An A to Z guide to choosing, storing, preparing, and cooking fresh produce and recipe ingredients.
Richard Jung/Getty ImagesSour Cream
Thick and tangy, sour cream is cream that’s been fermented with lactic acid cultures.
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How to Choose Sour Cream
For the best taste, look for sour cream made only with cream and live cultures; many brands contain additional ingredients like stabilizers, gelatin, and vegetable enzymes. Since it starts out as heavy cream, sour cream is high in saturated fat. Low-fat versions made with half-and-half contain 40 percent less fat, making slathering it on that baked potato a little less of a guilty pleasure. -
How to Store Sour Cream
Refrigerate sour cream tightly covered in its original container. Discard immediately if any signs of mold appear, regardless of the expiration date on the package. -
How to Use Sour Cream
Sour cream can be used in place of mayonnaise in many dips, slaws, and spreads.
—Melinda PageReal Simple Sour Cream Recipes:
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