Drink Processing
and wrapped in sterile
packaging do not require
refrigeration as the
sterilization prevents the
milk from spoiling,” says
Lisa Moskovitz, R.D.,
C.D.N., founder of NY
Nutrition Group.
What about dairy-
free non-refrigerated
milks?
Nondairy milk products are
processed the same way.
Blue Diamond Almond
Breeze processes its
refrigerated almond milk
products using standard
dairy processing (HTST)
and produces their shelf-
stable milk products using
UHT processing. The
shelf-stable stuff comes in
aseptic carton packaging
that, according to Blue
Diamond, is “designed
for shelf stability of the
unopened product for
an extended period.” Silk
says the same of their
soy milk, almond milk,
coconut milk, and cashew
milk. Still, all brands
suggest refrigerating
shelf-stable milk before
drinking it. And always
refrigerate shelf-stable
dairy and plant-based milks
after opening the package.
(Stock up, then try these
delicious dairy-free nut
milk recipes.) being added back, and not
necessarily in excess of what
the milk had to begin with,
these fortified shelf-stable
milks shouldn’t pose any harm.
All in all, both versions are
nutritionally equivalent.”
Is non-refrigerated
milk less nutritious
than the refrigerated
milk? While non-refrigerated
milk flavor may vary slightly
due to the heating process,
Moskovitz claims that “when
you fi nally open up the carton,
it is room temperature versus
cold, refrigerated milk.” So
have some patience and place
Apparently, all is fair in
love and non-refrigerated
milk. “While heating
[shelf-stable milk] to high
Do non-refrigerated
milks taste different?
temperatures through the
sterilization process can
deplete some nutrients, it
doesn’t affect key nutrients
such as protein or calcium,
and is usually fortifi ed back
with many nutrients that
it may have lost, including
vitamins A and D,” says
Moskovitz.
But wait—aren’t “fortifi ed”
products typically a no-
no? “In this case, since
the nutrients are just
Drink Asia
32
March-April 2020
your shelf-stable milk in the
refrigerator for an hour or so
before you drink it. (Related:
What is a2 Milk—and Should
You Be Drinking It?)
Now you can return to
your offi ce kitchen and snag
yourself a nice cup of joe
without wrinkling your nose
at the “creepy” boxed non-
refrigerated milk options in
front of you. It’s only weird if
you make it weird, guys.
Source:
https://www.shape.com/