How to boil milk in microwave? This post will guide you though the process of boiling milk in a microwave or on the stove, either way, you should know a few things before you do it.
Every kid has grown up drinking warm milk - that is before the vegan wave hit humanity. Some of us hate drinking milk.
Others love it, especially when it's served warm with some chocolate and marshmallows. Besides, many of your favorite recipes also demand hot milk.
But how do you boil milk in the microwave oven?
Microwave ovens work differently, compared to regular stoves or even OTG ovens. It is recommended that food be cooked slowly, so the process does not burn the food.
It can also change the flavor and texture of the food. To ensure that boiling milk in the microwave doesn't spoil the drink, you must boil your milk in a gentle and careful way.
What is the best way to boil milk in the microwave often? Keep reading and find out more!
How to boil milk in microwave - Boiling Milk In The Microwave
Most of us have a microwave oven in the kitchen. It is the handiest device to heat food that has been "chilling" in the refrigerator for a while, no pun intended.
All you have to do is to pop the food you want to heat up into the microwave and set a timer of a couple of minutes - and it's done!
Usually, we pay very little attention to the host of other options on the panel of buttons on one side of the device.
This is where you can find the button to switch the machine on or off, and set the time. This is also where you find the "Power" button to change the level of heat for cooking.
To boil milk, all three of these buttons are going to help you. Boiling milk is itself a tricky job.
Take your eyes off the milk on the stove for a second - and it will spill! It can burn or split and get entirely spoilt if you're not careful while boiling milk - whether on the stove or in the microwave.
The basic idea for boiling milk in the microwave is to be gentle and slow. This will prevent burning or the scorched smell that can develop in the milk.
It will also ensure that the milk you just boiled does not end up with a protein film on top due as a result of high heat.
The ideal way to boil milk in the microwave is by filling three-quarters of a microwavable container made of glass, glass-ceramic, silicone, etc. with milk.
Once you put it in the microwave, set the Power to 70%, i.e., Medium-High, and turn the machine on to start boiling the milk for about 30 seconds.
Pause to stir it, and repeat this every 15 seconds. This will prevent the milk from burning. You have to continue the process till you see steam coming out of the milk.
Are you planning to put the milk into the microwave, set the timer, and forget all about it? That's not a good idea at all.
The time it will take to boil the entire milk depends on the quantity and the temperature of the milk when you start boiling. 250 ml of milk at room temperature boils for about 2.5 minutes.
If the milk is straight out of the fridge, microwave it on High for 40-45 seconds to bring it to room temperature.
We have the best method to boil milk for regular purposes. If you want to scald milk for recipes with a thick texture, like custard or yogurt, set the Power to High, i.e., 100%.
All measurements will work for a 700-watt microwave. You may need to make adjustments to suit your device.
Ideally, you should try boiling a small amount of milk, like 250 ml, and see what works best for you to give you the temperature and consistency you need.
After all, all the microwave ovens are different from each other. Some are powered by higher wattage than the others.
Here's one common tip for the owners of all kinds of microwave ovens: start boiling your milk at room temperature.
It will be easier for you to control. You can either let chilled milk sit out for a while or simply heat it up in the microwave to bring the temperature up before you boil it.
Pasteurizing Milk Using a Microwave
You probably know that it's not safe to drink raw milk. To remove harmful microorganisms or pathogens from milk, you need to heat it at a particular temperature.
This is called pasteurization. While packaged milk needs to be pasteurized, by law, you can do it at home as a precaution.
The temperature at which you can pasteurize milk and make it disease-free will vary with the duration of time for which you heat the milk.
However, you can make things easy for yourself by taking the help of the microwave. For this, you will need a thermometer.
Pasteurization of milk isn't difficult though the process involves multiple steps. Your aim is to heat the milk for at least 15 seconds and bring its temperature up to 161 F.
You have to be careful not to overheat, or you'll end up with boiled milk with uneven heat distribution. It can also curdle the milk.
For perfectly pasteurized milk, start by microwaving the milk for about a minute and stir it. Place the thermometer in the milk and check the temperature.
Then, continue to microwave the milk for short episodes of 15-30 seconds. Continue to check the temperature each time.
When the milk reaches a temperature of 161 F, microwave it for another 15 seconds. Since the temperature of the milk is essential here, and there is no way to measure temperature in a microwave, you will need a thermometer. Once pasteurized, don't forget to refrigerate the milk.
Best Materials For Heating Milk In The Microwave
We all know that cooking in the microwave oven needs utensils of special materials. Regular plastic, foil, or other containers can spell disaster.
