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Have you accidentally left milk outside for too long or added the wrong ingredient to your milk, and now it has gone bad? This is because milk is one such ingredient that is susceptible to bacterial infestation. As our atmosphere is surrounded by good and bad bacteria, when bad bacteria hit the milk, we get curdled milk, or ‘phata hua dudh.’
In milk, the protein molecules, mainly casein, repel each other so that they get naturally distributed evenly through the liquid, with milk being slightly acidic. However, when the pH is further lowered with the addition of another acidic ingredient, the protein molecules stop repelling each other. This allows them to stick together or form clumps, which are known as curd. The watery liquid is called whey.
Although curdled milk has a foul odour and bitter taste, it is an essential ingredient used to make curd, cottage cheese, and hard cheese. Besides, it is also a natural intestinal antiseptic. Don’t throw away curdled milk, as it has multiple uses. Take a look:
1. Use It For Baking
If you have some curdled or sour milk, use it in baking. Replace yoghurt, sour cream, or even butter with curdled milk in your recipe. With curdled milk, you can make bread, pancakes, and other delicious cakes.
2. Skincare
Commonly called ‘lactic acid facial,’ this is a lavish treatment for your skin. If your skin is looking dry or flaky, then apply a good amount of a sour milk mask to your face. Spread the curdled milk on your face, keep it for 15–20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with water. This treatment will make your skin smoother, firmer, and even brighter. Another skincare treatment that can be done with curdled milk is a bubble bath. Add one or two cups of curdled milk to achieve the same result. However, to avoid the sour smell, you can add a few drops of essential oil.
3. Gardening
Sour milk is rich in calcium. Dilute the curdled milk with water and throw it in the garden beds. This method will help the plants grow. It is most effective in the case of tomato plants.
4. Cottage Cheese
This is one of the easiest cheeses that can be made with curdled milk. Cook the curdled milk on a medium flame for a few minutes until the whey separates. Turn off the flame and gather the cheese in a muslin cloth, tie it tightly, and squeeze it to remove the extra whey from it.
5. Making Yoghurt
Curdled milk is often used in making yoghurt. Allow the sour milk to boil and add 1-2 tbsp of curd to it. Mix well and keep aside in a warm place to get thick yoghurt.
6. Tenderise Meat
To soften the meat fibres and make mutton, chicken, or fish taste delicious, add sour milk in place of yoghurt or buttermilk in the marinade. Besides, you can soak them in curdled milk to improve the flavour of your meat.
7. Use In Salad Dressing
If you love salads, here is a way you can make them more delicious. Instead of adding sour cream or yoghurt, add curdled milk to the dressing and pour it over the salad. You’ll love the taste. Note: You should never use unpasteurised milk as it contains harmful bacteria which can lead to severe health issues.
8. Use In Scrambled Eggs Preparation
Scrambled eggs taste amazing if you add a bit of sour milk to them. Before adding the beaten eggs to the pan, beat them again with some sour milk and then cook. You’ll get creamier scrambled eggs with a great texture that you can enjoy with toast.
9. Base For Smoothies
Sour milk makes an excellent base for smoothies. However, if you’re worried about the smell, don’t worry! The foul smell goes away when the curdled milk is mixed with fruits and other ingredients. The curdled milk helps you get a creamy texture. You can easily make grape-banana smoothie or strawberry smoothie with curdled milk.
10. Intestinal Antiseptic
Curdled milk produces nascent lactic acid in the intestine, which creates an environment unsuitable for the growth of harmful bacteria. Sour milk is best for treating typhoid fever, colitis, appendix inflammation, and colon infections.
