What to Know About Boiling Milk (2024)

Some people believe that boiling milk is needed to make it safe to use, but what does science say?

The Nutritional Profile of Milk

Milk is an important source of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, magnesium, calcium, and several other nutrients necessary for staying healthy and warding off illness. Many of these nutrients are sensitive to heat and could be damaged or destroyed altogether by boiling.

A single cup of milk also contains:

Boiling and Pasteurization

Boiling is not the same as pasteurization, although they’re similar. Pasteurization in the United States involves heating milk up to about 160°F for the purpose of killing bacteria that could make you sick. The boiling point of milk is about 212°F, so it is never actually brought to a boil during the pasteurization process.

If eliminating possible pathogens is your main reason for boiling milk, you should know that the milk you buy in the store is almost always pasteurized, so it has already had these pathogens eliminated. The only exception is raw milk, which, when it is sold, is always clearly labeled as such. Only a few states allow raw milk to be commercially sold, and never across state lines.

Nutrition Effects of Boiling Milk

Boiling milk is known to significantly lessen milk’s nutritional value. Studies have found that while boiling milk eliminated bacteria from raw milk, it also greatly reduced its whey protein levels.

Other tests have shown lower levels of vitamins and minerals in boiled milk, including vitamin B2, B3, B6, and folic acid -- in some cases by as much as 36%.

Pasteurization and Contamination

While boiling milk drastically reduces milk’s nutritional value, pasteurization does this to a lesser degree. In addition, commercially produced milk is typically fortified with vitamins and minerals to replace those few that may be lost in the heating process.

The reason for pasteurization is to protect against possible contamination in raw milk. Milk production is a complicated process, with contamination possible at many points along the way. The size of the farm, time of year, cleaning practices, and health of the cows are just a few of the many factors that can introduce potentially dangerous bacteria like listeria into raw milk.

Boiling milk can be a smart thing to do if, for whatever reason, the milk you’re buying is unpasteurized. Many countries, and some states, do regularly sell unpasteurized milk. Bringing unpasteurized milk to a boil will make it less nutritious, but it can also kill the bacteria that could make you seriously ill, so the tradeoff is probably worth it.

Boiling Milk and Milk Allergies

Many infants and young children live with cow’s milk allergy (CMA), which is caused by a negative reaction to milk protein. It’s one of the most common forms of childhood food allergy and can have a serious impact on a child’s health and development.

Boiling milk has a strong effect on milk’s protein composition. It changes many of the proteins that contribute to CMA. That may not be enough to make a difference for some, but if you or your child have a milk allergy, check with your doctor to see if boiling milk might help.

What to Know About Boiling Milk (2024)

FAQs

What happens when u boil milk? ›

Milk is a mixture (called an emulsion) of butterfat, proteins, and water. When milk is boiled, the three components of the emulsion break apart: the milk proteins coagulate and separate from the water, producing what is commonly known as curdled milk. This is how cheese is made.

How long should you boil milk? ›

"If you buy milk directly from the milkman, you should heat it at 100 degree Celsius for less than 8 to 10 minutes. In case of milk packets, the content is already pasteurised and there is no need to boil it at high temperature and heat it for less than for 6 to 8 minutes at 100 degree Celsius.

Is raw milk safe if boiled? ›

"Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled prior to consumption, because it may be contaminated with pathogens such as campylobacter or EHEC", explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR .

Why you shouldn't boil milk? ›

Boiling milk is known to significantly lessen milk's nutritional value. Studies have found that while boiling milk eliminated bacteria from raw milk, it also greatly reduced its whey protein levels.

How do you boil milk properly? ›

It's best to heat your milk slowly over medium heat, and stir it while it comes to a boil. Stirring and heating gently help hold the water, carbs, fat, and protein in milk together. As soon as you see bubbles forming around the edges of the pot and just a few in the middle, turn off the heat.

Why do Indians boil milk? ›

There is another traditional habit associated with milk. We boil the raw milk, cool it and then use it for various purposes. This is done to make it free from micro-organisms and increase its shelf life as raw milk can get spoilt in hot, humid Indian weather.

Can you boil milk without burning it? ›

Use a heavy or thick bottomed saucepan or pot, that will heat evenly. Wet the bottom of the pan to create a protective layer of water. Always simmer, if you boil milk too hard or too fast it will scorch and burn if not stirred.

Is boiling milk same as pasteurized? ›

The key difference between boiling and pasteurization is that boiling can destroy almost all microorganisms and deactivate enzymes in food at high temperatures, whereas pasteurization can destroy microorganisms and deactivate enzymes in food at a low temperature.

Which milk need not be boiled? ›

Pasteurized milk does not need to be boiled.

