When it comes to milk, you have many choices. It can become rather confusing if you’re not sure which milk is best for your needs. To help you choose the right option, we’ve put together a simple guide to the types of milk.
Whole Milk
Whole milk is generally considered to be milk that hasn’t had fat removed, however, it’s actually standardised so it has a fat content of 3.5%. This is best used for drinking, as it has plenty of flavour and is full of vitamins. You consume 136 calories in every 200ml. Whole milk should be given to children until the age of 2 or later, as they need the extra fat in it. You may also use it for creamy sauces and cooking anything that does well with higher fat content.
Semi Skimmed Milk
Semi skimmed milk does have less fat and it’s commonly used in baking where you want some flavour, but not too many calories. With 1.7% fat, this type of milk has just 95 calories per 200ml. However, the nutrients are still at the same level as regular whole milk. Custards and soups do quite well with semi-skimmed milk and it can add plenty of flavour.
Skimmed Milk
Skimmed milk includes very little fat. It generally has around 0.1-0.3% fat and is just 70 calories per 200ml. Due to the lack of fat, this milk tastes watery and is ideal for smoothies when you want nutrition without high levels of fat. It works quite well in baking, where you need the proteins from the milk, but not the fat.
Homogenised Milk
If you want milk that is uniformly creamy and smooth, homogenised milk is a good choice. This is essentially milk that is heated and processed to break down fat molecules. This means they don’t rise to the top of the liquid, but stay incorporated. It can be used in baking and cooking, but it particularly popular for drinking, because it tastes great and stays creamy down to the last drop.
Sterilised Milk
It’s not always possible to use up your fresh milk in time and you may find yourself without milk when you most need it. That’s where sterilised milk is useful. It’s shelf-stable for months on end, thanks to being treated with heat. It does tend to taste sweeter than other types of dairy products, so it’s perfect for making puddings with. Many children will enjoy drinking it, as well. Once you’ve opened the milk, it must be kept chilled and used up quickly.
At Freshways, we offer a range of excellent milks so you can choose which option works best for your particular needs. Take a look at our selection today.