use of instant nonfat dry milk

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We stocked up on many things in preparation for Y2K. All of them have a long shelf life and will get used up eventually, except the instant nonfat dry milk. We have tried to drink it straight instead of milk and also to make our homemade yogurt with it, but the taste is absolutely unpalatable. Are there any suggestions for improving the flavor? Perhaps there are other uses or someone who would like to buy 200 pounds of instant nonfat dry milk. Is it useable in livestock feed? How can I get rid of this stuff before it loses its nutritional value?

-- Jill D. Wright (sterrett@turbosurf.net), August 06, 2000

Answers

I fooled my family for years with the powdered milk, but only one brand would do it ~ Sanalac. I had saved the milk bottles from 'real' milk and made the Sanalac at night. I don't think ANY powdered milk is drinkable as soon as it's made, but overnight in the fridge and no one, even visitors and other family members ever suspected. Years later I told the family; they didn't believe me!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.

Have you tried mixing it with store milk, and, as Rogo suggested, letting it sit overnight?

I also use dry milk (and canned evaporated milk - my preferred stock up milk) in gravies, cream based soups and other recipes that call for milk. In a pinch (snowed in, etc..) I have use evaporated milk as creamer in my coffee. Perhaps you could use some of it up in hot chocolate mix - don't have my recipe handy but if you e-mail me I will look it up and send it.

If you do decide to get rid of it, please look into food pantries or churches or homeless and domestic violence shelters - I'm sure they would appreciate 200 lbs of milk! (Tax deduction as a charity gift?)

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), August 06, 2000.


You could always use it as a base for milk paint if it loses its goodness before you get rid of it one way or the other. Consider its dehydrated state when using it as an animal feed additive, as the animals in question will need more water to process it. Not a good idea in a drought spell, or of the animals are weak and suseceptible to dehydration.

-- Soni Pitts (thomkilroy@hotmail.co.), August 06, 2000.

I used to live a long ways from town, or even the country store. I often kept a carton of "real" milk and a jar of reconstituted powdered milk in the refrigerator so I wouldn't have to travel back and forth so much. I used the powdered milk in gravies, milk-based soups, and breads, such as biscuits. In fact, I preferred it for biscuits. Still use it sometimes. Also, as someone ahead of me suggested, mixing it half and half with fresh milk and serving it cold gives the effect of 2% fat milk. Not bad. If it starts to go before you can use it, mix some up and pour over dog or cat food. Also, people used to commonly use the whey left from milk as well as skimmed milk for chickens. It was put out in rather small quantities once a day along with water. Seems like 1/2 gallon per hundred birds was the standard. It was supposed to increase egg production and improve the flavor of the meat. If the milk is sealed in foil envelopes or cans, it will last a lot longer than if it is in the boxes with a pouring spout.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.

We use our powder milk to make cultured buttermilk. Mix up 1 gal powdered, mix in a 1cup container of cultured buttermilk, shake well , set on counter for to work for 3 to 5 hrs, then refrigerate. I also found that I could use the tailings of a made gallon to start the work of 1 more gallon. When you get buy 1 get 1 free on powdered milk , its cheaper than buying buttermilk by the gallon.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.


If you do not want it I'll pay you to ship it to my home. I use the stuff in homeade dry hot cocoa mix that we drink all winter. I have never seen it go bad. Wanna trade for some cheese? Thank you!

-- Lawannea S. Stum (Whitedov1@citlink.net), August 06, 2000.

Been using dry milk for years. Saves many unnecessary trips to the store. The price equals out to $1.39 a gallon. The trick is IT MUST BE COLD. Make it the night before. My kid wouldn't drink it when I first started using it. I proceeded to put it in the regular plastic jug store-bought milk comes in so he wouldn't know the difference and he drank it all and remarked how good it was! I usually keep 2 separate containers going at once so there is always cold milk.

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), August 06, 2000.

Jill,

With Christmas right around the corner what about making gifts with your powdered milk?

Herbal Milk Bath

1 Cup Cornstarch 2 Cups Dry Milk Powder 2 tsp of your Favorite dried Herbs

Combine ingredients in food processor or blender. Add herbs and blend. Add 1/2 cup of mixture to hot bath water.

Use pretty ribbons, perhaps make a small card with instructions, or make labels and put on the jars, get creative! and the kids can help. Use ball mason canning jars, they can be dressed up real pretty!

Make Milk soap with your powdered milk - Anyone have a recipe?

-- Ima Gardener (ima@gardener.com), August 06, 2000.


Can anyone tell me what the difference is between non-instant dry milk and instant? We are having the same problems here-I hate to waste money,but the instant powdered milk is disgusting.I haven't tried my non- instant powdered yet.we shall try ours again following the great suggestions everyone gave you. God Bless, ~~~Tracy~~~

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), August 06, 2000.

Try this: PEANUT BUTTER CHEWIES (these are really good) 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter, 3 Tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk, Pinch of salt, 3 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup finely chopped unsalted peanuts (optional). Mix the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, dry milk, salt, and sugar together in a bowl. Using your hands, blend until very well mixed, then shape the mixture into 1 inch balls and roll them in the peanuts. For longer than a day, store in the refrigerator. (I don't use chopped peanuts. I roll them in confectioners' sugar.)

WALNUT BALLS (nut bonbons): 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk, 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or other nuts, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar. Mix the syrup, vanilla, salt, dry milk, and nuts together in a bowl, using your hands to blend well. Sprinkle a board with a little of the confectioners' sugar and knead the candy on the board until it becomes creamy. Shape into 1 inch balls and dust with the remaining confectioners' sugar. These keep best in the refrigerator. Both of these recipes are from the Fanny Farmer Cookbook.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.



You can also add 2 or 3 tablespoons of instant vanilla pudding to a gallon of reconstituted milk to improve the taste when you refrigerate it. Works for my family!

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), August 06, 2000.

I use my skim powder mixed with whole milk, my kids can't tell if it is cold. I also use it to make homesteader type convenience products- Pancake mix, cream soup base, pudding pie filling base etc. If you want the recipes let me know.

-- TerriYeomans (terri@tallships.ca), August 06, 2000.

We've been using powdered milk for about 2 years now and that's all we use. It started out because our fridge went bad and wouldn't keep milk. It was such a savings that after we got a new fridge I just keep using it.

One thing that I really appreciate the dry stuff for are those recipes such as bread pudding that take a lot of milk. I boil the water in a pot, add the milk powder with a wire whisk, add the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and beaten eggs and pour it over a half loaf of toasted bread in a 9 x 9 casserold dish. Mmmmm! I have friends who come for dinner just for the desert.

It also makes a great low-fat or non-fat cream.

As for drinking it, I have found that if I add a little extra milk powder than what it calls for it is actually good if it is cold and it doesn't bother my asthma at all. (wish i had a goat).

-- Stephanie (possumliving@go.com), August 08, 2000.


Hi Stephanie, just a note of comiseration:wish I had a goat too!Asthma problems being one of the reasons. Blessings,~Tracy~

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), August 08, 2000.

Try using it as a soil ammendment it is great for tomatoes as it help with preventing fungal diseases.

-- sallyp (sally@cvalley.net), August 10, 2000.


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