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Milk powder or powdered milk is prepared from dried milk solids with the help of a process called spray drying. Pasteurized milk is first concentrated in an evaporator to about fifty percent milk solids. The resulting concentrated milk is then sprayed into a heated chamber where the water almost instantly evaporates, leaving behind fine particles of powdered milk solids.
Classification of milk powder: Powdered milk is classified into three processing categories namely low, medium and high heat. The higher the heat that milk is subjected to, the more the proteins are denatured. High heat powder finds its use mainly in preparing bakery items and candies because it has a sweet flavour which suits the confectionery items. Low heat milk powder is more difficult to produce because it follows a time consuming process. The advantage of low heat milk powder is that the structure of the proteins is not destroyed.
Uses of powdered milk: The use of milk powder is abundant in developing countries because the storage cost is reduced as it does not require any refrigeration due to its low moisture content.  Even the transportation costs are heavily reduced as frequent use of transport is not required. Powdered milk has the advantage of having a long shelf life than liquid milk. Like other dry products milk powder is also considered non perishable. It is often preferred by travelers, explorers, hikers and those in need of non perishable easy to use foodstuff. Powdered milk is often used in baking and in recipes where adding liquid milk affect the consistency of the batter. Powdered milk is a common sight in food aid supplies by the United Nations where distributing fresh or liquid milk is not feasible or is unviable.
Coconut milk powder: Coconut milk powder is prepared from coconut milk. The procedure requires the preparation of coconut milk first which is done by soaking grated flesh of a coconut in hot water or scalded milk, then straining the combination. Coconut milk is classified as thick, thin or coconut cream. Thick coconut milk is prepared by first soaking and then squeezing. Thin coconut is the result of steeping the coconut meat a second time and then straining it. If coconut milk is refrigerated it separates and the top layer is the cream. The process of manufacturing coconut milk powder is the same as the standard milk powder. Raw unsweetened coconut cream is spray dried to obtain powder-like, fine textured, white coconut milk powder. Coconut milk powder is commonly used in South East Asian countries as a cooking ingredient. It is often found as a good substitute for coconut milk made from coarser desiccated coconut. It is also an alternative to animal milk for those who prefer a completely vegetarian food.
Baby powder milk: Although there is no substitute for breast milk there are many women who for some reason are not able to breast feed their baby. For example, women who have undergone breast operation find it difficult to breast feed. For them baby milk powder is a blessing as it contains good nutritional value. Baby milk powder is often considered sufficient for an infant to support brain development and promote immunity just as breast milk does. It is important to buy milk powder to suit the age of the baby. It is equally important to mix the contents and water in right proportion for good growth of the baby. The correct amounts are indicated on the label of the package. While using milk powder it is very important to maintain good hygiene as it is fed with the help of feeding bottles. The teats and bottles need to be sterilized frequently to prevent bacterial growth of any kind. When mixing the powder it is important to use boiled water that is cooled. Milk prepared with the help of milk powder can be refrigerated but never for more than a day. If the milk is not consumed in a day or kept at room temperature for more than one hour it is unfit for consumption by the baby and should be thrown away. Recent research has suggested that the powdered milk is not always sterile and harbor micro-organisms. This requires consumers to exert caution.
Skim milk powder: The use of skim milk is common these days in view of the health concerns. Skim milk is milk from which the fat content has been removed. Skim milk powder is obtained by removing water from pasteurized skim milk. As in case with standard milk powder, skim milk powder is classified according to the heat treatment used in its manufacture. Spray-dried skim milk is available in two forms namely, agglomerated or instant and non-agglomerated or non-instant. While the non-instant variety of skim milk powder is good for 12 to 18 months, the instant variety is good for 6 to 12 months. If preserved in good condition non instant skim milk powder retains its physical and functional properties for at least two years but if the temperature is too high then its quality gets impaired.
Organic milk powder: Organic milk comes from pasture-fed cows and is produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones or pesticides. Organic milk and milk products do not contain any preservatives. The cows are fed a diet of organic feed. Milk powder that is obtained from organic milk through the process of spray drying is organic milk powder. Organic milk powder has a wide range of applications including but not limiting to confectionery products, bakery products and nutrient supplements. Milk powders are hygroscopic in character and should be stored in cool and dry places without exposing them to direct heat or sunlight.
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