Reconstituting Powdered milk (2023)

Reconstituting powdered milk is a very helpful technique to learn. Knowing how to reconstitute powdered also called dry milk is one of the ways I have escaped unnecessary and repeated visits to the grocery store especially in these trying times. The right amount of water to dry milk ratio is the key to the perfect reconstituted milk for all your powdered milk recipes. Learn how to make it in step by step photos with tips on how to store.

What is Powdered Milk and how is it made.

I intend to share a series of pantry items that can be multi purposed or reconstituted to help stretch our budgets and keep us from visiting the store ever too frequently at this time. This post of how to reconstitute powdered milk is one of them.

Powdered milk also known as dry milk is what is, a dry dairy product made from dehydrated milk. It can be made from whole milk, skimmed milk or low fat milk.

It is a convenient milk product to have in your pantry as it doesn’t need refrigeration until it is reconstituted into liquid milk. Because it’s shelf stable, it’s usually the milk of choice in times like this.

Related posts:

• Stocking up your pantry in an emergency.
• How to make homemade Brown Sugar

How to reconstitute powdered milk (dry milk)

This is an overview of the recipe with step by step photos, full recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post

Pic 1-3; measure out ingredients. Mix and stir.

Pic 4-6; let the mix rest, mix again then pour into milk bottles and store

Make ahead and how to store reconstituted Powdered milk

Reconstituted milk can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Reconstituted dry milk powder tastes even better the next day when it has rested in the refrigerator.

Store reconstituted in a sterilized glass milk bottle or any clean container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How to sterilize glass bottles and jars.

Glass bottles are jars can be sterilized in a variety of ways at home like in the microwave, dish washer or stove top. The stove top method is what I use so I will share how I do that,

• Wash the bottles or jars and their lids in with dish washing liquid lukewarm water.
• Rinse thoroughly
• Add water to a large pot big enough to contain your bottles.
• Submerge the bottles or jars and they’re lids in the water making sure all is covered.
• Bring the water to a boil, when it starts boiling, set a timer and let it boil for at least 10 mins then turn off the heat and let the water cool slightly.
• Use a tong to gently bring the bottle, gently empty the bottle fill with the milk.*

* if making jam try not to fill cold jars with hot jam, it can crack the jars. Avoid extreme temperature changes when filling glass jars, when filling with milk, try not to fill cold milk into very hot bottles.

Is Powdered milk bad? Is it good for you?

I grew up on powdered milk. It was when I moved to the states that I noticed many people here don’t care much for powdered milk. I also noticed you hardly find powdered milk/dry milk in regular grocery stores.

Hubby doesn’t take cereal, oat meal or Soakies (aka Garri) without powdered milk so we always have powdered milk at home. We were excited to find that out Costco wholesale carries the biggest size of Nestles Nido.

Needless to say that big tin of powdered milk has been very helpful whenever we run out of liquid milk. That’s exactly what this post is about right? Reconstituting dry milk powder!

To answer the question, yes Powdered milk is good for you and it has some health benefits. Some of which are listed below.

Benefits of powdered milk

• Powdered milk has lots of vitamins like Vits A,D, E, and K.
• It also has minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc and phosphorus. These vitamins and minerals help with the daily function of the body.
• Rich in proteins and amino acids. Proteins help repair body tissues.

Make ahead and how to store

Reconstituted powdered milk tastes even better when made ahead because the milk powder has absorbed all moisture and the flavor has developed. Reconstituted milk can kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Not a fan of powdered milk and looking for how to enjoy it. Here are a few ways you can enjoy it.

• Add some vanilla extract and voila! Vanilla milk.
• Some cocoa powder or chocolate syrup added to your reconstituted milk will make amazing chocolate milk.
• Blend in some strawberries or strawberry syrup and you’ve got the best tasting strawberry milk ever.
• Want just milk? Wait till your store bought liquid milk goes half way then fill up with reconstituted milk and shake, I bet you won’t know the difference.

How to reconstitute dry milk for a crowd.

If you want to make a milk for a crowd, you can use the chart to determine how much milk powder you need. This is the formular I use

For 1 cup of water, use ¼ cup of milk powder. To get your desired amount of milk, simply multiply the number of cups by ¼.

Using the formula above, to make a gallon of milk. There are 16 cups in one gallon, therefore to make one gallon of Milk, you will need 4 cups of dry milk. See The Math below

16 cups of water x ¼ = 4 cups

A quick tip for making large quantities of milk, mix half the water with the full amount of milk powder, then add the rest of the water to fill up.

Some ways to use powdered milk in your day to day recipes.

For Buttermilk:

1 cup reconstituted milk + 1 Tablespoon of white distilled vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Mix and let it stand for a minute before use.

For Condensed milk:

1 cup milk powder + 1 cup sugar + 1 Tablespoon butter + ½ cup hot water.

Blend to combine, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

For Evaporated milk:

1 cup of milk powder + 1 ¼ cup of cold or lukewarm water.

Whisk to combine. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Flavored milk:

• Chocolate milk: 1 cup reconstituted milk + ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder + 1tsp powdered sugar.
• Vanilla Milk: 1 cup reconstituted milk + ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract + 1 teaspoon powdered sugar.
• Strawberry milk: 1 cup reconstituted milk+ 1 teaspoon powdered strawberries.

Click here to get a printable copy of the powdered milk conversion chart

Powdered milk recipes (How to use Powdered milk)

Powdered milk can be used for both cooking and baking or in your favorite breakfast porridge. Below are some of my favorite ways to use reconstituted powdered milk.

• Mashed Potatoes
• Oatmeal recipes
• Mac and cheese
• Cakes and cup cakes
• Soaked Garri
• Pancakes
• Dalgona Coffee and Flavored milk recipes like Chocolate milk and strawberry milk
• Milkshakes

Quick Recipe Notes and tips

• Powdered milk mixes better with cold or room temperature water. Hot milk will make the milk clumpy and and more difficult to mix. (remember heat coagulates proteins)
• If you want a warm beverage, mix the milk with cold water first then warm up in the microwave.
• Let the reconstituted milk stand for a few minutes and mix again this rehydrates the dry milk powder properly.
• Reconstituted milk tastes even better the next day.
• If you have picky eaters who prefer the store bought liquid fresh milk, try this, when the fresh milk is half way down, reconstitute some powdered milk to fill it up. Shake to combine and refrigerate.

Did you enjoy this recipe guide or found it helpful? Please Leave me a comment and share the link to this recipe with your family and friends and in your favorite Facebook group so others can enjoy it too.

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