How long can boiled milk stay out? ›

Raw milk that has been boiled can be left out for up to 4 hours. Pasteurized milk that has been boiled can be left at room temperature for up to 7 hours.

Is boiled milk easier to digest? ›

The process of boiling changes the molecular structure of the milk, breaking down the milk proteins into digestible amino acids ensuring that it easier and lighter to digest, taken with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, turmeric can help reduce the accumulation of phlegm for kapha types and its ...

What happens if we boil milk again and again? ›

In fact, it has been revealed in many pieces of research that by boiling milk for a long time or boiling it repeatedly, the nutrients are destroyed. Due to this, your body does not get all the benefits of milk.

Why is boiling milk good? ›

Some do it out of habit, some know that boiling kills germs and some to make it last longer. Boiling milk is an effective way of dealing with disease-causing organisms. Although it does not remove all impurities, it does kill most of the dangerous bacteria and other organisms.

How do you not over boil milk? ›

One is to be sure to stir the pot of milk every few minutes to break up the top layer, allow the steam to escape, and make sure it's heating evenly.

Does boiling milk destroy Vitamin B 12? ›

Vitamins and proteins are denatured and destroyed when milk is boiled at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for over 15 minutes. Milk is a vital source for Vitamin D and Vitamin B 12, which help in calcium absorption. Both these vitamins are highly heat sensitive and boiling milk destroys both substantially.

Who invented boiling milk? ›

Pasteur's research also showed that the growth of micro-organisms was responsible for spoiling beverages, such as beer, wine and milk. With this established, he invented a process in which liquids such as milk were heated to a temperature between 60 and 100 °C.

Why milk becomes yellow after boiling? ›

Adulterated milk will turn yellowish on boiling. Expert Advice"Many chemicals and artificial agents are added to increase the shelf life of milk. Hydrogen paraoxide and formaline are a couple of them. These can be extremely injurious to human health.

What are the 5 steps to avoid scalding milk? ›

Steps
  1. Heat slow. Exercise patience. ...
  2. Test the temperature. Make sure it's warm, but not so hot it will burn your mouth. ...
  3. To heat milk for infant consumption, put the milk in a sterile bottle. Heat the bottle in a pot of water, the microwave (if the bottle is microwave safe), or in a bottle warmer.

Which material is best for boiling milk? ›

Made of heavy gauge stainless steel material, the milk boiler will last you for a long time. It is easy to maintain and its flat design also makes it easy to clean.

Is milk straight from a cow safe? ›

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. Raw milk can carry harmful germs, such as Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella, and Salmonella. These germs can pose serious health risks to you and your family.

Why do Indians boil pasteurized milk? ›

Before the availability of packaged milk, Indians bought milk directly from the dairy farms. Hence, they followed the process of pasteurisation (boiling in simple terms) to remove any pathogens, which are disease causing microorganisms.

Is boiled milk better than cold milk? ›

Be it hot milk or cold milk, both are equally healthy and nutritious. Generally, people make their preferences based on the weather and season. While it is your personal choice to decide if you like your milk hot or cold, we advise you drink at least a glass of milk every day.

Why milk should be boiled before it is stored or used? ›

Fresh milk must be boiled in order to destroy any harmful microorganisms that may be present. While processed milk has been pasteurized, making it safe to consume straight. Pasteurized milk is boiled at 70 degrees Celsius and then suddenly cooled.

What is the danger zone for milk? ›

If stored above 40 °F, milk will begin to develop signs of spoilage, including sour odor, off-flavor and curdled consistency. Remember that milk should be taken from the store and quickly placed in your refrigerator at home so that the temperature does not rise above 40 °F.

Is milk OK if left out for 2 hours? ›

In general, perishable foods like milk should not sit out of the refrigerator or cooler for longer than two hours. Cut that time down to an hour in the summer if the temperature reaches 90 degrees F. After that time frame, bacteria can start to grow.

How do you tell if milk is spoiled? ›

Spoiled milk has a distinct sour odor, which is due to lactic acid produced by bacteria. Other signs of spoilage include a slightly yellow color and lumpy texture (15). Signs that your milk has spoiled and may not be safe to drink include a sour smell and taste, change in color, and lumpy texture.

Why we should boil the milk? ›

Now the question is: why do you boil milk? Some do it out of habit, some know that boiling kills germs and some to make it last longer. Boiling milk is an effective way of dealing with disease-causing organisms. Although it does not remove all impurities, it does kill most of the dangerous bacteria and other organisms.

Why do Indians boil their milk? ›

There is another traditional habit associated with milk. We boil the raw milk, cool it and then use it for various purposes. This is done to make it free from micro-organisms and increase its shelf life as raw milk can get spoilt in hot, humid Indian weather.

Which milk does not need boiling? ›

Pasteurized milk does not need to be boiled.

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