When you head out on a camping trip, milk is one item that may be forgotten or overlooked. This article will talk about how to pack milk when going camping and why you and your children may not want to miss consuming milk for those 2 – 7 days you may be out camping!
Milk is a dairy product that is readily available to us from the supermarket and grocery stores. It is an important food for children; it can be beneficial for some adults as well. It provides calcium, vitamin D, protein, potassium, phosphorus and riboflavin – which are all essential nutrients for maintaining good health.
Milk can also help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women because it contains calcium, which helps build strong bones. The average person needs between 1/2 cup to 3 cups of milk each day to maintain proper nutrition levels.
“How do I pack milk when going camping?” is a question often asked by milk lovers. You will find ideas about the kinds of milk you can take with you, as well as how to pack it for the trip without it going bad, or it spilling over and making a mess in the trunk of your car.
We Use Milk For Various Reasons While Camping
We can use milk for various reasons while camping. If you have babies and young children going with you to camp then milk must be packed along. They love taking milk as a meal, as a side to a meal or even as a snack and it also has a lot of health benefits for them. It will help make sure the young kids are not hungry.
Milk is not just for babies, adults too can have a glass of milk here and there while camping. It has so many health benefits and taking it frequently can give you the nutrients your body needs.
Milk can also be used when making hot tea or hot chocolate or white coffee. It can get cold while out camping and a hot cup of tea or chocolate or coffee can help keep you warm. With milk available, you can make it any time you start to feel a bit chilly or when it’s breakfast or even in the late evening.
Milk is also used to cook some dishes like say, macaroni and cheese, cakes, pancakes, some chicken dishes, creamy soups and many others. So having milk available at camp can help you whip up some amazing dishes.
Milk Is Sold In Different Forms
Milk is sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and local stores. It comes in different forms when packaged. Condensed milk is also very good as it is in the form of syrup. This means that you only need to add water to it in order to make it into milk, which is great when you’re camping and don’t have a lot of space in your bag.
Another is long-life milk that is treated by ultra-high temperatures (i.e. the name UHT milk) to kill all enzymes that cause milk to go bad then it is cooled and packaged in an airtight sterilized container.
The last form is powdered milk. Powdered milk is the most lightweight option of all three forms of milk, and the most easily portable.
These forms of milk like condensed milk, powdered milk, or long-life milk, don’t need to be refrigerated until they are opened. This means that you can take them with you on your camping trip without having to worry about milk going bad. However, it is important to make sure that the milk container is tightly closed and has no leaks so that the milk doesn’t spoil or create a mess in your bag.
Different Types Of Milk That Are Sold
Other than cow milk, you can buy soy milk, oat milk and almond milk. Each of these types of milk has its own unique benefits that are worth taking advantage of while camping. Cow milk contains a high level of nutrients like protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium and potassium.
Soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk are great alternatives for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. Soy milk is a plant-based non-dairy drink that can be used to substitute milk for those with dairy allergies. It is generally very high in protein compared to the other types of milk as it is purely made from soybeans as its main ingredient.
You can use substitute Oat milk for cow milk on your camping trip. As the name suggests, it is made from oats, is very nutritious, is vegan friendly, and good for people who may be lactose intolerant.
Almond milk can be used by those that are allergic to dairy products but also allergic to soy. It is rich in Vitamin E which helps fight diseases like heart disease, cancer, etc.
Here Are Some Tips And Tricks On How To Pack Milk
Milk can last for several days if it’s packed properly, so you don’t need to worry about milk spoilage while on the go. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you to successfully pack milk when going camping:
1. Bring Milk In A Durable Container With A Proper Lid
Make sure the milk container is good and solid and not too fragile to pop open easily or break and spill milk. The milk has to be kept as airtight as possible for it to last. Make sure the container has a proper lid that is airtight and holds firmly. If the lid is loose even a little bit the milk will spill all over.
2. Keep The Milk Cold By Using A Cooler
There are different types of coolers: plastic cooler, styrofoam cooler, metal cooler, fabric coolers and electric coolers. Plastic coolers are the most common as they are lightweight and they can carry large amounts of food. They are also easily portable and most come with several compartments for you to store different kinds of foods separately.
Styrofoam coolers are made with styrofoam. They are not as durable but they can get the job done. They can only be used a few times or for one time jobs. They are quite light so they are easy to carry around.
Metal coolers are the most durable, though they are very heavy. It is not easy to carry them around easily so you have to secure them at one position and use it from there.
Soft coolers are also very versatile but they usually come in smaller sizes. They are not for carrying large amounts of food and they can easily be carried around.
Electric coolers can be plugged into your car. They are just like a mini version of a fridge. They are not so convenient when going all outdoors where you cannot access anywhere to plug it. Keep your electric cooler well-aerated as it can easily overheat and get spoiled; just like a fridge, it needs proper air circulation in order to function properly.
Also, make sure to place the cooler in between the other items and you can even place other cold items on top of it so it stays cool. Make sure the cooler is well insulated and it has a tight-fitting lid.
3. Place The Milk In The Back Of The Car Or Trunk Where The Temperatures Stay Cool
The temperatures there tend to be lower even when the temperature outside increases therefore you are assured that the milk will stay cooled down and it won’t get spoiled easily.
4. You Can Pack Other Items Around The Milk Carton To Help Keep It Cold
Also, make sure to pack the milk carton sideways so it does not get squished with the other items around it. Also do not pile other items on top of the carton that may squish it and spill the milk.
5. Using Ice Packs Or Frozen Water Bottles
You can place the milk together with the ice packs and/or frozen water bottles together so they can help keep the milk temperature low.
6. Making A Natural Cooling Compartment
You can dig a hole in the ground where it is cool like under or next to a big rock or under a big shady tree. Get a bigger container preferably a metal container with an airtight lid place it in the hole and then place the milk inside the container and close the container tightly. You can fill up the top with the soil that you dig up or with sand. You can also pour some water around the hole to make sure it remains cool.
7. Make Sure To Carry The Milk In Several Small Containers
This is so that when you open one you can use it completely without having to take it back to cool. With all the forms of milk, they can easily stay fresh until you open them and storing it while open may not guarantee that it will not get spoiled. It is better to just make sure once you open a pack, you use it to completion. This will also prevent spillages that may affect the other unopened packets of milk.
What If My Milk Still Gets Spoiled?
You may be wondering, what if my milk still gets spoiled? Well, all is not lost, there are still lots of ways you can use spoiled milk. You can add a little vinegar or lemon juice to it and make buttermilk. You can use the buttermilk to bake or make pancakes out in the camp for breakfast or for a snack.
You can use the milk as a marinade. Milk really goes well with meats and chicken when used to marinate it. It makes meats and chicken tender, flavourful, and juicy especially when you are going to cook them over the fire by roasting or grilling, which are the common ways to prepare meats out at camp.
The other way is by carrying it back home to pour on your garden. Milk is very high in calcium which is very good for plants. You can pour the milk on the soil in your garden and this will help your plants get more nutrients and grow well.
Now You’re Ready To Take Milk On Your Next Camping Trip!
As we have discussed, milk is quite essential and convenient when going camping for both adults and children. Not only is it nutritious, and versatile but it is also yummy. Milk comes in different forms and types and this determines how we can carry it and how we can store it while out camping. You can use the tips above to help you decide which type and form of milk you want to take on your next camping trip. Happy Camping!
