There is a debate afoot in our household. Can you microwave sour cream? My vote, and really the only one that matters since I do the majority of all cooking, is yes. The opposition claims the heat will sour the sour cream to the point it no longer sour cream but instead pungent cream. What is your vote? Can you microwave sour cream? Inquiring minds want to know.

What Is Sour Cream and How Is It Used?

What is sour cream? I hope you do not take offense to me actually answering this silly question. Unless you have lived under a rock, I assume everyone knows what sour cream is. And if you do not, you have really been missing out on life. To be honest, I am not really sure what exactly sour cream is made up. I have never made it from scratch but instead buy this bucket of deliciousness premade and ready to be dolloped onto my baked potato or slathered on my upside pizza casserole at Christmas.

I quite literally just pulled the container from my refrigerator. The ingredients include cultured pasteurized grade A cream, nonfat milk solids, and enzymes. It goes on to say it contains milk and may contain traces of coconut and soy. So there you have it, plain as mud, right?

According the website Healthline (2), sour cream “is made by combining cream, which is the high-fat layer skimmed off the top of whole milk, with lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria consume the sugar in the cream, also known as lactose, and release lactic acid as a waste product. The lactic acid causes the cream to become more acidic, resulting in a tangy, sour taste.”

How is sour cream used? All you really need to know is it an amazing addition to potatoes, tacos, burritos, even pie crusts or desserts.

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What Are The Types Of Sour Cream?

There are several types of sour cream, however in order for sour cream to actually be classified as sour cream (according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) it must contain 18% milk fat content. Sour cream is a dairy product. The different types of sour cream include:

• Full fat sour cream
• Reduced or low-fat sour cream
• Fat-Free sour cream
• Non-dairy sour cream

Can You Microwave Sour Cream?

Good news! The short answer is yes. Though you may prefer sour cream cold in certain recipes, you can most certainly heat sour cream whether in the microwave oven, or the stovetop. It is completely safe to warm sour cream.

How To Heat Sour Cream In The Microwave?

How do you microwave sour cream? First, before heating, ensure the sour cream is not the in original container you purchased it in. These containers are not microwave safe and will collapse from the heat of the microwave. In addition, heating the plastic may release chemicals into your food which you will then consume. Instead, use a microwave-safe container such as medium size bowl or cup made of glass.

The best way to heat sour cream is to heat only a small portion of sour cream at a time. Start by setting the microwave at 10-15 seconds for each tablespoon of sour cream. Stir. If the sour cream is not warm enough, in short intervals add an additional 5-10 seconds. If you have a high power microwave that tends to heat your food rather quickly, start at a lower time frame. Heating the sour cream too quickly will result in it popping, curdling, or separating.

Things You Should Consider Before Microwaving Sour Cream?

Before microwaving sour cream or any recipe that includes sour cream, you should consider the following factors:

• Full fat or reduced fat sour cream heat better than the other types of sour cream. If you use a low fat sour cream, reduce the time to 10 seconds for the first heating.
• Sour cream is a dairy item and should be refrigerated. You may use it in cooking and may heat it, but do put any remaining sour cream back in the fridge after you use it.
• Should you have leftovers or a dish that includes sour cream, be careful not to leave it unrefrigerated for too long. According to the USDA (1), “Cold foods must be kept at 40 degrees or below. Bacteria grows rapidly between 40 and 140 degrees. This low temperature results in harmful pathogens which can cause food poisoning. Disgard all perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, and casseroles, left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 degree F. “

Can I Reheat Leftovers With Sour Cream In The Microwave?

You can reheat leftovers that contain sour cream in the microwave on a microwave-safe dish. Though completely safe to do so, the end result may be a soggy mess. Many times, the addition of sour cream before reheating can cause the leftover foods to be soggy especially if you are reheating a dish in which the sour cream tops a crispy breading such as leftover burritos or a tacos. In this case, the best method is to scoop as much of the sour cream off the top of your leftovers before microwaving. Once you have hot food, then reapply the sour cream after the fact.

In the case of a dish in which sour cream is included within the ingredients, you can heat in the microwave with no issue or resulting in a change in flavor or consistency.

Good Substitutes For Sour Cream

Many people are not able to consume sour cream. Boy, do I feel sorry for those people. Due to a number of reasons to include lactose intolerance, a milk products allergy, low-fat diets, and maybe even a health reason, you may be looking for a sour cream substitute. Here are just a few alternatives you can use in your next recipe.

