How to Dehydrate Whole Milk 

PLEASE NOTE: Two things I failed to mention in the video: 1) YES, I DID premeasure with water to find out exactly how much each tray would hold but the problem of pouring in the trays, especially the last top two is the same. When pouring even the correct measurement, you have to do so VERY slowly to prevent the movement of the liquid from splashing out the sides. 2) YES, despite how it may appear in the video, I DID place only one tray in at a time starting at the bottom, fill it, then put in the next tray, the main problem is when you get to the top two trays with very little space to work with.

Wooow this is the FIRST TIME IN 51 YEARS that ive heard about something like "Vacuum seal" 🤔😱. We do not have stuff like that here in Africa, sounds like an AMAZING HELP FULL PRODUCT ❤️👌

For the cabinet style it would work well to pull all of the trays out but the bottom one. Fill the bottom one and slide the next tray in and fill it. Work your way up until you get too close to the top and can no longer pour directly into the tray, and then use the turkey baster to fill the last one or two top trays.

Thank you for giving us all the details. It is not difficult to dehydrate milk, but there are details to take into account. Have a good evening. 😊😉😉😊

Thank you Heidi! I'm not remembering if it's been mentioned before but checking for level on your counter or table is helpful as a first step. H.K. lesson #1.😄 During the summer, I run the dehydrator in the garage and found out the work table isn't level.🙃 Love and blessings!💜

I just dehydrated eggs on my Bright Kitchen mats, which I learned about on your other videos. I love them. Thanks! Today I'll be canning pumpkin, and I may just have the dehydrator going at the same time. Thanks for this very informative video - I have learned so much from you - and I've been a gardener/home canner for 40+ years. Taking our food supply to the next level is very important in these times.

Just got a new Nesco today (bought it secondhand) cannot wait to try it out. Thank you for all of the helpful information

I've been waiting for a video like this! Can't wait to see this!!!

The 6 pack of brown silicone trays are deeper, the lip is taller than the green ones. I have both of them so I have compared the two.

I got my Cosori dehydrator a couple of years ago and love it! I got the silicone trays at the same time. They're so much better!! I haven't done milk but have done a lot of other things.

Heidi, you are my go to for all i want,just received my nesco dehydrator silicone, my nesco is at least 20 yrs old,cant wait to try them out,eggs,bone broth,ground venison,. Thank you so very much for sharing you knowledge 💯❤

Love your idea on putting liquids in a tray. Genius!!!

Good morning Heidi. Thanks for sharing your tips on how to dehydrate whole milk - defiinitely a budget saving tip!

thank you! love your handy, helpful hints for processing from start to finish .. fails n successes included

Thanks for sharing this! My hubby gave me a Cosori dehydrator for Christmas and I can get rwa milk reasonably priced not too ar from me. I have a round stackable dehydrator also. Just have to get some silicone trays for it.

Thanks Heidi, this is great! I did not realize that I could dehydrate milk. 🙃

Heidi thank you for sharing this video. I'm going to try it I've always been hesitant but I think I'm going to try it

Thanks Heidi! I'm very fortunate in that I can get farm direct milk (not organic, but I know the people and they eat VERY cleanly, possibly beyond what organic standards require) for less than store bought organic IF they are allowed to skim the cream (which still leaves some cream, because I can see it on top). If I want whole it does cost quite a lot more than the store, but I personally prefer the farm-skimmed milk (which is more like a 2%, or slightly higher, store milk).

So generous with your knowledge, thank you!

Thank you. You always deliver a wealth of information.

I bought both the Bright Kitchen and the brown off brand silicone 6 pack so I can use all 9 shelves if need be. While canning grape jelly, I put some in the dehydrator to make fruit leather and I must say that the brown liners were easier to clean after dehydrating something so sticky! So glad you recommended those!

I love your work. I love you. I was thinking and practising so many years. today i got the brst dolution thank you dear.

Appreciate you sister, much love. Thanks for this sensible guidance 🌻

Great video one of your bests staying on 1 topic helps tremendously! Thank you 🙏

Love this Heidi!! Thank you for sharing.. -Crystal😊

🌞Good morning Heidi thanks for sharing this video with us.

