In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together about 3 3/4 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
In a medium bowl or large glass measuring cup, add water, milk, and butter pieces. Microwave until it reaches 115 degrees on a thermometer, about 1 minute 15 seconds. Stir to help the butter melt partially.
Pour milk mixture into the flour mixture. Add the lemon juice. Mix on low speed and gradually increase to a medium-low speed, let knead for about 3-4 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add small amounts of additional flour as needed. Dough should be clearing the sides of the bowl and be lightly sticky or tacky but still manageable.
Leave the dough in the mixer bowl or transfer to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, butter or grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Gently punch down dough and fold the sides in to help form a rectangle or square shape. Then gently pat the dough to finish shaping into a level rectangular shape. Cut into 15 equal portions, taking some dough from bigger pieces and giving it to smaller ones. Shape dough into 15 balls and place in the prepared baking dish.
Dampen fingers with water and brush them over the tops of the dough balls, to help keep the dough from drying out. Place dish in the oven, close oven door, and turn oven off. (If your oven is gas, you may want to leave the oven on for most of the rising time.) Let rise in the oven for 20 minutes.
Then remove rolls from oven and let sit while the oven preheats to 375°F/190°C. Once the oven is preheated, bake the rolls for 14-16 minutes, until tops are light golden brown.
Remove from oven and brush with melted butter, or swipe with a stick of butter. Serve rolls warm.
Air Fryer Instructions
Follow steps 1-5, but preheat the air fryer instead at 350°F/175°C for 3-4 minutes while you let the dough rest.
After which, cut the dough in half then form 9 dough balls.
When the air fryer is ready, place down a piece of parchment paper with the 9 dough balls on top.
Lightly wet your finger and gently brush the tops of the dough to keep them from drying out. Since the air fryer is still warm, insert the air fryer basket inside the air fryer for about 10 minutes to let the dough rise. Do not turn the air fryer on.
With the other half of the dough, form into dough balls and place on piece of parchment paper on a plate.
After 10-20 minutes, the dough balls should have risen. At this point, turn your air fryer on and cook for 8 minutes at 320°F/160°C, or until the internal temperature reaches 180-190°F/82.2-87.7°C