The shelf life of organic milk

[DainBramaged]

Why does organic milk last so much longer than regular milk?

If you’ve ever shopped for milk, you've no doubt noticed what our questioner has: While regular milk expires within about a week or sooner, organic milk lasts much longer—as long as a month.

So what is it about organic milk that makes it stay fresh so long?

Actually, it turns out that it has nothing to do with the milk being organic. All "organic" means is that the farm the milk comes from does not use antibiotics to fight infections in cows or hormones to stimulate more milk production.

Organic milk lasts longer because producers use a different process to preserve it. According to the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, the milk needs to stay fresh longer because organic products often have to travel farther to reach store shelves since it is not produced throughout the country.

The process that gives the milk a longer shelf life is called ultrahigh temperature (UHT) processing or treatment, in which milk is heated to 280 degrees Fahrenheit (138 degrees Celsius) for two to four seconds, killing any bacteria in it.

Compare that to pasteurization, the standard preservation process. There are two types of pasteurization: "low temperature, long time," in which milk is heated to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) for at least 30 minutes*, or the more common "high temperature, short time," in which milk is heated to roughly 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for at least 15 seconds.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=experts-organic-milk-lasts-longer


But with radiation, yowza....

[Merlot]

1. Why do adults even drink milk?

ok, a little cream in the coffee, I get that. But drinking a glass of milk? ewwwww.

[DainBramaged]

2. Would you put orange juice on your Frosted Flakes?

[Merlot]

4. No, but I wouldn't eat frosted flakes nor recommend anyone else does either

but if you have to eat them, there are plenty of alternative to milk. Soy milk or almond milk actually have nutritional value and are pretty tasty too.

[DainBramaged]

8. Soy makes me fart so bad they call the fire department for gas Oder in the building

sorry, I prefer good old whole milk on my sugary Frosted Flakes and NOW Frosted Rice Krispies too.

[The Doctor.]

45. There is also the whole 'cost' issue some of us deal with.

Add to that the whole thing with the soy 'hormone' concern and you can see why so many have reservations.

Frankly, I'm totally happy with the idea of human female breast milk, but society considers that 'icky' and my mom is starting to get concerned.

^_^

[Control-Z]

46. I can't remember the last time I had a glass of milk.

But, every now and then, a big bowl of Frosted Flakes or Cap'n Crunch with cold fresh milk just hits the spot. (I also eat a small amount of meat on occasion even though most of the time I really don't care for it.)

For the life of me, I don't understand why anyone would criticize someone else's food choices. Can you explain it to me? It is so offensive. Like preaching religion. Or picketing women's clinics.

People who drink milk by the glass do so, I would assume, because they like it. It is a personal choice. I can't imagine how insulting that choice would benefit anyone.

[MikeW]

61. drink too much soy milk you'll be wearing a manzier

:rofl:

[cherokeeprogressive]

35. One time at band camp...

No wait. Actually, it was at the Colorado River...

I had Budweiser on my cornflakes on a hungover Saturday morning. It was awesome and made my hangover go away for a few hours so I could water ski.

[freshwest]

43. Had a friend in high school who made her Frosted Flakes with Coca-Cola. Teeth didn't last long.

[tridim]

3. It tastes good, and is a good source of vitamin D and protein.

[Liquorice]

14. Cow's milk is not a naturally rich source for vitamin d. It is "fortified" or added

to the milk, so drinking milk is the same as taking a vitamin d supplement. The best natural source is of course sunlight.

[leftstreet]

5. The only people who should be drinking milk are baby cows n/t

[veganlush]

16. exactly. that's who it's made for...n/t

[freshwest]

44. Puts a lot of weight on the calves very quickly.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Uh? Oreo cookies????!!!!!!! Hello! You cannot eat an Oreo cookie without MILK.

It's just not possible.

[DainBramaged]

9. OMG OMG OREOS

I must find now

[freshwest]

22. Yyeesss!!!

[proud patriot]

13. yep that's why

:)

[Liquorice]

17. Try it with almond milk. You will never go back. Almond milk, especially the vanilla

flavor, is delicious with cookies. Almond milk is far superior to cow's milk in taste and nutritional value.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. Is almond milk sweet? I'm not fond of sweet drinks.

Though I do have a sweet tooth for things like Oreos. :)

[Liquorice]

21. The Silk brand makes various flavors of almond milk. They have an unsweetened version

that is very good, as well as original, chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate and vanilla have a sweetness to them, but it's not overwhelming or anything. You can find Silk Almond Milk in the refrigerated section now of many grocery stores, near the regular milk usually. I absolutely love it, and everyone I've told about it who has tried it goes crazy for it. I use it exactly like milk--in cereal,cooking, etc.

[in_cog_ni_to]

50. YUM. I like Silk Soy Milk...regular and their chocolate.

I will definitely try their almond milk someday. Thanks! :hi:

[freshwest]

24. Homemade is not sweet if you don't add sugar.

[freshwest]

23. Love it. Kind of a bear to make at home. Storebought can be just as good, tho'.

I can't do much cookies (sigh) but great with granola.

