Help please! How long do I cool the milk?

[lettermom]

I have fresh milk in jars in a cooler of ice water. How long do they need to stay in there? thanks!!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Do you have a candy thermometer or other probe type thermometer?

Check after half an hour to see if it's down to about 40 degrees. Then you could transfer it to the fridge. If not, check again in another half an hour.

[DQ]

I just stick my milk in the fridge after milking. tastes great. my opinion would be that sticking a thermometer in the milk is not good sanitary practice (unless it is to monitor pasterization) and runs the risk of introducing bacteria. I don't think an ice bath is neccessary unless you are milking alot of goats and can't get the milk into the fridge immediatly after milking. the amount of time the ice bath shortens the cooling time is minimal from my experience. I started out with the milk bath and eventually realized it didn't change a thing. but I have a tendency to not want to make things any more difficult than neccessary I have too much stuff to do to babysit milk. that milk would stay good (if kept from contamination) for hours at room temp (not that I would suggest it)

this says human milk can be stored at room temp for up to 10 hours. Idon't see much reason why goat milk is any different.
http://babies.sutterhealth.org/breas...g_storing.html

[lettermom]

I don't have a thermometer right now.
Does your milk taste any different cooled faster than when you just fridge it?
Can i cool it too long?

[lettermom]

Forgot to say, THANK YOU BOTH!!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Make sure the thermometer is clean.

[DQ]

my milk doesn't taste any different either way. as for the thermometer I just don't like sticking things in my food unless I'm going to eat it right away. It likely wouldn't make a difference but why do it if its not neccessary?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Well, actually, I don't test the temp of my milk as it's cooling. I was trying to answer the question and give her a way to test her cooling process ONE TIME so that she could set her technique.

I seem to be having trouble making myself understood today.