Contents:
- Medical Video: EAT | 3 Easy Snow Day Snacks
- Why should you store powdered milk properly?
- How to store powdered milk correctly?
- What are the characteristics of powdered milk that has been damaged?
Medical Video: EAT | 3 Easy Snow Day Snacks
Saving milk powder you might consider trivial. However, storing the wrong milk powder can make milk powder damaged. The nutritional content can disappear. Of course, mothers don't want this. Well, for that you should keep powdered milk properly. Want to know how to store powdered milk right? See the explanation below.
Why should you store powdered milk properly?
Powdered milk is made by removing water from pasteurized fresh milk. After that, milk powder is usually added with important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, vitamin A, DHA, and so on. Formula milk powder for babies is made close to the nutritional requirements needed by babies.
However, incorrect storage can make the essential nutrients in milk become damaged or reduced. For example, if milk powder is exposed to direct sunlight, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, vitamin A, riboflavin, and others can be damaged.
Milk powder may be the most sensitive to the environment during storage. Storage of milk powder is very dependent on moisture content and moisture. This is because milk powder can absorb moisture and water from the air, making it lumpy because the air is enclosed in it. Powdered milk stored properly can extend shelf life.
How to store powdered milk correctly?
The following are things that you should pay attention to storing powdered milk properly so that it is not damaged.
- If the milk powder you buy is not packaged in a container that allows for long storage, you should pack the milk back in an airtight container. This can prevent clumping of milk powder.
- Milk powder containers should not be transparent so that essential vitamins and minerals in milk are not damaged. If the container is translucent, you should cover it with paper or anything that can block the light from entering.
- Place milk powder in a clean, dry and odor-free container. Milk powder can also absorb odors from the air. This might change the taste of milk.
- Place milk powder in a cool storage area. Storage that is too hot or cold, both can reduce levels of nutrients in milk. The optimum storage temperature for milk powder is 13-24°C. However, you can still store milk powder at temperatures below 35 °C.
- Choose cabinets or shelves to store milk away from stoves, ovens, heating channels, hot water pipes, or other heat sources. Also, do not leave the milk container in direct sunlight.
- It's best not to store powdered milk in a refrigerator or refrigerator, freezeror other humid place. Moisture will only make milk powder clot, which may cause milk powder to be more concentrated.
- After you open the milk powder container, make sure you close it back properly. Do not let air enter into it.
If stored in a cool, dry place, powdered milk may last up to 6 months. However, powdered milk that has been opened may only last 1 month. So, if milk powder has been opened, you should drink milk regularly so the milk runs out quickly.
What are the characteristics of powdered milk that has been damaged?
Get used to storing powdered milk properly. Before using it, you should check the condition of milk powder, by looking at its appearance and smell it. Damaged powdered milk will definitely change in appearance and smell. Like, milk powder turns yellowish, milk powder forms lumps, and changes in the smell. If this change has appeared, then the milk powder must be discarded because it is not suitable for use.
