Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur. Chef Jennifer Levasseur is a Personal Chef and the Owner of The Happy Cuisiniere based in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has over 12 years of culinary experience and specializes in Mountain and Contemporary Rustic cuisine. Moreover, she can craft dishes and modify menus to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and dairy-free diets. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston, Chef Jennifer holds Associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts from Houston Community College.
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Warm milk is useful in recipes, to coax yourself to sleep, and as food for an infant. Don't let impatience ruin a whole pot of milk, heat it properly and carefully.
Steps
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To heat milk for a recipe or for child/adult consumption, use a small stovetop pot. There are proper milk saucepans that you can purchase if you wish.- Heat low. If milk gets too hot, it bubbles over before you even know it has happened. Use a high heat and keep your eye on it.Advertisement
- Heat slow. Exercise patience. Ignore the temptation to raise the heat to cook it faster. Stir it continuously to avoid solids sticking to the bottom and burning.
- Test the temperature. Make sure it's warm, but not so hot it will burn your mouth. Use a teaspoon to collect some milk from the pot, hold your wrist over the spoon to check the temperature, and if it isn't ridiculously hot, give it a taste.
- 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.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhat is the name of the skin that forms on heated milk?
Community AnswerLactoderm or milk skin. It is denatured milk proteins that coagulates with the milk's fat. You can eat it if you want. - QuestionCan I store milk that is heated by steaming?
Community AnswerYes, just be careful while handling the milk while hot.
Tips
- If you let the milk cool for a moment, often a film or "skin" will develop on the surface. Just skim it with a utensil and dispose of it in the sink. Run water over the skin to make it run down the drain.Thanks
- When heating milk, pay attention to it and stir constantly. Milk boils over quickly, which means burning and a big mess to clean up on the stove (not to mention possible burns if you or someone else are too close by).Thanks
- If the milk scalds, dispose of it. Scalded milk tastes burnt all the way through, not just the bit that's at the bottom of the pot. It is not suitable to bake with either, as the taste permeates the baked item. Wash the pot in warm water and start again.Thanks
Warnings
- Keep a long-handled metal spoon near the stove and add it to the pot if the milk starts to boil. This will immediately transfer some of the heat to the metal spoon, a heat conductor, and help lower the heat in the pot.Thanks
- Use extreme caution when heating milk for a baby in the microwave oven. Microwave ovens tend to heat unevenly and the milk could burn the baby's mouth or lips if the milk is too hot. Also, the uneven heating may cause some of the milk to get too hot, reducing its nutritional content, even while the average temperature of the milk remains below cooking temperatures.Thanks
- If the milk does bubble and boil over, do not grab the pot. Turn off the stove, and let it simmer down. Then remove it from the heat and when it is cool enough, dispose of it in the sink.Thanks
- Be careful not to burn yourself on the stove or with the hot milk.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Jennifer Levasseur.
About This Article
To heat milk without scalding it, heat it over low heat in a small pot, stirring it continuously so it doesn't stick to the bottom and burn. Although it might take a while, try to avoid turning up the heat. If you're heating milk for a baby, put it in a sterile bottle first and then heat the bottle in a pot of water or in the microwave. To learn how to test the temperature of the milk to see if it's warm enough, scroll down!
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