How do you use your raw milk?

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How do you use your raw milk?
« on: May 28, 2008, 10:19:35 AM » by Mrs. B

We've been using raw milk for a couple of years now, and generally we just shake the cream layer down before drinking.
I was wondering if this is how most raw milk drinkers use it, or do you routinely skim the cream off the top and use it for butter?

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2008, 11:06:36 AM » by cecac

We do the same as far as shaking down. Here's a few other things we are doing/will be doing very soon/have done in the past:

1. Kefir--I use the packets.
2. Kefir cheese-will be doing this very soon. We found it to be milder than the cream cheese in Nourishing Traditions.
3. I do have to skim some cream for homemade icecream (our birthday treat) and also for measuring with skimmed milk for baby formula.
4. I've thought about making sour cream, and have made pima cream. I need to look at the recipe for sour cream and try it--in that case I'd skim some of the cream.

HTH,
Cara

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2008, 11:19:54 AM » by Melie

I skim the cream off and eat it with fruit or over dessert, like brownies! I like the kids to have whole milk though so I also shake it up before I serve it by the glass.

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2008, 12:31:14 PM » by LKS

Often we just shake the cream down but I skim for butter, whipping cream & cream sauces. I also make yogurt w/ whole or skimmed (it all tastes great)
Just a note: unless you are running it through a cream separator just skimming the cream off the top does not give you truly "skim" milk Enough fat is left in that it is still basically whole milk. So good & good for you ! Grin

LKS

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2008, 03:29:06 PM » by CountryMama

We have been using raw milk for the last 6 months and are hooked. We get almost 2 gallons a day and our cow has not been fresh in almost 2 years!

I skim about half the cream off the milk that we drink and shake down the rest as we use the milk. We are even content with drinking this milk in our coffee--never was with store milk. I am not sure what they do to make 1/2 & 1/2 but it cannot possibly straight cream and milk.

I skim all the cream off 4-6 gallons per week to make mozzarella cheese, yogurt, and cultured buttermilk. I end up with about 3+ quarts of cream per week to make butter. We use a lot of butter and this more that supplies our weekly needs plus a little extra to put in the freezer for when we have to dry the cow for the birth of her calf. Occasionally we splurge and I make an Alfredo sauce with some of the cream.

My husband bought me an ice cream attachment for the Kitchen Aid. It is easy and wonderful. You can make just enough ice cream for a small treat and its another great way to use that raw milk plus other wholesome ingredients. I usually use milk that has not been skimmed for the ice cream.

My next goal is to make sour cream, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese.

I am not looking forward to the day when to have to dry her up when it is time for her to give birth--we are thinking about getting a second cow so that we will never be out of raw milk. As you can imagine there is a big demand around her so none of it would go to waste.

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2008, 03:57:16 PM » by CountyCork

We like whole milk, so we just shake and drink.

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2008, 08:01:07 PM » by Farm Wife

We have 44 cows so we never run out!! Shocked

We shake it and drink it. I skim it to make butter, cheese, Ice cream and use the skim milk to foam for my cappuccino machine. Butter milk makes the best French toast and pancakes. Grin

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2008, 09:01:58 PM » by queentea

I skim to about 1/2 inch of cream left. We came from store bought skim milk, and only my 2 boys like it creamy. Even with the little cream left, I have to shake it really good for my youngest dd. She still hasn't adjusted and it's been over 6 months. My DH won't drink the raw milk, but will use the cream to make hot chocolate! I use our milk for kefir (grains) I use the cream for my coffee, to pour over oatmeal, and for butter, though it isn't enough for the whole week. I still use store bought for cooking. I also use the cream for cooking (gravy, mashed potatoes) I use the buttermilk left from making butter to make pancakes. love, love love our raw milk!!

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2008, 09:17:10 PM » by MamaSong

The only time we skim the cream is to make ice cream! Cheesy

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2008, 08:24:36 PM » by wlwest

How do you skim the cream? My dh found someone to get some raw milk, I really want to make ice cream. we have 3 gallons. Is that enough to make ice cream? And how do I see the cream? Pour it in a glass jar? Right now it's in an old milk jug. Tongue

wendy

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2008, 09:06:23 PM » by Melie

Quote from: wlwest on June 02, 2008, 08:24:36 PM

wendy

I'm not sure you can easily get cream out of a milk jug. ours comes in wide mouth, glass, gallon jars. The cream separates to the top and I just scoop it out with a small measuring cup. You might have to dump it into a pitcher or something and wait for it to separate. our milk is so creamy that it is very obvious where the cream line is.
Oh and if your milk is as creamy as mine, it should be plenty for ice cream. Once you pour it into a wider mouthed container it will have to separate again. You should look into getting a couple of the glass gallon or 1/2 gallon wide mouth jars. They work much better for getting the cream out.
Maybe someone has a better method than mine though Huh

I've attached a pic.

« Last Edit: June 02, 2008, 09:10:43 PM by Melie »
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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #11 on: June 02, 2008, 09:22:04 PM » by MamaSong

To get the cream, I just gently (without shaking the milk jug) pour the top layer out. This works best when it's full and the cream is up in the neck of the container, so you don't have to tip it very far to get it out. I don't get it all, but I'm not trying to either. It helps that ours comes in a plastic jug (just like your would buy in a store) and you can clearly see the cream line.

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2008, 12:59:37 PM » by wlwest

Thanks! I did it this morning, I put it in a glass measuring cup to see better, and just ladled it out. It worked pretty good. I got about 2-3 cups out of one gallon! I just need to get one more for ice cream!! yummy Grin

I'm so excited that we found someone to sell us some milk!! And it's just up the road!!

wendy

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2009, 01:33:48 PM » by wlwest

We usually get about 3 gallons of raw milk a week. But I would like to use more of the cream, but am worried about not having enough in the milk to drink. If i had my dh get 4 gallons, what could I do with the "skim milk"? i would like to have cream on hand for say ice cream or whip cream, or for soups. Is there anything you can make out of the milk part or is it just the cream that can be made into different thing?

I guess I'm just trying to decide if we should keep buying milk or just get a cow this spring? We now have the acreage, but I'm worried about being able to milk it! It sounds great to be able to have so much milk to be able to make all the different things.

wendy

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2009, 03:20:13 PM » by denim&lace

You can always use the "skim milk" to bake or cook with. White gravy and biscuits will use up a bunch of it. And it's a great quick dinner if you want to add hamburger or sausage...

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2009, 03:44:27 PM » by CountyCork

Ask your milk person if they sell cream separately. Mine does - it's spendy! A pint of cream is the same as a half gallon of milk $3, but it's worth it.

I think people make yogurt with their skim.

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Re: How do you use your raw milk?
« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2009, 04:53:42 PM » by boysmama