Micorwave milk...

[farmmom]

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried or know of someone who pasteurizes milk in the microwave....?

I know that this kills some of the beneficial bacteria but it also kills the ugly guys.....and my butter turns quickly...I want it to last a little longer, and I am not always here when the kids milk, and I do not know if they are as CLEAN as I am...

I know I can freeze the butter and I do, I would just like it to have a little longer refrigerator life.

[lsg]

I have never tried that farmmom. I would think that contolling temperature would be a problem and getting a uniform heat to the milk. You can pastuerize milk in a hot water bath on the stove. I have used a Safegard Pastuerizer for years and really like it. You might be able to pick up a used pasteurizer on ebay at a reasonable price. I would check it out to make sure the thermostat was heating to the right temp. before trusting it. My pasteurizer has an adjustment screw that you can turn up or down to control the temps. Hope this helps.

[liz]

Hi Farmmom; Don't use a microwave it will heat too quickly and denature the proteins allowing for off flavours to potentially develop. If you are concerned about your milk then you can do one of two things, pasteurize in a double boiler on the stove top, heating the milk on medium low to 145 degrees f., holding it there for 30 minutes and then putting the pot directly into cold water in the sink and cooling down the milk quickly or you can heat it to 164 degrees f and hold that temperature for 16 seconds and then cool the milk quickly. If your butter is going rancid too quickly it could also be the way it is being made. Are you using a churn or the food processor? Liz

[wstevenl]

Yep, if there is any milk left in the butter it will go bad. Our homemade butter lasts for a long time (never did smell bad).
A stand mixer works best for us. I could describe how we do it when I'm not posting from my phone.