Buttermilk vs. Skim Milk
Nutrition comparison of Buttermilk and Skim Milk
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
buttermilk
versus
skim milk
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in buttermilk and skim milk:
- Both skim milk and buttermilk are high in calcium.
- Skim milk has 32.9 times less saturated fat than buttermilk.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Buttermilk (Milk, buttermilk, fluid, whole) and Skim Milk (Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Skim milk has 45% less calories than buttermilk - skim milk has 34 calories per 100 grams and buttermilk has 62 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, buttermilk is lighter in protein, much lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to skim milk per calorie. Buttermilk has a macronutrient ratio of 21:32:48 and for skim milk, 40:58:2 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Buttermilk | Skim Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 21% | 40% |
| Carbohydrates | 32% | 58% |
| Fat | 48% | 2% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Both skim milk and buttermilk are low in carbohydrates - skim milk has 5g of total carbs per 100 grams and buttermilk has 4.9g of carbohydrates.
The carbs in skim milk and buttermilk are both made of 100% sugar.
sugar
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of sugar - skim milk has 5.1g of sugar per 100 grams and buttermilk has 4.9g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of protein - skim milk has 3.4g of protein per 100 grams and buttermilk has 3.2g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Skim milk has 32.9 times less saturated fat than buttermilk - skim milk has 0.06g of saturated fat per 100 grams and buttermilk has 1.9g of saturated fat.
cholesterol
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of cholesterol - skim milk has 2mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and buttermilk has 11mg of cholesterol.
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of Vitamin A - skim milk has 61ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and buttermilk has 47ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin D
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of Vitamin D - skim milk has 47iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and buttermilk has 52iu of Vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - skim milk has 0.01mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and buttermilk has 0.07mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Buttermilk and skim milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - buttermilk has 0.3ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and skim milk does not contain significant amounts.
The B Vitamins
Both buttermilk and skim milk contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin B12.
| Buttermilk | Skim Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.047 MG | 0.045 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.172 MG | 0.182 MG |
| Niacin | 0.09 MG | 0.094 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.38 MG | 0.357 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.036 MG | 0.037 MG |
| Folate | 5 UG | 5 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.46 UG | 0.5 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both skim milk and buttermilk are high in calcium. Skim milk has a little more calcium (6%) than buttermilk by weight - skim milk has 122mg of calcium per 100 grams and buttermilk has 115mg of calcium.
iron
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of iron - skim milk has 0.03mg of iron per 100 grams and buttermilk has 0.03mg of iron.
potassium
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of potassium - skim milk has 156mg of potassium per 100 grams and buttermilk has 135mg of potassium.
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, buttermilk has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than skim milk per 100 grams.
| Buttermilk | Skim Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.076 G | 0.001 G |
| Total | 0.076 G | 0.001 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, buttermilk has more linoleic acid than skim milk per 100 grams.
| Buttermilk | Skim Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 0.122 G | 0.002 G |
| Total | 0.122 G | 0.002 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Buttermilk (Milk, buttermilk, fluid, whole) and Skim Milk (Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)) .
Buttermilk g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Skim Milk g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
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5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
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5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does skim milk or buttermilk contain more calories in 100 grams?Skim milk has 50% less calories than buttermilk - skim milk has 34 calories in 100g and buttermilk has 62 calories.
Is skim milk or buttermilk better for protein?
Skim milk and buttermilk contain similar amounts of protein - skim milk has 3.4g of protein per 100 grams and buttermilk has 3.2g of protein.
Does skim milk or buttermilk have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both skim milk and buttermilk are low in carbohydrates - skim milk has 5g of carbs for 100g and buttermilk has 4.9g of carbohydrates. the carbs in skim milk and buttermilk are both made of 100% sugar.
Does skim milk or buttermilk contain more calcium?
Both skim milk and buttermilk are high in calcium. Skim milk has a little more calcium ( 10%) than buttermilk by weight - skim milk has 122mg of calcium in 100 grams and buttermilk has 115mg of calcium.