What is Sweet Milk? (2024)

Dec 13, 2023 | Print

The holidays are here, and everyone is busy in the kitchen. Recipes are being dusted off and shared with friends and family, young and old. This year, it was my turn to try making the cornbread dressing for our Thanksgiving dinner; it was no light task. I pulled out my grandmother’s recipe card to review what ingredients I needed and became stumped when I saw it called for “sweet milk.” What is sweet milk?

What is Sweet Milk? (1)

Milk from jug pouring into glass.
Credit: alter_photo for AdobeStock

According to the Dairy Council of Wisconsin, “sweet milk” is used to differentiate from cultured products like buttermilk and sour cream. When a recipe calls for sweet milk, it refers to whole milk. The story of sweet milk started during the United States’ Great Depression when wasting any food would have been unacceptable. During this time, if milk had been sitting in the fridge too long or had started to go bad, people would still try to find a use for it. This meant several types of milk could be found during this time: soured milk, buttermilk, and sweet milk. Soured milk is milk that has been soured while still refrigerated and can be used for baking. Buttermilk is the fermented milk from the cream churned to make butter. It has a tangy flavor and is often used for biscuits and pancakes.Sweet milk refers to fresh, unfermented milk primarily made from whole milk, the most common type of milk available then.

Sweet milk is very different from condensed and evaporated milk. Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is regular cow’s milk that has been concentrated and sweetened with sugar. Unsweetened condensed milk is called evaporated milk.

Looking for a dairy-free substitute? According to The Food Network, soy milk is the best milk alternative for baking.

Citations:

  1. Harris, M. (2023, March 1). What To Use If Your Vintage Recipe Calls For ‘Sweet Milk’. Tastingtable.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.tastingtable.com/1214712/what-to-use-if-your-vintage-recipe-calls-for-sweet-milk/
  2. Goldman, H. (2022, October 11). The Very Best Milk Alternative for Dairy-Free Baking. Food Network. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/baking-guide/the-best-milk-alternative-for-baking
  3. Taste of Home Editors (2007, May 1). “Sweet Milk” and Cream. Taste of Home. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/sweet-milk-and-cream/
  4. (2017, September 13). What Is Condensed Milk? Undeniably Diary. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.usdairy.com/news-articles/what-is-condensed-milk

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988.

Author(s)

Samantha Houston, Food Systems and Safety Agent, Lexington County Clemson Cooperative Extension, Clemson University

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What is Sweet Milk? (2024)

FAQs

What is meant by sweet milk? ›

Sweet milk refers to fresh, unfermented milk primarily made from whole milk, the most common type of milk available then. Sweet milk is very different from condensed and evaporated milk. Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is regular cow's milk that has been concentrated and sweetened with sugar.

Which animal has a sweet milk? ›

Tammar Wallabies (Macropus eugenii)

Tammar wallabies, found in southern and western Australia, produce sugar-rich milk for their joeys. Their milk contains about 14 percent sugar, double the amount present in human milk and one of the highest levels among mammals.

Is evaporated milk the same as sweetened condensed milk? ›

Evaporated milk and condensed milk are both shelf-stable canned milks that are easily found at most grocery stores. The main difference is that condensed milk is very sweet, and evaporated milk is unsweetened.

What kind of milk is sweet? ›

Jersey cow milk: Jersey cows are known for producing milk with a higher fat and protein content than Holstein cows. This higher fat content can lend a slightly sweeter taste to the milk.

Is Sweet Milk good for you? ›

Sweetened condensed milk includes a lot of calories, but it also has a lot of saturated fat, which is dangerous for people with diabetes and heart issues. According to studies, eating a diet high in saturated fats can raise insulin and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

Which animal milk is the sweetest? ›

Yak milk tastes sweet and has a fragrant, sweetish smell. Yak milk has between 15 and 18 percent solid content, 5.5 to 9 percent fat and 4 to 5.9 percent protein. It therefore has higher solid, fat and protein contents than cow and goat milk, and resembles buffalo milk.

What animal milk is closest to human milk? ›

It has emerged that donkey milk compared with that of other animal species, is the nearest to human milk and an excellent substitute for it. Milk from various animal species shows substantial differences in nutritional composition and distinct metabolic effects.

Why is milk called milk? ›

Etymology and terminology

The term milk comes from "Old English meoluc (West Saxon), milc (Anglian), from Proto-Germanic *meluks "milk" (source also of Old Norse mjolk, Old Frisian melok, Old Saxon miluk, Dutch melk, Old High German miluh, German Milch, Gothic miluks)".

Why is it called pet milk? ›

The "Our PET" trademark is registered and becomes the official name for the company's leading brand. 1898—"Our PET" helps supply Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and other American fighting troops with a safe and convenient source of milk in Spanish-American War.

Does evaporated milk go bad? ›

And while milk might only last a week in the refrigerator, unopened evaporated milk that is properly stored can last up to two years. But how can you tell when it's gone bad? In short, by looking at it. If your milk has turned dark yellow or brown, don't use it.

Is heavy cream and evaporated milk the same thing? ›

Evaporated Milk – With a similar consistency, you can use a 1-to-1 swap of evaporated milk for heavy cream in most sweet and savory dishes. Its flavor is richer with unique caramelized tones and is not a lower-fat option, but evaporated milk makes do in a pinch.

What is the difference between sweet milk and sour milk? ›

Raw milk that has not gone sour is sometimes referred to as "sweet milk", because it contains the sugar lactose. Fermentation converts the lactose to lactic acid, which has a sour flavor.

Is almond milk a sweet milk? ›

Almond milk is available in both sweetened and unsweetened varieties. Compared to regular milk, even the unsweetened variety is noticeably sweet and has a hint of that nutty almond taste. The natural sweetness of almond milk means that it is delicious when used to create a protein shake or eat unsweetened cereal.

Why did my milk taste sweet? ›

It's the lactose – which makes up about 7% of breast milk – that makes it taste like sugar. Babies have an innate preference for that sweet taste.

What is sweetened milk called? ›

Condensed milk is cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of sweetened condensed milk, to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed milk" are often used interchangeably today.

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