Instant Skim Powdered Milk is a powdered version of skim milk. See “Powdered Milk” for a discussion of how it is made.
To use, it is usually mixed up with water first, though some recipes may have you add it directly as a powder.
It mixes up more easily than regular powdered milk, because it is made less dense.
Cooking Tips
This is the milk powder to keep on hand for cooking, especially if you have a bread machine, as it is called for by most bread machine recipes.
To reconstitute, use 4 tablespoons of the powder to 250 ml (1 cup) of water. The water can be cold or tap temperature.
Using reconstituted Instant Skim Powdered Milk in recipes such as bread recipes, or in dishes such as mashed potatoes, is an easy way to reduce the fat content of items without affecting the taste or finished product in a way that anyone would notice.
Nutrition
Please note that nutritional values may change per brand, and that manufacturers even adjust their own formulations from time to time. Check side of the package you have purchased.Nutrition FactsPer 1 cup liquid reconstituted from 4 tbsp, using Carnation brand as an example [1]
AmountFat0 gCholesterol5 mgCarbohydrate13 gFibre0 gSugars13 gProtein9 g
Equivalents
4 tablespoons plus 1 cup water = 1 cup (250 ml / 8 oz) of skim milk
1 cup = 100 g
1 tablespoon = 6 g
Storage Hints
Instant Skim Powdered Milk stores much better and longer than regular Powdered Milk, as it has far less fat in it. (It’s the fat content in shelf-stable items that can make them go rancid over time.)
On a shelf, the powdered milk has a storage life of up to 2 years if it is to be used in its optimal nutritional condition. Manufacturers estimate that the vitamins A and D in it, which are heat and light sensitive, will decrease by about 20% a year even when stored properly.
If stored refrigerated or frozen, the storage life of powdered milk increases dramatically. Some sources estimate up to 10 years or more. Consequently, for occasional home cooking use, store in a sealed container or jar in the refrigerator, and you’ll have it to hand for years.
Once mixed up with water, however, store in refrigerator of course unless using immediately. Once mixed up, treat its storage life as you would normal liquid milk.
History Notes
Instant powdered milk was invented in California in 1953.
Sources
[1] Carnation® Instant Skim Milk Powder nutritionl facts. Retrieved February 2013 from http://www.carnationmilk.ca/skim-milk-powder.aspx.