Best Buttermilk Substitutes

  1. Acidified Milk. Add one tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup, and add enough milk until it measures 1 cup. ...
  2. Watered-Down Yogurt. ...
  3. Watered-Down Sour Cream. ...
  4. Kefir. ...
  5. Cream of Tartar and Milk.

How do I fry chicken so it's not dry?

Instructions

  1. Flatten the chicken breasts. ...
  2. Season the chicken breasts. ...
  3. Heat the pan. ...
  4. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. ...
  5. Flip the chicken breasts. ...
  6. Turn the heat down to low. ...
  7. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. ...
  8. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes.

Why is Korean fried chicken so crispy?

Why is Korean fried chicken so crispy? Korean fried chicken is super crispy due to the addition of potato starch in its batter and double frying the chicken. This second fry also boils off the extra moisture in the chicken after the first fry.

Can I brine chicken in milk?

When the milk is nearly cool, stir in the remaining 1 quart cold milk. Transfer the milk brine to a dish large enough to hold the chicken pieces. Add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours. Drain the chicken, discard the brine, and pat the chicken dry.

How do I substitute buttermilk for milk?

Buttermilk Equivalents and Measures

  1. 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup yogurt.
  2. 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk PLUS 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice (let stand for 10 minutes before using in recipe)
  3. 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk PLUS 1 3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar.

Can I use half and half instead of buttermilk?

Can you use half and half instead of buttermilk? You can. However, in recipes that also require baking soda to counteract the buttermilk, you should remove the baking soda, or you can turn your half and half into a similar product to buttermilk by adding lemon juice or vinegar.

How do you make buttermilk substitute UK?

Method

  1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.
  2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.
  3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

Should I dip my chicken in egg before frying?

The standard breading procedure, and it's simple to do! The initial dip in flour helps the egg wash stick better to the food's surface. A little bit of oil in the egg wash helps thin the liquid coating, and the extra fat browns the breadcrumbs better underneath.

Do you have to Dip chicken in egg before flour?

in the same way Why do you Dip chicken in flour before egg? First things first: The breading process must go as follows: flour, egg, crust. The flour step gives the egg something to adhere to. Without it, the breading would slide right off the meat.

What do you soak chicken in before frying?

Most Southern fried chicken recipes start with a bath in a seasoned marinade of some sort, whether it's buttermilk, milk and eggs, or even pickle juice. Adding plenty of salt to this mixture can help your chicken stay moist. This works in the exact same manner as a brine.