(On mobile, apologies for any formatting issues.)
I'm curious, because one of the recommendations I see fairly frequently is to switch to powdered milk to reduce costs. Where I am in Australia it's barely any difference for a product with a significantly reduced taste/quality.
Here, powdered milk is $10 for a bag that makes 7L of milk, working out to $1.43/L. Shelf stable UHT liquid milk from Aldi is $1.85/L, and the cheap brands of fresh milk range from $1.65-$1.85/L depending on the size you buy.
So it is cheaper, yes. But the powdered milk has a terrible aftertaste, and does not froth properly in my milk frother for my coffee, so the 22c/L marginal savings feel pointless. I'm wondering if the difference in price is more significant in some places in the world? Eg if powdered was half the price I'd probably consider using it in at least some applications in my home when the taste isn't as noticeable, and use fresh when it matters like in coffee.
So I'd love to know three things:
-where are you in the world?
-how much does powdered milk cost per unit (L/gal) when mixed up?
-how much does liquid milk (shelf stable and/or fresh) cost per same unit?
Powdered milk vs liquid milk costs – what's the difference for you?
byu/Crackleclang inFrugal
Posted by Crackleclang
10 Comments
I get Nido brand powdered milk. Sold in a #10 sized can. It is more expensive over all. But, I don’t like drinking milk at all. I primarily need it for backing, or cooking where a bit of milk is called for. So, it can be made up a cup, or even half cup, at a time easily.
In the past when I bought liquid milk, I always had half of it spoil and have to be tossed out. When you factor in the lesser amount of waste with the powdered milk, it becomes a lot less expensive for me.
I’m only cooking with powdered milk products and they’re cheaper than fresh due to zero waste. Keep them in the freezer and they’re good nearly indefinitely.
They are so far apart as products that there is no use in comparing price here.
The only real use is as a thickener when making cocoa drinks. Or perhaps coffee if you want your coffee… Thick? For some reason. At that point there is no longer any milk taste anyway
USA
Fresh milk: $3.50-4.50 per gallon
Powdered Milk $12-15 per pound (makes about a gallon.)
I just looked. I’m outside of Houston TX (USA). It’s $8.38 for a bag of dry milk that makes two gallons. Last week I had to pay just over $3 for the cheapest gallon of 2% milk (fresh). I just looked at shelf stable and it’s like $3.40 for a quarter gallon. I’ll sometimes buy little tiny bottles of shelf stable to take camping, but we just buy fresh for everyday use.
I will say I only checked my one grocery store that I frequent so maybe dry and shelf stable are cheaper at Walmart or Aldi.
I’m in Canada, powdered milk I believe is slightly more expensive last I did the math but is meant for avoiding any waste. As someone who lives alone and uses it mostly for cooking and occasionally coffee, it’s been a decent investment to have on hand.
The normal bag of powered milk is $9.49, and 500g makes 5L, so $7.60 vs $5.94 for the 4L jug of skim milk.
The $29.99 2.5KG bag works out to $4.80/4L so is cheaper then $5.94 4L of skim milk.
Edit: City in Southern Canada, in fly in Northern communities it’s probably far more cost effective when milk is like $25.
That’s one of the things where cost doesn’t matter to me. My boyfriend only has powdered milk at his house, and it does nothing for my coffee. What’s the point of a espresso machine if you don’t offer real milk? Haha, venting
In the Midwest, USA.
Not only is powdered milk not cheaper for me in-store (which is wild) but it also is significantly higher in sugars/carbs which for someone like me (diabetic) makes it something I really cannot have.
I have heart a splash of vanilla flavoring helps the aftertaste, however.
often powdered milk is very low in fat , hence the no frothing!
as for the price it really depends where you are in the world. I can find some for 66 per liter when the fresh one is around 1 buck.
the particularity of powdered milk is that it’s a shelf stable and if you don’t use milk regularly it’s a good way to have sole and not waste. added bonus it comes in a carboard and not plastic. I usually use it for making stuff (in dough , baking, making yogurt ….etc) + it is easier to carry!
I use powder milke or carton milk — fresh milk I don’t get to finish it expires.