What Is Skimmed Milk Powder?
Skimmed milk powder is a dairy product made by evaporating skimmed milk until it is completely dry. This powder is easier to store and transport than skimmed milk in liquid form, and it is typically less expensive. Skimmed milk powder is widely used in food manufacture, and it is often included by humanitarian agencies in famine relief shipments. Powdered skim milk is for home use.
Powdered skimmed milk is classified based on the temperatures used in the evaporation process. High heat skimmed milk powder is the least soluble, and is most often used in recipes for baking. Low heat powder is the most suitable for reconstituting into milk for drinking and for general home use.
Milk can be reconstituted by adding water. To make 1 cup (700 ml) for drinking, add 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of skimmed milk powder to 1 cup (700 ml) of water. This should be mixed thoroughly before drinking, stirring or shaking vigorously. Making it well ahead of time is preferred, giving the powder more time to dissolve thoroughly. Even then, reconstituted skimmed milk does not taste like that which is packaged in liquid form, and many do not care for the taste, preferring to use the powder exclusively for cooking and baking.
Nonfat dry milk is very similar to skimmed milk powder, with each containing no more than 5% water and 1.5% milkfat by weight. Powdered skim milk must contain at least 34% milk protein. Nonfat dry milk has no specified milk protein content.
