Skim milk powder, sometimes called dry or non-fat milk, is just as nutritious as fresh milk but keeps longer and costs less. Wondering what you can do with powdered milk? Read on for ideas.
Skim milk powder is nutritious
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Powdered milk has the same nutrition as fresh milk. It provides bone-building nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin A.
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Powdered milk is a source of protein and may be added to recipes to increase the amount of protein and energy (especially for people with health conditions that need extra protein).
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Children under two years of age should not drink skim milk or milk made from skim milk powder because it does not have enough fat for healthy growth. Offer children aged 9-24 months homogenized (3.25% fat) milk for drinking.
What to look for when buying powdered or dry milk
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At the grocery store, powdered milk is sold with other dry goods usually in the baking section, not in the dairy case.
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Compare no-name, store brands and brand name prices to bulk store prices for the best price.
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Often larger packages are the best buy. To be sure, look on the shelf below the product and compare the unit price. That tells you how much it costs for the same amount of milk powder in different size packages.
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Keep powdered milk on hand if you live far from a grocery store or sometimes have trouble getting out shopping.
Tips for storage skim milk powder
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Store unopened in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard for up to 1 year.
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Store opened powdered milk in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the cupboard or 3 years in the freezer.
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Once made into fluid milk, it keeps for 5-7 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
5 things to do with powdered milk
1. Pre-mix dry ingredients for baked goods that use milk.
This mix is great to have on hand to make a quick breakfast or snack.
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Pre-mix the dry ingredients for biscuits, pancakes, hot chocolate mix, waffles, muffins or loaves.
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Replace the fresh milk with the powdered milk equivalent. That's usually 1/3 cup (75 mL) of powdered milk for every 1 cup (250 mL) fresh milk. Remember to add the water to the wet ingredients when you are ready to bake.
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Label and store mixes in airtight containers for up to one month. They also make great gifts - just remember to include the full recipe.
Tip: Replace half of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat flour for added nutrients when making a mix.
2. Cook with powdered milk.
Use powdered milk in any recipe where you would use fresh milk. Try:
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Macaroni and cheese
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Bread pudding and rice pudding
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French toast and quiche
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Homemade or canned low-sodium soups
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Oatmeal, cream of wheat, seven-grain hot cereal or muesli
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Scalloped or mashed potatoes
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Milk-based sauces or casseroles
3. Drink it!
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Mix one part fresh 2% milk with one part mixed (reconstituted) powdered milk.
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Make milk the night before drinking so it is well chilled.
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Try adding vanilla extract to flavour the milk.
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Make chocolate milk or hot chocolate by adding cocoa powder. Try this Steamy Hot Chocolate Mix from Cookspiration.
4. Boost the nutrients in everyday foods.
Add a spoonful of powdered milk to recipes for extra protein, vitamins and minerals. Try it in:
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Pasta sauces or lasagne
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Vegetable soups or chowders
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Store-bought pancake mixes
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Smoothies
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Mashed potatoes
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Casseroles
5. Bring powdered milk on camping trips.
Powdered milk lasts for up to three months after opening, so it's perfect for camping trips. Be sure to store it in an air tight container in a cool, dry place.
Recipes made with Milk or Skim Milk Powder
To make fluid milk from powdered milk, just mix the powder with water according to package directions. Then you can add it to recipes as fluid milk.
Sunny Orange Shake (made with skim milk powder)
Granola (made with skim milk powder)
Banana Whole Grain Griddle Cakes
Broccoli, Kale and Lentil Soup
You may also be interested in:
Calcium Sources
What you need to know about calcium
Last Update – April 28, 2020