[Liquorice]

27. Yes, I buy Silk or sometimes Almond Breeze. They're both very good. nt

[stevedeshazer]

38. We like those too n/t

[veganlush]

15. you're right.

humans are the only animals that think they need to drink mother's milk into adulthood.

[niyad]

19. what else would you put on your oatmeal?

[freshwest]

25. Almond or rice milk.

[niyad]

28. don't like the aftertaste

[freshwest]

37. Actually I don't put any form of milk in oatmeal. Not trying to preach, either.

[seabeyond]

30. cheerios. every morning. and i dont want almond... whatever. nt

[WolverineDG]

54. it's actually pretty good nt

[seabeyond]

55. it sounds sweet. i am so particular about my milk. very fussy

i will haev to try it sometime

[WolverineDG]

63. If you get unsweetened, it's definitely NOT sweet

:)

I could only find the flavored, sweetened kind before & it was ok, but I'm glad I finally found some almond milk that's unflavored & unsweetened.

dg

[Withywindle]

39. Ummm....because it tastes good?

You may not like the taste, OK, but I sure do!

[freshwest]

42. Habits, belief systems and advertising?

[Carolina]

64. Try organic no fat

It's great with cereal, coffee or all alone!!!!

[tridim]

7. I keep whole milk for at least 3 weeks. Long enough for me.

It basically never spoils before I finish it.

I'm wondering if the fat content has something to do with shelf life?

[gkhouston]

12. Yes, it does. For example, heavy (whipping) cream lasts longer than whole

milk, which in turn stays fresh longer than skim milk.

[freshwest]

41. Interesting, I noticed that too. Ghee lasts a long time, also.

[Lint Head]

10. Jack Daniels lasts longer.

Actually no it doesn't. A bottle lasts about two days for me.

[DainBramaged]

11. My milk just shot out my nose, thanks

you made a funny

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. See? You found another use for milk.

[freshwest]

26. My organic fruits and vegetables last longer, too. I always try for local.

[Coyote_Bandit]

29. What is it about this thread that makes me crave

cornbread and buttermilk?

My body. My choice.

Dairy in moderation is no great offense.

[freshwest]

40. How about cornbread and chili. It's cold outside.

What does buttermilk taste like? I've never had it.

[Coyote_Bandit]

51. It tastes

a little bit like plain yogurt. It's a fermented dairy product. Best use is for baking in my opinion. But some folks drink it and butttermilk and cornbread is a traditional meal in the South and much of the Mid-West.

You can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tbsp of lemon juice to 8 fluid ounces of milk and leaving for ten minutes.

Teh Food Network lists these buttermilk recipes:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/buttermilk/index.html

[Doremus]

57. I hadn't thought about cornbread and buttermilk in years.

My Texan grandfather used to eat it. I never saw the attraction but he sure enjoyed it.

Thanks to your post I'm reliving earlier simpler times at my grandparents' dining room table. Thanks.

[Coyote_Bandit]

58. I've come to believe

that some of the best foods are simple foods - especially when shared and enjoyed with those we love.

Treasure those memories and hold them close.

[SixString]

31. What's the shelf life of a DU Donor that stocks up on UHt Milk?

When bullied?

[kenny blankenship]

33. You mean *half* life

[SixString]

34. Hardly.

[Obamanaut]

47. Three GBCWs. And counting. nt

[Blue-Jay]

32. ?

[Kalun D]

36. Raw Milk

is better for you

even organic is not that great if it's pasteurized, the heat kills a lot of the nutrition

most states it's not legal though

[upi402]

48. Goat milk

I remember raw milk and goat milk. Asia uses UHT all the time. Doesn't need refrigeration and great shelf life.

[Lorien]

49. Try almond milk. It's great on cereal and an unopened box lasts for months

in the cupboard.

[tammywammy]

52. I rarely drink milk, but I need it for baking

I love to bake (eventhough I don't really eat a bunch of sweets). I'd switched to only organic milk probably 10 years ago after doing a project on rBGH. Plus organic milk tends to come in cardboard containters and not plastic (another bonus).

[DainBramaged]

53. i NOTICED THAT TOO, waxed cardboard, the old fashioned way (post bottles)

[Shagbark Hickory]

56. I prefer soy milk. Doesn't even require refrigeration until it's opened.

[underseasurveyor]

59. After working in a milk processing plant for 7 years,

I now drink soy or almond milk. Cows milk bleeech x(

[amborin]

60. same thing for non-organic heavy cream....ultra-pasteurized & long shelf life

[jmowreader]

62. Don't try making cheese out of it, though

The UHT process fucks up the milk so you can't get a curd out of it.

What I don't understand about organic milk: The UHT process was invented so milk could be shipped and stored without refrigeration. Go to a European grocery store that sells it, and they display it on general merchandise shelving (or, more likely, on a wingstack in the middle of the aisle, which is where the Butter Beck stores in Berlin kept it). Once it's opened it must be refrigerated, but not until then. But in the US, the UHT-processed organic milk requires refrigeration throughout its supply chain. Why is that?