Thank you so much. You read my about the almond milk. ❤️🙏

Many years ago I was asked by a friend to take care of their 1 milking cow while they were on vacation for 2 weeks. I had so much milk, I didn't know what to do with it all! I mean, what family of 5 can consume 5 gallons or more of milk per day? I didn't have a dehydrator at the time; drying it and storing would have been a great option. We froze it and made ice cream, yogurt and butter, gave a lot away and fed some to the chickens and turkeys we kept. The experience made me keenly aware of why self sufficient people would want a milking cow or other dairy animals. I really enjoy your channel. I am older, retired and single now so I don't do much food preservation anymore but I have the equipment. I guess I am reliving the good old days and enjoying the "ah-ha" moments. I used to make and store a basic baking powder leavened whole wheat pancake, bread and cookie dry mix which I would add milk and eggs to. It would be great to incorporate dried milk and eggs into the mix. It would be a 'just add water' thing. best wishes all

So glad to see this! Our cow is giving more milk than we can use at once.

Thank you, Heidi! another great video.

Good morning! We have a surveyor coming out so we can run cattle fence for a couple of cows. We haven’t decided yet if we’ll go beef or dairy, but I bought some cream to dehydrate so we have an idea of how it will taste. I’ll start those today. Now to find my turkey baster. 😊

happy 2023 to you and yours sista x

I’m happy this popped in my feeds! I am thinking of wanting to try his with my breast milk since I’m going on vacation soon and the waiting for the freeze drying is a long wait and extremely expensive

great video love watching videos. goats milk and coconut milk does dehydrate on a low setting for alternatives. Not tried plant milk but that is next on the list to try.

I have a Cosori dehydrator with stainless steel shelves and I love it. It was a lot less expensive then the others. Mine looks just like yours lol 😊

I want to try this. Thank you.

Awesome knowledge…thanks for sharing!

"God is good all the time." Subscribed 🙌

Ty for this. I make my own biscuit mix, pancake mix and cocoa mix and those all take powdered milk. This will be much cheaper for me if I find milk on sale. Plus I prefer whole milk instead of skim milk (yuck). I will be excited to break out my Nesco again. 👍🏻My favorite things to dehydrate are eggs, apple slices, zucchini, jerky and lots of other things. I won’t be getting a freeze dryer anytime soon either (or ever lol).

This was so much great info. Thankyou so much...

Thanks for this video! I have an excess of milk from friends right now.

A friend of ours freezes the milk on the trays and then they dehydrate them to prevent spills in the dehydrator. So funny you did this video right now it’s not the first time that you have read my mind LOL.

Good video and tips , thanks for sharing , God bless !

Thank you for sharing!

Your so knowledgeable!!!❤❤❤ California here. 🙏🏻🕊😇🧂🇺🇸

You are the best for information

God is good, all the time.... Good morning sister ❤️

Hi, I haven’t used my new dehydrator yet because of lack of confidence but have been getting braver watching your videos and learning so much from you. You probably already did this and I missed it but I would test how much liquid a tray holds using a measuring cup and filling one tray on the counter, then when filling while in the machine only the correct amount would be used to avoid overfilling. Unless the trays aren’t level of course. Take care and look forward to seeing your next video.

This is great information!!

Thanks Heidi!!

I have an oven.. a large rectangle baking tray and 1 silicone sheet… might give this a try 😅

I bought one of those cheap vacuum sealer , but i couldn't get it to work with their pump so i hooked up to my seal a meal vaccum sealer it worked much better

thank you for this!

I'm so glad you popped up on my feed! I have an Excalibur and enjoy using it, too. There's lemon rinds in there right now, in fact. But I've veen wanting to dry Jerky, eggs and milk. A freeze dryer is not affordable, nor do I think we have much time left. Do you have a 'how to' video on eggs and jerky too?

Wonderful!! Thank you!

Thanks Heidi 😊

Ty. Great video!

Dehydrating my half n half for coffee would be awesome! Hard to keep fresh at off grid property in the hot summer!

I love your videos, I have been canning and drying products for several years, but am learning how to dry so much more from your videos. I saw where you hade sealed nuts in jars, cand they be vacuum sealed in seal a meal bags and kept in refrigerator? Also how do I fix store bought shredded coconut for long term storage. Thank you so much.

Thank you.😊

I still haven't done eggs or milk...but I love dehydrating shredded cheeses 🧀❤🙏

❤thank you Heidi

Great, thank you.

