Cream, sour, cultured

Fun Facts

1. The first sour cream was probably discovered many centuries ago when the cream skimmed off milk became sour because of the lack of refrigeration.
2. Sour cream is a creamy, thick dairy product made tangy by the action of a culture on sweet cream. Most of the sour cream available is made from sweet, light cream and is referred to as dairy sour cream in recipes. The milk fat content of the light cream must be at least 18 percent.
3. Although sour cream has been used by cooks for centuries, this early product was similar to, but not exactly the same as the dairy product that homemakers can buy today. The first sour cream was probably discovered many centuries ago when the cream skimmed off milk became sour because of the lack of refrigeration.
4. Through the years, people became accustomed to foods prepared with soured cream. They made the cream by setting a container of heavy, sweet cream on the back of the old fashioned stove until it became thick and had an acid flavor. The exact degree of acidity of these early products varied. Sometimes, it was very acid, at other times, it was mild.