Questions about dealing with milk (pandemic-related)

[lostforgottensoul]

Ok, first time taking out frozen milk. Lets see how this goes.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Self Stable Milk

Look at these on Amazon! What was $5 is now $20 and $30. Cosco isn't delivering powered milk to Residendial address. Even Walmart is ridcoulous prices! I can't find any place that I can jusifying buying it. But, panic of food supply chain and food shortages is real!

 

[Sideways]

Shelf Life:
So, once you've put your milk in the frdige, how long do you have to drink it before it goes off and may make you really ill (this may explain your childhood experiences with alternatives to fresh milk)...

Fresh milk: this is easy. You buy it fresh, and it says on the pack when to use it by. Depending on a number of factors, you may have a couple of weeks to get through a carton of fresh milk sitting in your fridge.

Frozen milk: freezing it in small containers like you've done? Is a really good idea. Because no matter how fresh the milk was when you froze it, freezing changes things. Like meat that you thaw, you need to use it quickly. In the case of thawed milk? Within 3-4 days.

Shelf-Milk: (aka UHT milk)
This stuff has been treated at "ultra high temperatures" to kill the nasties living in it (hence the fantastically original name we Aussies have for it - UHT milk). Carton sizes vary. And they keep for a long time (usually a year is a safe bet) unopened on the shelf. Once you crack it open and stick it in the fridge? You have about 7 days to drink it before it goes off and may make you ill.

Powdered milk:
Theoretically, this is the one that you're going to store for the zombie apocalypse, because unopened, the pack of powdered milk can keep up to 10 years (although assuming a maximum of 2 years on your shelf is safer!). That changes as soon as you open the pack to mix up your first batch. The remaining powder? Now only has a shelf life of about 3 months because it's been exposed to air.
The liquid milk that you've mixed up to drink? Will last about 2 hours tops if you leave it on the bench. If you keep it in the fridge? Check the packet. They vary. A lot. Full cream varieties vary from other varieties.

When organisations like the UN and Red Cross do food drops? They include the powdered variety as a rule. Not just because it keeps the longest, but because depending on how tolerant you get of the taste? You can stretch it out further and further by simply adding more water to each mix.

TLDR: make a note of when you stick your milk in the fridge, whatever method you're going for. They don't last long once they're thawed/opened/mixed etc, but just how long? Varies for each option;)

 

[Rainman8772]

I haven't done that only because when I was a kid, my sister (an adult) would get powered milk cause it was cheaper and it would make me really sick. Not sure why but I havent touched powered milk since.



I left about an inch or so at the top and here they are frozen solid:View attachment 57380

The round ones still have lids on screwed tight. Some of them the milk made it to the top but none of them are expanded, including the top. The round ones are much thicker plastic then the top one so will defrost the top one first. It is much more likely to get frost bite then the round ones. And then when I get milk, I will get enough to have one frozen.

This is how much milk in the fridge that I left myself:View attachment 57381

Borden milk is good milk you must be in the South East.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

you must be in the South East.

Florida

ETA: Thank you @Sideways! That was super helpful!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Using the first defrosted one and it tastes perfect. Just like the day I froze it. I think the difference is shaking it. I shook it several times while defrosting as well as right before using it. Not sure I never thought to do that before.

I think once Im down to my last two, I'll get two gallons and freeze them in seperate smaller portions like this. I need to find more plastic things to put them in but was thinking if I ran out of plastic tupperware, I can use palstic bags. Maybe double bagged. But I have freezer bags and have frozen liquid soups in freezer bags before. Just leaving some room for expansion I think will be all that's needed. Maybe transfer it out of the bag and into the gallon pitcher that I have so that its easier to use and shake up.

Thanks guys!