Good morning Heidi.Do you do jerky with salmon? I love your wisdom and so grateful you take time to share.Have a great day 😊❤

Heidi, I have had a lot of fun dehydrating yogurt with nuts and fruits to make snacks but as I was watching this wondered if it would be possible or even beneficial to just dehydrate straight whey from either strained yogurt or cheese-making? A powdered scoop of whey to add to a wide range of things from baking to smoothies to ferment starters or even pet food toppers could be a great benefit. Have you ever tried just drying the whey?

Heidi tyvm for a great video as always! U look gorgeous in blue! Sorry I had not given u an update in such a long time. I have been going through a lot. I had to move because the people that owned my town home wanted to sell so I had to get out. I found a new place thank the Lord! Also I have some issues with my family we need unspoken prayers please. Here's the praise report! I went to the doc and he said that I would probably have no change or it could b worse and I said well it could b better and he said no it doesn't work that way. So I told the Lord the ball was in his court now and he waited about a year of no treatments before he shrunk the tumor so that they had to admit that it was a miracle! I still have to go for CT scans every 6 months but it's better then every 3 months. Please pray that I don't have to have any more scans because they have the dye that goes into your system ugh. Tyvm for all of your prayers! God bless u all! I love an appreciate u and your precious family!

This is great! I can't wait to dehydrate some milk soon. Does it work with milk that has been in the freezer? Have a great New Year.

Haven’t read all the comments but will add that you could measure the volume of the cosori trays and then add just short of that amount of the milk while the trays are in place. You would need to know that your dehydrator is exactly level to start.

great ideas

Okayyy! I am so excited. I have a UNESCO round dehydrator. I'm ordering the silicone trays today. I would love to get an 8 pack but I'm so excited, I haven t even gone to Amazon yet! I think so many things do better at 115°. The turkey boaster is a great idea! So much easier. Since mine are round, perhaps it will be easier. I wish I could get an Excalibur but I just can't right now. I'm really concentrating on food right now. I have several sets of those off grid sealers. I noticed you said Buttermilk...another dairy I really want to powder. I know that cheap low fat milk and even whole milk, which I have 10 pounds of but I don't çare about that as much as my raw, organic milk. So the buttermilk also appeals to me for a special batch of biscuits etc Also when you dehydrate meat, is that for jerky only or can you dehydrate it for strips of meat in stir frays etc? Do you think bacon can be dehydrated in small pieces, perhaps dehydrate it, then put it in a cast iron skillet and crisp it up? These are probably stupid questions but I've already done all your vegetable dehydrating and still making powders! So happy and grateful for all I have learned from you. Also, I thought I heard you mention raw eggs. I've done some eggs. Success there too. The only difference is in some of my veges, I put an oxygen absorber in the jar and they are sealed and I cleaned the tops. Should I take the the absorbers off and vacuum seal it? Example; mixed veges? I need to spend day on the couch today for medical issues, so I need to refresh myself on your playlist! When I did my eggs, I used the 2 solid trays that came with NESCO and honestly it was time consuming and so messy, I got discouraged and then got 3 cans of Nutrient Survival egg powder. I would much rather use the organic, free range eggs I buy. Personally, I think many people are underestimating the shortage, expense and quality of dairy (descent dairy, clean dairy) I am also very interested in water bathing some eggs for special occasions of baking, Sunday brunch etc. I know Im very late but still looking for a farmer who lets his lay all winter. I'm also not sure about the "lime" so praying for a wise worker at Home Depot! Lol. I thought I emailed you last week but I'm going to check. Great video Heidi. So sorry for all the questions and confusion but my mind has been obsessed on dairy. Thank you again! 💙⭐💙⭐💙🙏🙏😇

Please make a video about making powder from caramelized sugar.

Hi I missed what temp. I should put the dehydrator on? I am sure u said. I love your channel. Your subscriber.

The problem with the trays being level was solved inadvertently by watching a video on how to make powdered milk on the stove. The lady boiled it down to a paste and then dried it on trays under a fan (not in a dehydrator). It spread like a paste onto the trays. If you boil the milk down to its thickened state, before it gets to a paste, you can not only bypass the liquid spilling problem but save time in the dehydrator.

Thanks for the vid

Great idea, using the Turkey baister.👍 Wondering if you could fill the shelves, by completely removing them, fill the bottom one first, then work your way up, you could get nearer to the back that way, then if it's difficult to fill the top one, just put a tray of Veggies in instead. TFS RC, take care, keep busy, & Happy new Year everyone. ❤🙂🐶

Great I was wondering if this would work 🤔 how long should it last ...

Hi Heidi! Thanks for this video. I just wonder if the fresh milk dehydrated tastes better than the purchased powdered milk?

