Can you eat milk powder without cooking?
In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Can you eat milk powder without cooking?” We will look at how milk powder is made, its nutritional value and some benefits of powdered milk. We will also briefly discuss how to store milk powder.
Can you eat milk powder without cooking?
Yes, you can consume milk powder without cooking it. Milk powder is not raw and hence it is safe to eat as it is. As a matter of fact, most kids have once dipped their tiny hands in tins to get some milk powder to lick off.
How is milk powder made?
Milk powder also known as dry milk is basically evaporated milk. Raw milk usually contains about 87.3% water, 3.9% mik fats and 8.8% non fat milk solids such as proteins, sugar, minerals etcetera Therefore to get the milk powder you would have to evaporate the milk until all that remains behind are the milk solids with no water.
When evaporating the raw milk, the milk is also pasteurized under very controlled temperatures to kill off any growth of pathogenic bacteria.
What is the nutritional value of whole milk powder?
A quarter cup serving (equivalent to about 32 grams) of whole fat milk powder contains :
- Calories: 159
- Protein: 8 grams
- Fat: 8 grams
- Carbs: 12 grams
- Calcium: 22% of the DV
What are some benefits of milk powder?
It can be easily fortified.
Because this is milk in powder form it becomes very easy to fortify with various vitamins and minerals as required. Many brands of powdered milks have added some vitamins, calcium and even iron so that the Recommended Dietary Intake of each nutrient can easily be met.
Long shelf life
Unopened milk powder has a very long shelf life. This is mostly attributed to the fact that it has little moisture in it. The shelf life of an instant and nonfat dry milk powder is anywhere between six months to year.
On the other hand, the shelf life of non instant and nonfat dry milk powder is much longer at around 12 to 18 months. If well stored it can even last two good years.
Cost-Effective and Versatile
Powdered milk is very versatile, it can be reformulated into liquid milk by following some simple steps. Once reformulated it provides more milk compared to regular store purchased milk. This coupled with the fact that it has a long shelf life makes it a very cost effective product to purchase.
It can be used in baked goods.
Powdered milk can easily be added into baked goods without much change to the recipe. It can be added in many forms such as in its powder form, reformulated or as a wet ingredient providing versatility as mentioned above.
Milk powders also comes with some health benefits as below:
Good source of protein
Similar to milk, milk powder is a good source of protein. A serving of 100 grams of milk powder can provide 26 grams of protein which is 52% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI)
Can promote weight loss:
As mentioned above, milk powder is an excellent source of protein. Protein is important as far as weight loss is concerned because it helps reduce hunger pangs thus you end up filling fuller for longer. It has been associated with a reduced risk of obesity especially in children.
Helps Maintain a Healthy Heart
Powdered milk comes loaded with a lot of minerals such as potassium which assists in the regulation of blood pressure by decreasing it. This can drastically reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases.
Promotes bone health
Milk powder is also a good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and protein which are all key nutrients for proper bone and teeth development. Some powdered milk also comes already fortified with Vitamin D which assists with calcium absorption.
How do you store milk powder?
To store milk powder correctly and avoid spoilage ensure that:
- Store any unopened milk powder in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard for up to 12 months.
- Store any opened powdered milk in an airtight container for up to 3 months in a cool dry place or 3 years in the freezer.
- Once reformulated into fluid milk, it stays for about 5 to 7 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
Other FAQs about Milk that you may be interested in.
How much liquid milk equals 2 tablespoons of dry milk
Can you eat condensed milk without cooking?
Conclusion
In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Can you eat milk powder without cooking?” We have looked at how milk powder is made, its nutritional value and some benefits of powdered milk. We also briefly discussed how to store milk powder.
Citations
https://www.timesfoodie.com/nutritional-facts/is-milk-powder-good-for-health-benefits/89248940.cms