Materials that are safe to use in the microwave to heat milk include glassware, ceramics, silicone, and more.
Since boiling or pasteurizing milk means microwaving it for a long time, you might have to eliminate microwave-proof plastic containers from the scene, too.
Make sure to find out more about the container in which you are planning to boil or pasteurize milk.
Is It Safe To Heat Milk In A Microwave Oven?
There are many rumors regarding the usage of microwave ovens. Some of it is nothing but baseless myths.
Others are half-baked truths about possibilities that can be avoided with precautions. People wonder if it is at all safe to microwave milk. As long as you follow the right steps, it absolutely is.
When it comes to heating milk - or any other liquid - in the microwave oven, there is a possibility that it will become too hot and cause burns.
Besides, the cup or container in which you'll heat the milk or pour it into can crack due to the massive heat of the liquid. So, be careful about the temperature.
There are other problems that you need to pay attention to. By exposing milk to too much heat for a long time, you can burn the milk.
As a result, it will get scorched at the bottom of the pan. This will give the milk a bitter taste and an unpleasant smell. It's not a good idea to drink scorched milk.
Heating milk too much for too long can create a protein film on the surface of the milk. You can blend the thin skin into the milk.
But doing so can change the texture of milk. So you can say that the risks of microwaving milk are heat-related. There's no reason to claim that the rays are harmful.
Does that mean there are no chemical changes when you microwave milk? Studies show that when raw milk is microwaved for over two minutes, it can undergo a drop of lactose, fat, and protein content.
But, any form of cooking brings changes to foods. Microwaving is no different, either.
Boiling Milk On Stove As An Alternative To Microwaving
As you have already understood, heating milk in the microwave oven is not like heating other food items.
In this case, you will have to be quite attentive throughout the process, stir the milk, measure the temperature, and more. Overheating milk can also affect its taste and texture.
If you're not exactly excited by the idea of boiling milk in the microwave oven, you can always choose other methods.
The most commonly used method of boiling milk at home is by using the good old stove. While it's not exactly burn- or spill-proof, it's still an alternative you can consider.
We have already told you that pasteurizing raw milk is essential to make it safe for drinking. Boiling milk on the stove is just as good, as long as you don't overdo it.
Even if you are dealing with pasteurized milk, you have to boil it if it has been stored at room temperature.
To boil milk on the stove, you need a pot made of copper or stainless. You can also go for an aluminum pot, though many people avoid this material these days.
Such metal containers make the process of boiling much faster, though you will need to keep a close eye to prevent burning.
Remember to clean the container properly before you start boiling. This will help to do away with any residue that can lead to the curdling of milk.
It's actually a good idea to assign a specific utensil for boiling milk and never use it for anything else.
Steps To Boil Milk On Stove -
- Pour the milk into a clean metal pot. Make sure that it's tall so that when the milk starts to boil, the foam formed at the top doesn't spill out of the pot.
- Continue to heat the milk on low heat until bubbles start to form on the surface. You have to pay attention to it, and you'll find a creamy layer forming on the top. More bubbles will form around the edges of the cream layer. That's when you should lower the heat.
- Stir the milk now and then with a wooden spoon. This will prevent the milk from scorching at the bottom of sticking to the inside surfaces of the pot due to uneven heating. Don't forget to scrape the bottom of the pot when you stir the milk.
- You'll notice that as the temperature of the milk begins to rise, foam begins to form on the surface. You have to break this foam and prevent it from creating a cream layer.
- Reducing the heat to break the foamy layer, continue to stir the milk constantly while boiling it for a couple of minutes.
This is basically all that you need to do to make milk safe and drinkable. Don't give in to the temptation of boiling it more.
That's because overdoing the process is going to kill the nutrients in the milk. So, you must know when to stop boiling the milk to preserve its health benefits.
Storage Of Boiled Milk
Conclusion:
Microwave ovens are commonly used in household kitchens and small, fast food centers to heat up food. So, you might be tempted to heat milk in the microwave oven, too.
Sure enough, your oven is equipped to boil or pasteurize milk. But you must be careful at every step of the way.
Unlike other foods, milk will need your attention when it is in the microwave. You will need to stir it at small intervals and monitor it constantly.
Otherwise, it will burn or develop such a texture and odor that you will not be able to drink it at all. It's also unsafe to handle scalding hot milk.
Overheating milk in the microwave can also kill the nutrients and bring down proteins, fats, and lactose content. However, these adverse effects are only caused by overheating.
As long as you microwave milk properly, you will be able to enjoy healthy milk with a good texture.
