Milk,

[redbopeep]

Have you all noted that heavy cream and whole milk (refrigerated) lasts much longer in the frig than skim milk? I don't think its my imagination but it seams that cream lasts a long time then whole milk, then the 1 and 2% milkfat milks, then skim goes off really fast. So, what is that milkfat doing to keep it from going off? Hubby suggests that its masking the smell/taste of bad milk, but I don't think that's it.

This morning (out of whole milk) I just mixed refrigerated heavy cream with water to make the "right" tasting milk for my cereal. Cream+water never really tastes quite right but hey...Since hubby doesn't drink milk at all, I've found myself buying a small quantity of cream or whole milk (which seems to last a few weeks) and then watering it down (as I use it) to the right "heaviness" that tastes right for me.

[JeanneP]

Have you tried powdered whole milk? It comes in a can so you can mix as little as you like. Nestle seems to be the most prominent. It's available everywhere we've been, and now I can find it in the US as well! Since I don't use milk except for cooking, I have to quote my friend who says that when cold it's closer to fresh milk than any other substitute. I like it because it takes up so little storage space.

[redbopeep]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

Have you tried powdered whole milk? It comes in a can so you can mix as little as you like. Nestle seems to be the most prominent. It's available everywhere we've been, and now I can find it in the US as well! Since I don't use milk except for cooking, I have to quote my friend who says that when cold it's closer to fresh milk than any other substitute. I like it because it takes up so little storage space.

Yes, I typically used powdered whole milk in cooking. Cold, its not tasty at all, IMHO. I used to buy what I call "nuclear milk" which is those boxes of real milk that don't have to be refrigerated and taste ok on cereal. I just haven't done so recently.

I was just really wondering if anyone knew why the difference in shelf life (refrigerated, of course) for milk vs skim etc.

[MMNETSEA]

In this part of the world UHT milk is favoured by the cruising community.

It is stored unrefrigerated indefinitely , It is not affected by high ambient temperatures - it comes in

small 250 ml (1 1/2 cups) containers

We have 3 models :-

#1 Plain Milk containing 3% percent butter fat

#2 Low Fat with 0.5% butterfat

and

3# Non Fat - 0% fat - no cholesterol

Retail cost around 20 cents US a packet.

From a taste point of view - very little difference with Fresh milk.

Easy to store - good size - when empty can be flattened and disposed of by burning at sea.