Keeping Milk Fresh
What do I do with the last little bit of milk in my jug?
It tastes funny now, is it safe to use?
Why is it going sour so fast?
We’ve all been there, pouring ourselves a nice glass of milk only to almost choke on the first sniff or swallow. EWWWW!
Your milk has soured and now no one wants to drink it plain. Are there ways to keep it fresh longer? What should you do once it is sour?
Why did it sour?
Raw milk naturally contains many beneficial and probiotic bacteria. The longer the milk sits, the more lactose (what gives milk its sweet taste) is eaten by the good bacteria in the milk. This causes the milk to slowly ferment and produces the sour taste.
Is it safe to use?
Yes it is! While it is a personal decision if you want to use it or throw it out, here are my thoughts:
Raw milk has all the natural bacteria and enzymes in it to preserve it. Pasteurized milk, once expired, tends to rots and mold due to the fact that it is no longer colonized by good bacteria and the bad bacteria takes over. Gross!
I feel very comfortable using sour raw milk, because I know it is a nature fermentation process that is happening and not the milk rotting in my jug :)
How can I keep it fresh longer?
With the weather warming up, sometimes milk will go sour faster. Remember bacteria and yeast love warmth, so it speeds up their digestion of the lactose in the milk!
If your milk is going sour faster than it has in the past, here are some ideas to combat that:
The cooler you can keep your milk the longer it will last.
Try transporting it in a cooler with ice packs.
Minimize the time it sits out on your counter so it doesn’t get warm.
Keep it in the coldest part of your fridge.
Don’t open it until you are ready to use it. The more air that gets into the milk jug, the faster it will sour.
Ways to use it
Here are some ideas to jump start your creativity in using the last bit of milk that has gone sour.
Chocolate milk — you can cover up the taste if it isn’t too strong
Tapioca Pudding — this was my mom’s go to recipe for slightly sour milk
Casseroles — Mac ‘n Cheese, Hamburger Casserole, etc.
Pancakes — my favorite way to use really sour milk or kefir that is a bit strong
Biscuits
In place of buttermilk in recipes
Chocolate cake
Make homemade Sour Cream — not for everyone. Tim didn’t like it at all :)
Muffins
Dilute it and water your garden plants
I hope these ideas kick-start your imagination and you can find some new ways to use old milk! Comment below, what is some of your favorite ways to use up old and sour milk?