First of all; THANK YOU for addressing these things without saying I need a freeze dryer! Can't afford one, and don't think I would get one if I could. Now. I have the same Cosori Dehydrator you have. I was wondering. Would it work to take all of the trays out. Put one tray in the bottom, then fill the silicone mat while it's still in the dehydrator. At most, maybe pull it out a smidge. Then add the next tray up and so on. Once you got near the top, it might get a bit hairy, but I'd say three or 4 trays would do well, and by that time you have a good idea of how much is filling each tray.

Great info :) What about measuring how much milk a tray will reasonably take and then be able to have the trays in situ (for the cabinet dehydrator) and slowly pour that exact amount. If slowly and carefully, no spillage. Do you think yoghurt would work? I have a stackable Ezi-Dry 1000. It takes up to 30 trays, I currently have 23 but takes less than half the time of the old one. 4-6 hours to do all of them filled with apples or similar fruits. A few hours to do a bucket of fresh picked herbs. Here's hoping you and Patrick had a wonderful Christmas with your family and Grandies. Hoping you all have a very special and blessed New Year in '23 and the state of this crazy world improves and finds peace :) ♡ from Australia

I've got 10# of ground beef to dehydrate and after that I'll be dehydrating milk.... Oh and we're going to try doing the organic juice for flavoring water and see how it goes... Wish us luck ☺️🙏 Kendra PS Mrs Heidi have you ever dehydrated beef chunks and if so how did they turn out.... I'm thinking about it for using in beef stew 🤔🤔🤔

My question is the vacuum process. When I vacuum seal my jars over time the lids unseal themselves. I did notice some of your jars had the ring on them. Should I be doing this and adding the rings to help hold the seal? Thanks for all the work you do.

Outstanding Tutorial

Interesting!

Great video, Heidi! Thank you! Do you know if whole milk egg nog can be dehydrated? I have a half gallon that will be going bad soon, if I don't do something with it. I know I can freeze it, but we don't have any freezer space, at the moment.

I have an Excalibur and it doesn't have solid shelves unfortunately. I am loathe to use plastic substances with heat like shelf liners because silicon and plastics leach into food when heated I do want to dehydrate half n half and whole milk. Like most people I cannot afford a freeze dryer

Hi. I love how much I learn from your videos. Would it be possible to dehydrate raw cream?

Have you done buttermilk. that would be interesting. Thanks for tips . Appreciate. When you vacuum seal your sausage and hamb. they are dehydrated then vacuum sealed?

I'm thinking that I would reduce the time to dehydrate for milk, by heating and evaporating some of the liquid before I place the milk in the dehydrator; may be able to dehydrator more at one time as well

Do you recommend getting the Cosori with the mesh sheets? Still seems like a good idea for doing foods that will end up being smaller when dry. Happy to see it is not too expensive. Can your solar power setup handle these electric dehydrators? I am planning my homestead for off-grid and have been wondering if I'll even be able to use the Nesco I already have. Thanks for all your wonderful informative videos, Heidi!

You are awesome

Thank you for explaining. I don't think this will work too well with my goats. When I tried drying the milk in the past, it turned out really greasy. I couldn't figure out why! I guess her milk has too much butter fat.

I love my silicone mats ! I do Not want a freeze dryer either! There is no need for it. The cost is too high and my dehydrators work just fine!

Just a Small Tip if your meat is juicy and you want the fat Freeze whatever 1st then vacuum seal once frozen

Heidi, what is the shelf life of the milk? How long will it last stored and sealed?

Heidi, do you still recommend putting a little oil on the green matt before the pouring of the milk? Does it stick to the green matt? I tired it from your other video and I used organic coconut oil. So since you didnt mention can I not use the oil?

Thank you this is great info. Would 1/2&1/2 work? Or would it be too much fat?

Love this info! Thank you! But why is it so important to keep an eye on it every hour, it can't over-dry, can it?

Do you put oxygen absorbers in the milk or the beef? Thank you for all the learning videos. I'm very new at all this and trying to learn as much as I can. powdered milk and eggs are thing to have stored away for sure.

I notice in some of the clips you inserted that after vacuum sealing, you put the rings back on, tight. Is that what you do with your dehydrated dairy products as well, or do you remove the rings like we've been shown for pressure canned products?

I fill one tray before I put in the next tray. That way the only tray that might spill is the last one on the top because I have to pull it out a bit.