This morning I heated milk in the microwave for 30 seconds and it just turned to a lump.
It was well within date and didn't smell. I had used the same milk on my muesli just minutes before and it tasted just fine.
We tried in a different cup and the same thing happened.
Tipped the rest of the bottle out and went to a fresh bottle which was fine.
I am curious as to why this would happen. Does anyone know?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2018 11:06AM by helen.

I buy Calci Trim and it is curdling the tea long before the Best Buy. I poured that bottle out or tried to, but it had set rock hard. I bought another bottle two weeks ago with BB date 5 April and I gave it a sniff when I opened it a few days later for the first time and it had a very strange almost chemical plastic smell. I have just now checked the 5 April full bottle still in the fridge and that too is rock hard.

I have sent an email to my local NW.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2018 08:08AM by Kone.

One this was calico trim as well. I have never had it happen before and the milk didn't smell off, it was still liquid in the bottle but as soon as I tried to heat it there was just a curdled mass.

I remembered reading something about this issue a while ago. Sounds like the same problem.

[www.stuff.co.nz]

My milk went straight from the supermarket to the fridge. The second bottle didn't come out until a couple of days later when I detected the strange smell. It wasn't an off smell. The bottle prior to that curdled my tea but still smelt fresh. I wondered if it was something to do with the plastic container as I've never had that problem when I've bought unpasteurised milk in bottles.

I have emailed Anchor to ask if they know why this would be happening. I certainly don't want anything from them but just think they need to know and am curious about why it would be happening.

Me too. They replaced mine. There was quite a bit of publicity about this a few months ago.

I have noticed that my light blue milk recently has a thick layer of hard cream at the top of the container. Only started happening for the last month or so. Still fresh too.

I have this problem when heating milk for cheese, using raw milk - when it is simply too old. I always give it the smell test first, and even though it smells fine and looks fine, as soon as I start to heat it it forms a "lump" surrounded by whey. I often push the boundaries using milk for cheese in terms of age, and just toss it out if it does this. Janet

I had exactly the same problem heating my milk too and thought it was off but nope. I didnt realise until I had had a sip of coffee - GROSS!!!!

I thought it was that my partners microwave was hotter than mine and the heat had created asomesort of chemical change.
I really curious about this too...
Vanessa

I contacted Anchor and asked what could have happened and all I got was a generic apologetic reply and to say that vouchers were in the post.
The vouchers were not in the post as I hadn't given my address as wasn't looking for replacement just answers.
I can only assume old milk even though it was still within date....

I wonder if it's the milk going into the bottle that is old to start with, if you see what I mean, so that even if the milk is within date, it doesn't last that long? I don't know enough about milk processing to know if this is possible.

I have had no response either from NW other than an automated response acknowledging my email. Consequently, I no longer buy milk unless i need it for some purpose other than my cup of tea. I have reverted to Red Bush which doesn't require milk. I will NOT buy Anchor again as too many failures.

Fwiw, I've never had this problem with Budget/Value brand milk. I feel that anchor brand milk has a slightly different (unpleasant) taste anyway, so don't ever buy it. I'm not sure who produces Budget milk, I suspect the same group that does Meadow Fresh (Goodman Fielder).

I read that the new plastic containers that have the black inner are the problem. I have had the same problem with Lacto free milk and still within its use by date. a comment was made to me recently that the milk we are getting in the supermarket is not fresh milk per se but powdered milk mixed to make it last longer. I dont know how much truth was in that statement but it was from a farming friend of ours.

Helen B.

if thats true, its appalling.

Yes, I understood that most milk in NZ was reconstituted dried milk. It is supposed to ensure consistency etc. But if that powder is old, then it wouldn't last as long once reconstituted, I think?

How milk is made - anchor
[www.anchordairy.com]

I’m so grateful to have ready access to Jersey Girl milk. It is pasteurised but otherwise not interfered with at all, organic A2 Jersey milk that makes beautiful kefir and yoghurt.

It is sold at some Waikato farmers’ markets and at some specialist food shops in Auckland.

I just stumbled on this bit of information on this topic...

(https://www.thespruceeats.com/why-does-milk-curdle-1328434)

Milk and Coffee or Tea
On occasion, cold milk added to coffee or tea will curdle. This can be alarming as curdled milk is often seen as the same as spoiled milk. In this case, it can be half true. Coffee and tea are both slightly acidic, although usually not enough to curdle fresh milk. When milk is just on the brink of spoilage and bacteria have produced some, but not enough acid to curdle the cold milk, a little bit of extra acid from the coffee or tea, along with their heat can tip the scale and cause the milk to curdle. The milk may not be spoiled enough to cause an off odor or flavor, but just enough acid and heat in addition to its own can cause curdling.

I think this is what was happening to me!

Vanessa

Vanessa, that is extremely interesting. I have poured milk on my cereal in the morning and it has tasted fine (I always instinctively smell before pouring), but then say 30 mins to an hour later I make a coffee for George, and it curdles. Touche - now I know why thank you!

I was actually looking for information about adding lemon juice/zest to a seafood chowder made with low fat milk to see if it would curdle, got side tracked and found this and remembered this post!

I never added the lemon to my chowder but - would it have curdled????

Vanessa