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Ever wondered, how many ounces are in a pint of sour cream? When looking up recipes online, you will get bombarded with options from all across the world.
This is, of course, one of the best things about the internet. But, when so many countries use different types of measurements it can become confusing.
When it comes to liquids and other strange ingredients (does sour cream even count as a liquid?) it can become even more complicated.
In a US pint of sour cream, there are 16 US fluid ounces. The easiest way to find an approximate answer when converting pints to fluid ounces is to multiply the number of pints by 19.215.
Let’s Get Into The Thick Of It
Measuring Sour Cream in a Jug
Sour cream is a weird kind of food and it has a weird consistency. It’s not quite solid and it’s not quite liquid, so it’s difficult to measure out.
One way to measure out sour cream is in a jug which is meant for liquid measurements. This can be difficult as you need to level off the sour cream to make sure that it is exactly the amount you need.
To measure in a jug, place it on a worktop and then crouch down until it is at eye level. Then (carefully!) pour the sour cream into the jug.
This will allow you to see the measurements on the side of the jug more clearly and will give you a more accurate measurement.
Top tip: To help the sour cream settle, bang the jug on the worktop a few times and then double-check the measure. This will help remove any pockets of air in the sour cream and help it settle so that the top of the sour cream will become level.
Doing this will give a more precise measurement.
Measuring Sour Cream in Spoons
Using a measuring jug is the easiest way to measure sour cream, but it isn’t necessarily the most accurate. Another way to measure sour cream is by using measuring spoons.
Measuring spoons usually use cups as a measurement. To help you convert this, 1 pint of sour cream is equal to 2 cups.
To measure sour cream in measuring spoons with cups, simply scoop the sour cream out of the tub using the spoon. Then, level it off with a knife and tap it against the worktop. As with the jug, this will settle the sour cream so that you get a more accurate measurement.
Buying Sour Cream
It is also possible to buy sour cream tubs that are half-pints. This is 8 fluid ounces so, if you can find them, you can simply buy two of these and be done!
When buying sour cream, there are a few things to consider. As with most dairy products, there will be “low fat” and “low sugar” versions. These might sound healthier but may not always be.
Lots of dairy products that are low in fat can actually be higher in sugar. When the fat content of dairy products is reduced, the flavor can change dramatically. To make up for this, some manufacturers will add extra sugar. So, overall, the product isn’t actually any healthier.
If your recipe calls for full-fat sour cream, don’t think that using low-fat will be healthier as there may be extra sugars and the full-fat content may be needed for the consistency of the finished food.
Using Sour Cream
There are quite a lot of recipes that call for sour cream. Sour cream is great for making dips for BBQs or pot lucks as all you need to do is add a bit of flavor, such as chives or some herbs and spices, and you have a dish.
This is great if you’re expected to bring something to a gathering and don’t have the time (or skills) to make anything complicated.
Sour cream might not sound particularly appetizing, but it can even be used in baking. Don’t be put off by the word “sour”, this isn’t just cream that’s gone bad.
Sour cream is especially great in pancakes and can make them super thick and fluffy. If you’re more of a fan of thick pancakes than thin crepes, add some sour cream along with a little milk to the pancake mix to make them next level.
Sour cream can also be used as a substitute for buttermilk. Buttermilk is really popular right now, but it isn’t always easy to find so sour cream can be a great alternative. Sour cream is made sour by the use of lactic acid bacteria to ferment the cream, which is similar to buttermilk.
If you do choose to replace buttermilk with sour cream, remember that they have similar flavors but different consistencies.
Sour cream is much thicker than buttermilk, so mix it with some water or milk to get a thinner consistency.
Health Benefits of Sour Cream
When you think of healthy foods, “cream” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But, even though it might scare some people, fats are actually good for you.
Unless you’re allergic or believe them to be unethical, there are no foods that you should avoid entirely. Even sugar is needed in small amounts.
Sour cream is high in fat, but it isn’t bad for you. In one serving of sour cream (about 2 tablespoons), there are around 52 calories. That’s fewer calories than in 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise.
Sour cream is also low in saturated fat. Saturated fat is the “bad” kind of fat that you’re often told to avoid. There are lots of foods with high amounts of “good” fat such as avocados, dark chocolate, and eggs.
When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is everything. Our bodies need fat to survive as it is fat that is stored and used by our bodies for fuel.
Sour cream is a great source of fat but, like every other food, shouldn’t be eaten excessively. Add it to pancakes or use it instead of buttermilk, but don’t eat too much.
Your turn! How Many Ounces Are in a Pint of Sour Cream? I bet you now know the answer to this question.
For more frequently asked questions, visit our index of food-related questions and answers. Here are a few suggestions for you:
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