Leite/Milk: What's the big deal??

There are some truths that I have come to believe in when it comes to milk.

*Milk should always be kept cold

*Milk should be stored in a plastic container

*Milk should come in a large enough container allotting for more than one serving. 

Now, most of you know the boys have been Dairy Free for many years. Zane was diagnosed with Cow's milk allergy when we were trying to find out the cause of all his ear and sinus issues. Alden's Asthma Specialist highly recommended that we went dairy free with him to reduce mucous buildup. Ok then! We started out removing all forms of dairy, meaning NOTHING that contained dairy. That was difficult, but not impossible. If anything, it introduced us to wonderful new foods and increased my knowledge of cooking. Then gradually, we started adding things back in. Sure you can have that snack at school that has been processed and contains milk. We stayed like this for a long time. Almond 'milk' (though recent studies say it should be called Almond Juice due to how it is made), became a staple in our house. We utilized nutritional yeast for a lot of 'cheesy' recipes and we learned to substitute different veggies for when you wanted that cheese (like crunchy cabbage on your tacos instead of cheese!). 

After Zane's most recent surgery earlier this year, we found out that he has outgrown that allergy! Exciting for us, but now what? Obviously we did not jump right back on the dairy band wagon. My sister and I were a little excited as we meal plan and prep together during the dreaded Tax Season and we didn't have to alter AS many recipes. The boys were able to try things here and there with lots of observations happening. Are you getting stuffy? Are you sneezing? Are you congested? Always worried that something will trigger them and we will end up back here.

Then, came the big move. Greg had not had much luck in locating Almond Milk in the months he had been here in Brasil. We didn't worry much because we had been told by many different people that we can get it. First trip to the grocery store and I can't find the milk
section. Greg says, "You walked right by it" and points to an non-refrigerated aisle. Wait...WHAT???

So my inquisitive nature took over and I immediately started asking questions. "Why isn't this refrigerated? How long does it last? Is it real cow's milk? Why is there so much of it? Why is it in such a tiny box?"

I am sure you can imagine how excited Greg was by all these questions. We find one that is Lactose Free and decide to give it a try. I immediately placed it into the fridge when we got home!

You know I started doing research to find out the difference and I learned all about UTH and HTST. Those of you that have lived or currently live in areas like South America and Europe, this may be common knowledge, but to this small town Kansas girl, I had no idea. 

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk up and then quickly cooling it down to eliminate certain bacteria. For effective pasteurization, milk can be heated up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, but this method isn’t very common. 

More common is heating milk up to at least 161.6 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds, which is known as High-temperature Short-Time (HTST) pasteurization, or flash pasteurization. This method will keep milk fresh for two to three weeks. 

Then there’s Ultra-Heat Treatment (UHT), whereby milk is heated to 280 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of two seconds. This processing results in a shelf life that can extend up to nine months. Milk treated with pasteurization or HTST is labeled as “pasteurized,” while milk treated with UHT is labeled as “ultra-pasteurized.”

To sum it up - UHT kills ALMOST ALL bacteria (good and bad) including the bacteria that makes milk spoil therefore increasing its shelf life. 

We did find one store that had some cold milk in a refrigerated end cap. Very small selection as it is not common. It does say 'pasteurized' on it and it didn't last as long. It was also more expensive!

Which is better? The answer is totally based on preference and need. If you want the bacteria to help with digestion in your gut, then UHT milk is not for you. If you want milk that doesn't spoil quickly, then HTST is not for you. Like anything, do the research!

To be honest, my truths about milk and the fact that we have not had it in YEARS have kept me from enjoying a glass. The boys however, do not mind it at all! For now, I will continue to cook with it and the boys can enjoy it as a drink or with their cereal. I will still be on the lookout for Almond Milk!

Just remember, while you are running out or sending your significant other to grab a cold gallon of milk because you need it for a recipe or for the kiddos in the morning, just remember we keep some stocked in our pantry!