When you boil raw milk, you kill microbes and make it safe to drink. Pasteurized milk is harmless even when cold, but thanks to boiling you can keep it longer. If you just need it for a recipe or if you want to enjoy a cup, you can heat it up quickly and easily.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Boil the Milk on the Stove
Step 1. Check if the milk needs to be boiled
Some types of milk are safe to drink even without bringing them to a boil. These pointers will help you figure out if you need to:
- Raw milk should always be boiled.
- Pasteurized milk should be boiled if it has been stored at room temperature, while it is not necessary if it has been left in the refrigerator or in a very cold room.
- A sealed package with "UHT" on the label can be safely consumed even if stored at room temperature. UHT stands for "ultra high temperature": a treatment that eliminates harmful microorganisms.
Step 2. Pour the milk into a large clean pot
Use one that is higher than necessary so you have more space. In fact, boiling milk forms froth that could come out of a small pan.
- Use a clean saucepan if you don't want any residue to let the milk go. Alternatively, choose a pan to be used only for this food.
- Copper, aluminum and stainless steel heat up faster than cast iron or other heavy materials. So you will save time, but you will need to be very careful if you want to prevent the contents from burning and overflowing.
Step 3. Heat the milk until it begins to boil
Heat it over medium heat and don't lose sight of it. A shiny layer of cream will form on the surface. Then, starting from the outer edge, bubbles will appear and begin to rise. At this point, reduce the heat to low.
You can heat the milk over high heat if you want to save time, but check it constantly and be ready to reduce the heat as the first few bubbles quickly become a growing layer of foam
Step 4. Stir every now and then
If the pan does not heat evenly, the milk may burn in some places. Stir every two minutes or so with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula, scraping the bottom of the pan.
Step 5. Move the foam that forms
When the milk boils, the surface cream incorporates steam, which causes frothing. Be prepared to intervene to prevent it from rising quickly and overflowing from the pot:
- Reduce the heat until the milk is boiling at a steady pace.
- Stir constantly to stop foaming.
- Leave the spoon in the pan (optional). This breaks the surface film and creates an opening through which the steam escapes. However, make sure that the utensil can withstand prolonged heat without burning.
Step 6. Boil for two to three minutes, continuing to stir
This is sufficient time to ensure the safety of the milk. Extending it further would lead to the destruction of the nutrients it contains.
Step 7. Put it in a cool place immediately
Pour the milk into a closed container and store it in the refrigerator or the coldest place in the house, so you don't need to boil it a second time. You will need to do this before each use if you are going to store it at room temperature.
Too much boiling destroys the nutrients in the milk. If you don't have a refrigerator, make sure you buy only the milk that is strictly necessary for consumption
Method 2 of 3: Boil the Milk in the Microwave Oven
Step 1. Don't rely on this method to make raw milk safe
The microwave oven can boil the milk for a short time before it overflows. This process kills some microbes, but it is not enough for raw milk or milk stored at room temperature, which you should boil on a stove instead.
Step 2. Pour the milk into a clean cup
Avoid mugs with metallic paints, as they are unsuitable for microwaves.
Step 3. Put a wooden utensil in the cup
Make sure that the spoon or wooden stick you use is long enough not to be submerged in milk. This device favors the escape of steam avoiding excessive foam formation.
Step 4. Run the microwave for 20 seconds at a time
In between boils, remove the milk and stir for 5-10 seconds. This will minimize the risk of it overflowing.
Method 3 of 3: Heat the milk
Step 1. Heat the milk to use in the recipes
Heating it or bringing it to a temperature just below boiling can make it react in different ways when used in bread recipes. Some people prefer to boil pasteurized milk as an extra precaution against microbes, but this need not be done if it has been stored in the refrigerator.
Instead, boil it if it is not pasteurized or if it has been stored at room temperature
Step 2. Pour the milk into a clean pot
A thick-bottomed pan heats the milk more evenly, reducing the chance of it burning.
Impurities can spoil the milk, so wash the pan thoroughly
Step 3. Heat it over medium heat
If you do this over high heat, you increase the risk of burning the milk or letting it overflow.
Step 4. Stir from time to time
Check the milk, stirring it every minute or so. A large spatula works best, as it allows you to scrape the bottom of the pan if the liquid begins to stick to it.
Step 5. Check for slight bubbles and steam
Milk is "heated" when it has a small layer of foam on the surface. Small bubbles will appear around the edge of the pan and the steam will be barely visible.
If you have a liquid food thermometer, check that the milk has reached a temperature of 80 ° C
Step 6. Continue heating it for about fifteen seconds
Stir constantly to keep it from spilling out.
Step 7. Store the leftover milk
If you have any left over after use, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If this is not possible, keep it in a cool room. At high temperatures, the bacteria multiply quickly and the milk remains drinkable for a maximum of four hours.
Advice
- Add any flavorings or sugar only when the milk has been boiled and removed from the heat source.
- You can buy a heat diffuser to be placed between the stove and the pot: this accessory heats foods more evenly, preventing them from burning, but extends the heating time compared to a normal pot.
- When the milk is boiling, you can skim the cream from the surface and use it in the kitchen.
Warnings
- Acidic foods, such as ginger and other spices, can curdle milk.
- Always check the milk while it is heating up as it starts boiling much earlier than the water.
- Hold the hot pot with a cloth, oven mitt, or pot holder. Do not leave it unattended, especially if there are children or animals in the house.
