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Plastic containers and a glass of raw goat milk

Proper Handling Of Raw Milk

Raw milk is delicious and nourishing. It is an amazing product that has many natural benefits.

However, because it is REAL Raw Milk, it can spoil if not taken care of properly so here are some simple guidelines to help you out:

(Cooler) PLEASE bring a cooler or type of carrying box with ice in it to the delivery location. This will help ensure that your milk stays cold and of the highest quality possible.

(Cold) Keep it in the fridge, ideally in the back where it is the coldest. Try not to let temperatures get over 40.
(Careful) Don't leave it sitting on your table. Put the lid back on and get it back in the fridge!
(Consume) Drink it as soon as possible. Raw milk should last at least a week in your fridge but the sooner you drink it the better, (because the MORE you drink the better!)
Enjoy!!

Raw Milk FAQ

Q: What is raw milk?

A: Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized (sterilizing/heating) or homogenized (crushing—-milk without a cream line)

Q: Why does the label have a scary warning label?

A: The state of Idaho requires all raw milk producers to adhere to putting this warning on their label in order to sell it at a retail level.

Q: What are the risks associated with drinking raw milk?

A: When drinking raw milk produced in a proper manner, you’re assuming the same (if not less) risk than you would for any grocery store item. In fact, there have been more cases of health issues reported from pasteurized milk than raw milk.

Q: What should I look for in a raw milk producer?

A: Someone who takes cleanliness seriously. Some good questions to ask would be: what type of forage/diet do the animals consume, is the herd tested and free of TB & Brucellosis, how is milk chilled and in what time frame, are they permitted with the state? All great questions for someone to ask.

Q: How long will raw milk last?

A: When kept at the optimal temperature of 36-38 degrees F, you can expect raw milk to last from 7-10 days, although we have found that as long as our product is kept at this proper temperature it can go on to be used for drinking purposes for 2 weeks!

Q: What can I do with my milk that is no longer fresh for drinking?

A: Raw milk that is no longer fresh for drinking purposes will have a sour taste to it. At this point, it can still be used for baking, kefir, buttermilk, yogurt, ricotta cheese, sour cream, the list goes on.

Q: Why can I use my raw milk once it is past the ‘best buy’ date for so many things but can’t do that with my pasteurized milk?

A: Pasteurized milk is a dead food. It has been heated to the point that the enzymes and bacteria (good and bad) have been killed. Thus, it is a huge risk for food borne illness in terms of consumption and must be thrown away when it reaches its “best buy” date. Raw milk on the other hand, is full of beneficial bacteria and enzymes. When raw milk becomes ‘sour’, it is at this point that the probiotics in it have begun to use up the lactose. Hence why it will no longer taste sweet, but sour.

Q: Can raw milk be frozen?

A: Raw milk can be frozen and thawed with no impact to flavor. However, once frozen, the cream in the goat’s milk will sometimes not fully reconstitute back into the milk because it is not homogenized. So this might appear as little chunks/pellets of cream in the milk. You can avoid this by skimming your cream off first before freezing.