Snack Stix Binder Question

[Panthur]

Hey guys....I have been using 3/4-1 cup non-fat powdered milk in all my stix. My question is: If I wanted a bit of tang, could I use buttermilk powder instead ? And would I use the same amount ? I have both and the buttermilk powder seems far denser/heaver than the other. I know Nepas has a recipe with actual buttermilk itself but I was wondering about the powder at the moment. Thanks in advance. :)

[Keymaster]

How many pounds of meat are you doing? I have Nepasmokers Slim jim recipe and it calls for 6 OZ of Powdered buttermilk for 10 pounds of meat.

[Panthur]

I usually so 5 lb batches and use anywhere from 3/4 to 1 cup of the non fat powdered milk for that. ( just noticed that the buttermilk powder seems much denser and 1 cup of that would certainly weigh more I am thinking). Can the dry buttermilk powder be substituted anytime non fat powdered milk is called for ?

[Gizmo]

Most of the time I do beef snack sticks, I use encapsulated citric acid.  I like a lot of tang so use a bit more than normal.  That recipe does not use non-fat powdered milk or buttermilk powder.

[NePaSmoKer]

Buttermilk powder is churned buttermilk, whey and lactic acid. Can be used as a slight binder. Powdered milk will bind more than the BMP.
Liquid buttermilk has lactic acid in it and will work good in a pinch if you dont have ECA or Fermento wich is like BMP.

[Panthur]

Ok , thanks. I haven't seen any ECA around this area but I am sure I could get some. I guess I could use a combo of non fat dry milk and BMP then ?

[NePaSmoKer]

Ok , thanks. I haven't seen any ECA around this area but I am sure I could get some. I guess I could use a combo of non fat dry milk and BMP then ?

Yeah cut the dry milk back some. Easier to add if needed then to take out.

[Panthur]

Thanks guys. :)