Boiling raw milk is important: Because it is not pasteurized, it always poses a certain health risk. In this article you will find out how long you should boil raw milk and what else you have to consider.
Normally, the milk that you can buy in stores is already preheated and thus preserved. The pasteurization process also kills germs and bacteria.
It’s different with raw milk: it’s untreated, unpasteurized milk from farm animals. Raw milk can contain harmful bacteria such as listeria, campylobacter, EHEC or salmonella. Therefore, you should boil them before you eat them. The heat kills possible bacteria and pathogens.
Boil raw milk: this is how it works
You can significantly reduce the health risk from raw milk by boiling the raw milk before using it further. You can easily do this yourself at home – we’ll show you how it works:
Pour the raw milk into a saucepan.
Heat the milk on high (over 72 degrees Celsius) for 20 to 30 seconds.
As soon as the milk forms small bubbles and starts to foam, you can remove it from the heat.
Buy raw milk: Here it is
You can often buy raw milk at so-called milk filling stations. There you have the opportunity to tap the milk yourself. The milk filling station usually provides glass bottles for this purpose. Of course you can also bring your own bottles and use them for bottling.
Even if you get your milk directly from the farmer, it is usually raw milk. If you are not sure, you can of course ask.
Why you should boil raw milk
You can never rule out the possibility that cows will get sick or that equipment will not be completely clean. Raw milk can therefore contain pathogenic bacteria.
The milk filling stations clean their dispensers regularly and the bottles they offer must meet high hygiene standards. Nevertheless, sometimes bacteria can get into the raw milk. The consumer advice center refers to studies according to which almost every tenth sample of raw milk from milk filling stations contained pathogenic germs.
To be on the safe side, people with a weak immune system, children or pregnant women should therefore avoid raw milk products altogether.
By the way: The bottles at the milk filling stations are sealed and have to meet high hygiene standards. If you use your own bottles, make sure they are extra well sterilized.
