🧀 Milk powder
Also known as: powdered milk, dry milk, dried milk
A powder that keeps for a long time; the basis of formulas and baking.
Powdered milk is a powder made by drying milk. The milk is first standardized and pasteurized, then concentrated in vacuum evaporators, and then dried — most often by spraying it into a stream of hot air (spray drying), less often on heated rollers. Only a few percent of moisture remains.
The main advantages of milk powder are a long shelf life without refrigeration and small volume for transport. There is whole milk powder (about 26% fat) and skim milk powder, as well as buttermilk powder, whey powder and dry milk blends. Requirements for them in international trade are set out in the Codex Alimentarius standards.
Milk powder is reconstituted into drinking milk (roughly 120–130 g of powder per liter of water) and used in baking, confectionery, chocolate, ice cream, and in making yogurt and infant formula. It differs from condensed milk in having almost all its water removed and no added sugar; whole milk powder keeps less well than skim because of its fat.
Composition per 100 g
| Fat | 26.7 g |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38.4 g |
| Energy | 496 kcal |
| Calcium | 912 mg |
Source: USDA FoodData Central: Milk, dry, whole, without added vitamin D
How it connects to milk
🧀 Milk powder → made from → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Made from which milk
- 🥛 Cow's milk
- How it is made
- 🔄 Spray drying
- Made from
- 🥛 Milk
- What is made from it
- 🍼 Infant formula, 🍫 Milk chocolate
- Where it is made
- 🏭 Dairy plant
- Shelf life
- 📅 Shelf life
- Product type
- 🏭 Industrial dairy products
- Part of
- 🥫 Preserved milk products
Frequently asked questions
How is powdered milk made?
Milk is concentrated under vacuum and then sprayed into hot air: the water evaporates, leaving a powder.
How do you mix powdered milk?
Roughly 120–130 g of powder per liter of warm water; the exact ratio is given by the manufacturer.
How long does powdered milk last?
Skim milk powder keeps longer than whole; shelf life is usually counted in months and shown on the package. Keep the powder dry and sealed.
Comparisons
Similar
🥫 Condensed milk · 🍼 Infant formula · 🏯 So (dairy product) · 🍯 Dulce de leche · 🍬 Khoa · 🍯 Cajeta
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.