Hello everyone! It is me again. It seems I have those questions that no one has the answers for. I would like to know how powdered or dry milk is made and if I can do so at home. This sounds like a question for Mr. Ken. Any help would be appreaciated. I can my milk now and it seems as though I could save storage space if it was dry. Also I could use it in other products that I make, Foaming milk baths, Hot cocoa mixes, Etc. Thank you all in advance.

-- Lawannea S. Stum (Whitedov1@citlink.net), August 07, 2000

Answers

From what I can remember, drying milk and freezedrying foods are two things that a homesteader cannot do. It involves alot of factory machinery stuff way bigger and more complicated than our kitchens can handle. Sorry, kiddo! Besides canning your milk (that's pretty contratersial, in some minds), have you tried freezing your butter? It works well, if you wrap it in several layers, so you can save some milk that way. Some folks can their butter, too--But the FDA frowns on that too, tho I have heard lots of folks do it with success.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.

Leann's right. To make your own powdered milk, first buy a factory. An uncle of mine - well, mother's cousin - used to manage a factory that processed milk, including that. Took industrial-grade and scale heat and pressure and power and machinery. No less a personage than Alan Hagan answered the question at the link powder milk ?.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 08, 2000.

I have always been told the best way to preserve milk is to make cheese. Its lots of fun and I age a special batch every summer to give as Christmas gifts that are always well recieved

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.

Since the subject was brought up, freezing milk is very easy and works. I used to buy gallons at stores like Aldis (cheaper than other stores here in the midwest) and take one cup from each gallon before freezing. Now I just put it in the freezer. Just be sure you take it out in time to thaw before needing it. I also shake it good. I can't tell the difference between frozen and unfrozen. Unless there is a reason why unpasturized milk won't freeze this should work for you too.

-- Julie Oliver (oliver@istmacon.net), August 08, 2000.