• Greek Yogurt
• Cottage Cheese
• Crème Fraiche
• Buttermilk
• Coconut milk
• Cashews
• Soy

Can You Cook With Sour Cream?

When thinking of sour cream, you may immediately think of it as a topping. On the contrary, sour cream is a wonderful addition to many awesome recipes. It can be a tangy, creamy addition to a pasta sauce or even be used in baked goods.

According to Martha Stewart (3), sour cream makes baked goods such as pound cakes or cheesecake “tender, airy, and moist. In most cases, sour cream is used as an alternative to—rather than in addition to—milk or heavy cream.”

Delicious Recipes Made With Sour Cream You Should Try Today

Made with delicious ingredients. try one of these recipes if you love sour cream as much as I do

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce:

This sour cream chicken enchilada recipe is simple enough for a weeknight with ingredients such as cream of chicken, sour cream, and canned green chiles. However, it is impressive enough for a special occasion with its creamy sour cream sauce.

Bacon and Cheese Wontons

An easy to make appetizer or snack that is perfectly crispy and savory. Each creamy bite of filling has the perfect amount of creamy cheese and crisp bacon. This crowd-pleasing appetizer takes just minutes to make!

Light and Fluffy Blueberry Muffins with Sour Cream

This recipe for light and fluffy blueberry muffins with sour cream actually works well with any fresh or frozen berries. Made with light sour cream (or low-fat yogurt) they’re actually a lower-calorie alternative to regular muffins. 

Creamy Dill Red Potato Salad

This creamy red potato salad is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and to serve as a side dish or for lunch! It’s so simple, made with red potatoes, crunchy celery, and red onions that are tossed in a creamy and tangy dill dressing. It’s so comforting and can be made ahead.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade one-pot hamburger helper is one of the easiest comforting family meals that you can make in just 30 minutes! Flavorful ground beef cooked with cheesy and creamy macaroni, this dinner is much better and healthier than the boxed version!

Creamy, Cheesy Steak Fries

This Creamy Cheesy Steak Fries recipe is the perfect side dish for burgers or chicken. They’re covered in ranch, sour cream, cheese, and more.

Easy Cornmeal Drop Biscuits

Cornmeal drop biscuits are easier than regular biscuits, have a rich taste and will make your kitchen smell amazing! These biscuits are made with no buttermilk and a good amount of cheese, and are ready in less than 30 minutes.

Easy Mocha Keto Chocolate Cake

Delicious, moist, fudgy and easy mocha Keto Chocolate Cake – this flourless low carb recipe uses almond flour and coconut flour. Diabetic-friendly too.

Healthy, Light Mexican Street Corn

This recipe is a healthier and lighter version of the classic Grilled Mexican Street corn loaded with a light creamy chili lime sauce, low-fat feta cheese, cilantro and crushed red pepper (ingredients that are easy to find.) It’s a delicious summer recipe that not only takes corn on the cob to an entirely new level, it’s Weight Watchers friendly, gluten-free, fast and easy to make and only 2 WW points on the blue plan.

Ultra Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is THE BEST Chicken Rice Casserole! Made the old school way, with Campbell’s soup, and buttery Ritz crackers, it is comfort food at its finest.

Cranberry, Orange Pound Cake

This Cranberry Orange bread loaf is an extremely moist yet light and crumby cake with a beautifully fresh orange flavor. Cranberries are strewn all over the cake to give that delicious contrast flavor combination of sour, tart and sweet.

In summary

As soon as the fresh sour cream, butter, bacon, cheese and chives are gone, the baked potato is absolutely useless. Am I right? Sour cream is a staple in our household. What about yours?

References:

(1) Food safety and Inspection Service. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-handling-take-out-foods

(2) Kubala, J. (2017, November 8). The 7 Best Substitutes for Sour Cream. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sour-cream-substitutes

(3) Vaughan, K. (2020, July 01). Sour cream is such a magical ingredient in Baked Goods-Here’s Why. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.marthastewart.com/7844654/how-to-bake-with-sour-cream#:~:text=The%20answer%20is%20sour%20cream,wonders%20in%20baked%20goods%2C%20too.&text=%22It%20adds%20a%20subtle%20tang%20to%20the%20flavor%20or%20baked%20goods.

About the Author:

Hi! I’m Chris. I’m a mother, wife, college professor by trade and micro-influencer by hobby. I am a bargain hunter, jack of all trades, and master of chaos.

Thank you for reading my random thoughts on travel, my stories of life as an under appreciated mother of a teenager, and my easy recipes that have won no awards but instead my family’s love and adoration (which is WAY better, right?).