Sour cream is a staple of Central and Eastern European cuisine and is commonly
used in this country as a base for dips and salad dressings, a topping for
baked potatoes and a baking ingredient. Here are some delicious recipe ideas
using California sour cream.
Find more information about sour cream including a glossary of terms and
storage and handling tips.
Sour cream is made by adding a culture to pasteurized light cream, a process
which thickens the cream and adds to its characteristically sour flavor.
In Russian cuisine, sour cream is frequently added to borscht and other soups,
while Hungarian cooks often use it as an ingredient in sauces and recipes such
as ham filled crèpes.
Glossary of Sour Cream Terms
Regular sour cream is made from light cream and contains no less than 18 percent milkfat.
Reduced-fat sour cream is made from half-and-half and must contain at least 25 percent less milkfat than regular sour cream, though many varieties contain 40 percent less milkfat.
Nonfat sour cream contains no more than 0.5 grams milkfat per serving and includes stabilizers as thickening agents.
Sour Cream Storage and Handling
Store sour cream in its closed container in the refrigerator, which is typically set at 38°F - 40°F.
If separation occurs, gently stir the liquid back into the sour cream.
If any mold forms on the cream's surface, discard it immediately.
An instrumentality of the Department of Food and Agriculture, State of
California.