About the only thing Vince and I have to leave home to buy is milk. I have a couple of different kinds of dried milk here. One is Augason Farms and it has a shelf life of over 20 years.
The Augason Farms milk is nonfat and it’s an ok substitute for baking but I don’t see us ever using it on cereal or drinking it.
The other dried milk I have is Nestle’s Nido milk. It’s full fat but only has a 12 – 18 month shelf life. I figured I’d give it a taste test. The Nido milk is fortified and there are several formulations, including a couple of formulas with added vitamins and minerals specifically for growing children. The formula we have is for the entire family.
I mixed up a half gallon of the milk according to the directions and put it in the fridge to let it get nice and chilled.
Once it was cold, we each drank a little and it’s fine. I’m not a big fan of milk anyway but it’s ok, and definitely ok for cereal. It has a bit of a different taste than the whole milk we’re used to but it isn’t unpleasant. The texture is great. Vince thought it was good.
Next, I made chocolate milk and that was really good. . . almost tasted a bit like a chocolate shake.
Another variety/brand that I recommend is Peak. I’ve tried it before and though it tastes different from the Nido, it’s something we can live with.
The problem with this, and most any other dried milk, is that at this time, it’s either impossible to find or the price has gone way up.
Later today, I’ll share the yogurt I made using Nido.
The bottom line for us is this: At this time, these milks are expensive. The containers of Nido I have here were $8 to $9 when I bought them. Now, they’re $17 to $18, or I’ve seen them as high as $35 per container but they’re not easy to find in stores here or online. I’m not looking to buy more, just checked availability for this post. It takes about three gallons of fresh milk to equal what the large cans of Nido will make. Here I pay about $2.19 for milk so three gallons of milk would cost me less than $7. There are places where milk is much more expensive than here though.
The powdered milks are a good alternative for the times we can’t get fresh milk but I don’t see them ever being a replacement for our fresh milk. But, never say never! I am happy there is a tasty alternative to fresh milk.
And, if I could have a milk cow, that would be my first choice for milk and butter but the master of this house has said no to the milk cow.
Sandy says
I drank lots of powdered milk when I was a child and so did my 4 siblings. We called it “mixed up milk”. I don’t remember the brand. Sometimes Mom made chocolate syrup to put in it. Regular fresh milk was mostly reserved for the adult’s coffee. Once I was grown and on my own I vowed to never have powdered milk again! I hated it!
Judy Laquidara says
It isn’t something I’d choose over regular milk but in a situation where we’re asked to stay home and not go out, it’s better than no milk.
Katie says
Why don’t you freeze dry your own milk?
Judy Laquidara says
Home freeze dryers aren’t great for anything with fat. I’ve tried milk and didn’t get good results. Butter is another thing that doesn’t freeze dry in a home freeze dryer. I could freeze dry skim milk and maybe 2% but we don’t like that.
Vicky says
My husband and I Rv quite a bit and we hate to leave our campsite especially for groceries. We pack everything we need but inevitably we run out of milk. We buy the shelf stable ultraviolet treated milk. Unopened it’s good for a year without refrigeration. We typically use ours well before expiration. It is hard to find. I’ve only found it at the Dollar Tree for $1 a quart. I think I’ve seen it at Walmart but it was more. When it’s cold I taste no difference between it and fresh milk. It’s very good to have in your emergency stash.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve heard of that but had never seen it. I’m going to have to see if I can find that. Thanks!
Diana Rose says
I freeze milk a lot. I use a protein rich specific milk called Fairlife and it freezes very well. I buy extra and freeze so I’m sure I don’t run out and it is sometimes out of stock, or like some days when pouring rain or something its comforting to know I have my freezer stash. I had gastric sleeve surgery couple years ago and need min of 60 grams protein a day. I have a protein shake with this milk and a protein powder twice a day. I usually get chocolate for myself but I’ve started getting the white milk too for when I make, pudding, soup etc for hubs to get more protein in him.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t count on my freezer though because (1) power could go out and we’d lose everything. Eventually the propane for the generators would run out and (2) If we have to leave here and go somewhere else, frozen goods wouldn’t make the trip.
But, Fairlife is a great milk!
Susan Nixon says
I can see you with a milk cow. And a bacon pig, too. LOL I have a few cans of evaporated milk on the shelf and the instant milk from the Bishop’s Storehouse from church. I don’t mind the evap taste, and the storehouse milk isn’t bad at all. I like milk a lot, and don’t really want to be without it in some form. Just not pick what form. Thrive makes a good one.
Pat Oster says
How about a goat? A bit more manageable than a milk cow.
I think we will just do without milk for the most part if we have to- but I will probably be the first one whining about it!
Thanks for the info on fresh milk replacement products.
Judy Laquidara says
Goats are way too hard to keep fenced in. When we moved here, I wanted a goat for cheese and soap making. Vince asked someone what kind of fence we needed for goats and he said “A fence that holds water.” The main thing Vince doesn’t want now is another mouth to feed. It’s bad enough trying to get someone to take care of the chickens and cats but then to ask them to feed a bigger animal and milk it . . not happening. We’ve past that stage in our life I’m afraid.
Pat Oster says
We are too, and goats are known escape artists!