Milk, sometimes known as the "white elixir," has a high nutritional content as well as several health benefits. Milk has been a mainstay for millennia, whether consumed alone, with cereal, or in numerous ways. However, in order to keep its freshness and flavour, milk must be handled and stored carefully.
Milk is a product that has a tendency to go bad quickly if not properly stored under the right temperature and other conditions. Ideally, you should consume milk within three days, as after that, it starts to deteriorate and ultimately goes bad. Today, we discuss five important tips that will help you retain the freshness of your milk so it doesn't spoil before its expiration date.
The following are the 6 safety tips to preserve and retain the freshness of milk:
Shop Smart
This is a small step, but it goes a long way. Whenever you are in the supermarket or your grocery shop, make sure you get milk at the very end of your shopping trip. The reason behind this is that once you remove milk from the refrigerator in the supermarket, it will slowly warm and eventually come down to room temperature, and you don't want that when it comes to keeping the milk fresh. Therefore, pick milk last once you are done shopping for all the other items so that your milk stays cool by the time you reach home.
Say No To Raw Milk
Although there are debates about whether raw milk is good for you or not, generally, pasteurised milk is preferred as it eliminates harmful bacteria that are present in the drink. Most packaged milk is pasteurised, but the same cannot be said about unpackaged milk, which has the potential to make you sick.
Keep Your Milk Refrigerated
This is very important when it comes to preserving the freshness of your milk. There are chances that you are one of those people who forget to refrigerate their milk once they are done making their cup of tea or coffee. Keeping milk out in the open can turn your milk sour and no longer fit enough for you to consume. The milk in the open is more susceptible to bacteria, and it should never be left unrefrigerated for a long time.
Avoid Dairy If Lactose Intolerant
You should strictly avoid dairy at all costs if you are lactose intolerant, as it could mess up your health with bloating, gas, and even diarrhoea. Not just milk but all types of dairy should be avoided, such as yoghurt, cheese, paneer, and more. Opt for vegan milk such as soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, and more. This allows you to have the same beverage with a similar texture and taste as traditional milk without the lactose.
Boiling Is Not Mandatory
If your milk is pasteurized, then boiling the milk before drinking it is not important, as a lot of people boil milk before consuming it. You can drink the milk right away. If you want to heat the milk before drinking, then you can, but boiling is not required.
Freeze The Milk For Long-Term Storage
If you want to store your milk for a longer period of time then consider freezing the milk. You can freeze for up to a month but make sure you label the date from where you start freezing so that you can consume it before spoiling. Defrost the milk before consuming by refrigerating and then use the milk within 2 days of defrosting.