Monday, November 29, 2010

Getting the cream out of goats milk without a cream separator


I love cream and use it regularly in my cooking.  Getting  cream from the goats milk isn't as easy as it is from cow's milk.    You can us a cream separator but they are expensive; upwards of $400.   Much more than I want to spend although I have considered it at times.   Reading further about them though made it seem as if the clean up is probably more trouble than it's worth.

This is what I do.   If you are a purist about your milk you may not want to do this but for me it works.   As I said in an earlier post, I pasteurize my milk for yogurt.  Drinking milk is used raw.   So when I want goats cream I try to combine chores yogurt making and cream separating and pasteurize that milk.   I then let it sit for about 4 or 5 days.   The jar in the picture had been sitting in the fridge for 5 days.  You can see clearly the place where the cream and the milk has separated.  


I then skim it off the top with a spoon that's been bent to fit inside the mouth of my jar.  Of course you can save the milk and skim it 5 days later without pasteurizing it first but most people think by then the milk has acquired a "bucky" flavor not suitable for things like whipped cream.   It will still work in savory recipes though.

Elizabeth

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for this tip Elizabeth. I'm hoping my does freshen next spring. Being Nubians, I have hopes of getting cream, so I appreciate this post. I currently buy raw cows milk for my yogurt and like you, I pasteurize it for that. I'll have to do it that way for my goats milk next spring.

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  2. I can't wait to get some goats milk this Spring so I can try some of this stuff.

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  3. Very cool! Do you have a post where you talk about steps for pasteurizing? My in-laws are raising goats and have yet to milk any of them.

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  4. Leigh... you'll have lots of cream with those Nubian's. More than I get from Alpines!

    Chai Chai... you'll enjoy having your own milk source from animals you fed and cared for.

    Meemsnyc... I posted a few days back about when I pasteurize, but not how to. I probably should add that info too though. "Got Milk" was the title of that post.

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing your little "trick" of simply using a bent spoon! (BTW, where did you get the plastic lids [are they expensive] for the Ball jars?)
    I'm VERY new at this whole goat thing. CELEBRATE WITH ME as I tell you that I GOT MY 1ST CREAM TODAY! Not enough for a cup of coffee but I will have enough from this last milking.
    I have a question: My nanny gave birth 10 days ago for the 1st time and SHE'S A FABULOUS MOMMY. We are milking her (she's part Nubian) but are only getting about 5-8 oz at each milking (or less.) Can I put that milk in a jar in the fridge and just keep adding to it until I have a full pint or quart or whatever?

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  6. I'm thinking. I have seen some old fashioned separators. They kinda look like sun tea jars.... It could work. You would just need to really clean it out good after each use....

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