Heating milk is like an art, whether you're preparing gravy, yogurt, or baby formula. Watch carefully as it boils and stir regularly to prevent it from overflowing. While rapid heating is acceptable for some recipes, the milk must be heated slowly if you are making cultures, making cheese, or making yogurt. If the stove is too hot to slowly bring the milk to a boil, try the double-pot technique. To heat baby formula, do not use a microwave or direct heat exposure, but just soak it in a bowl of warm water.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Boiling Milk
Step 1. Heat in the microwave
The easiest way to heat milk is in the microwave, but you should keep an eye on it. One glass (250 ml) of milk will reach room temperature in 45 seconds and boil in 2.5 minutes. Stir every 15 seconds to keep it from overflowing.
You can also try setting the microwave to a 70% heat setting to heat up more slowly. The milk should still be stirred every 15 seconds
Step 2. Bring the milk to a boil on the stove in a large, deep saucepan
When boiling milk on the stove, use a deep saucepan to give the milk room to bubble and crawl up the walls. If you're making a sauce or a glass of warm milk, turn the heat to medium heat. To prevent the milk from overflowing, do not turn away from the stove and stir every few minutes.
Reduce the heat when the milk starts to boil so it doesn't burn
Step 3. Place the long-handled spatula in the pan
The milk boils when a layer of protein and fat forms on top and prevents the steam underneath from escaping when heated. Eventually, the steam will brutally erupt and the milk will overflow out of the pot. Putting down a long-handled spatula will allow the steam to escape before too much pressure builds up.
Use the spatula to stir the milk every few minutes and release the steam
Step 4. Heat the milk for culture slowly
If you're making cheese or yogurt, heat the milk one degree per minute. Simmer on low to low-medium heat for 30-40 minutes and stirring every few minutes. When small bubbles and steam form, the milk has reached its boiling point at 82 °C.
If the stove is too hot and you can't bring the milk to a boil directly over the heat, use the double-pot method
Method 2 of 3: Using Double Pans
Step 1. Bring some water to a boil
You only need to add 3-4 cm of water in the pot. Place on the stove and turn to low heat. Heat slowly until it starts to boil.
Step 2. Place a heatproof bowl over the boiling water
Use a glass or stainless steel bowl and place it in the pot, but don't let it touch the boiling water. There should be about 2.5 cm of space between the bottom of the bowl and the surface of the water.
Indirectly heating the milk over a glass or stainless steel bowl will ensure a slower and more even boiling process
Step 3. Pour the milk into a heatproof bowl
Keep the heat low and the water in the pot to continue to boil. Carefully place the milk in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Stir regularly and heat until small bubbles appear on the edges of the bowl and steam rises from the milk.
Once it boils, turn off the heat and use the milk or refrigerate it according to the recipe you want to make
Method 3 of 3: Heating Baby Formula
Step 1. Soak the milk bottle in warm water to heat it evenly
Place the bottle in a bowl of warm water or hold the bottle under a hot shower. If the water in the bowl cools down, replace it with warmer one. Warm the bottle until it reaches room temperature or body temperature, whichever your baby prefers.
Don't let the formula get too hot. If it is too hot, the milk will lose its nutrients and can burn the baby's mouth
Step 2. Do not use a microwave or stove
You can turn on warm water from the tap or warm milk on the stove, but don't heat the bottle directly in the microwave or on the stove. The microwave will heat the milk or formula unevenly and cause dangerous hot spots. Heating bottles on the stove can also have the same effect and can melt plastic bottles.
Step 3. Purchase a bottle heater
A bottle heater is the quickest and most convenient way to warm up baby milk or formula. It will evenly heat the bottle to room temperature in 2-4 minutes, depending on the model.
