How to Store Raw Milk So It Stays Fresh
Fresh, raw, real milk is a living food. With proper handling it says delicious and fresh for many days.
I do the hard part for you!
I milk the cows, clean the cows, bed the cows, feed the cows, monitor their health and so on for you to have the most fresh product on the shelf.
For our milk drinkers, the rest is up to you!
Here is exactly what I recommend to do:
Keep is Cold - Immediately
Use a cooler for transporting
From my fridge —> your car —> your home
Put the milk into the refrigerator as soon as you get home and set your fridge between 34-38* if possible. Keep the milk bottles in the back of your fridge, this is the coldest part of your fridge. (NOT IN THE DOOR!!!)
Keep Milk in Glass or The Original Container it Came in
Your milk is bottled in a sanitized container. Whether your farm uses glass bottles or plastic jugs.
Glass is best but if your farmer chooses to use plastic jugs, that’s ok too!
If you choose to transfer milk to another container:
-Use a clean and sanatizes glass container
-Avoid plastics - These hold onto odors and bacteria
-Sanitize the container before filling
Limit Air Exposure
Ever wonder why milk is just “off” at the end of a jar?
Air speeds up natural changes in milk so keep those lids on tight and use up the milk rather quickly when you reach the end of a bottle.
Shake Before You Pour
Raw milk is not homogenized, so cream rises to the top naturally.
You can shake and drink or scoop out the cream with a clean measuring cup to enjoy in some coffee
Don’t Leave the Milk Out During Dinner Time
Even for short periods of time, in a warmer climate, it can shorten the shelf life of milk.
Instead, pour some milk into a glass and place back into the fridge.
(this goes back to use a cooler while transporting also!)
For Our Milk Subscribers:
I do not wash or sanitize these jars due to not enough time in my day to do so or resources to do a large batch of jars at a time. With the help of other producers, I decided this practice was best for our particular farm.
So! Jars must come back to use fully washed & dried completely and ready to be filled for next week. Any condensation on the inside is ground for lots of bacteria to grow.
I cool and bottle our milk carefully and quickly to protect its natural quality. Proper storage and handling at home completes that process :)
Real milk, simple care, happy sipping.
