How to Process Goat's Milk

Goat milk can be a part of your daily nutrition, just like cow's milk.

Raw goat milk can be hazardous to your health. Raw milk contains bacteria and other pathogens that may be unsafe for consumption. If you own a goat or purchased raw milk, you will want to process, or pasteurize it, at home. You can do this without any expensive machinery that you may find on a dairy farm. You can do it in your own home with little equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Candy thermometer
• Double boiler
• Wooden spoon
• Large bowl

Instructions

1. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with 2 inches of water.

2. Pour your goat's milk into the top pot of the double boiler.

3. Set the candy thermometer on the edge of the top pot. Do not allow the tip of the thermometer to touch the bottom of the pot.

4. Heat the milk until it reaches 161 degrees. Stir the milk to keep it at 161 degrees and allow the milk to remain at this temperature for 30 seconds.

5. Fill the large bowl (large enough to fit the top double-boiler pot within it) with 4 to 5 inches of cold water.

6. Remove the top double-boiler pot from the heat and place it in the bowl. When that water becomes warm, replace it with new, cold water.

7. Stir the milk while it is cooling to spread it around. Continue to stir and replace the water in the large bowl with cold water until the milk reaches 40 degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• Add ice to your water pan to help the milk cool faster.

References

• Everything Goat Milk: Home Milk Pasteurization
• Homestead Hippie at Heart: Home Pasteurization