Shelf safe milk, milk that is produced using a unique combination of pasturing milk at a high temperature and then packaging it in a Tetra Pack carton, has been around since the 1960’s and widely available and used in Europe and South America yet in Canada we’re slowly coming around to the idea. Blessed with great distribution channels, Canadians have been able to maintain chilled milk from production to our tables but there hasn’t been a need to with shelf safe milk. Interesting, huh?
Do you drink milk outside your house? I know I don’t. I drink it in my cereal, use it in my cooking, and perhaps drink a nice cold glass with some cookies in the evening (that was my go-to pregnancy nighttime snack!) But once we’re out the door, the only member of the family who might have milk with her on the go is my toddler and even now at 2 that’s rare. Why is that? Well, because transporting milk and keeping it chilled is difficult. When traveling with my kids as infants, we always had a cooler in the car to keep bottles and sippy cups chilled but that’s not very useful when going to the park or amusement park.
Shelf safe milk offers an interesting solution to Canadians lack of milk intake. Consider the advantage of taking a Tetra Pack, or 4, of Milk Unleashed shelf safe milk out on the go instead of going to a vending machine for a sugary soda or juice! Listen, I’m not about to tell you to drink warm milk – that just doesn’t sit well with me even though you could conceivably do it with shelf safe milk – but I think families could make this work by chilling the sealed containers before hand or alternatively chilling it later.
When we stay in hotels I’m forever buying over-priced milk from restaurants or convenience stores for the kids, but taking a Tetra Pack from home and chilling it in the fridge once we get to our destination makes so much more sense. Once you start considering all the places you can use shelf safe milk, the advantages really add up!
Still have questions? You can check out the Milk Unleashed FAQ here which has a ton of information – they really looked at every possible question a person may have and answered them all!
i’m not sure- it seems un natural
Well, this is the first I’ve ever heard of this, but how practical. I would hate to add up how much we’ve spent in ‘milk’ while out or vacationing, not just for the children either but for ourselves, especially when hubby is prone to heartburn and finds only milk helps.
blah I like my milk COLD
Don’t think I’d try it unless I had no other options
I am not to sure if i would use this or not but would consider it thanks for sharing
I would try it. If we accept fruit juice in boxes why not milk?
I probably would not use this lol
wow not sure someone do it and let me now how it goes thanks
I definitely would pass on shelved milk, no thanks.
It sounds interesting, but you must wonder why does it not need to be refrigerated? Milk should always be refrigerated if it is indeed “real” milk. I wouldn’t trust it, plus I like my milk cold.
This is a very European concept. My husband is German and says this is the norm, while it is new to us. I visited Switzerland in the 90s and it was de rigeur on our cereal.
Would like to investigate the packaging further, but milk from a tetra pack doesn’t really appeal to me.
It does not sound appealing in the least. Will stick to my refrigerated milk
Ohh I am not sure about that but you never know until you try it
Like others, I am fond of my refrigerated milk.
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have back up.
Great article……thanks a lot for posting it. 🙂
I thought it was strange when I saw milk on the shelf in Europe (eggs, too!) but now that I have a toddler, I can see the practical benefits. It’s tough hauling milk around for my little guy and keep it cool!
While it’s a good idea for those on the road, I prefer to have my milk nice and chilled.
First time I have heard of this!
Definitely has its merits for travel! Thanks 🙂
I’ve tried it, it’s good
I thought they used to sell this years and years ago in the 1 litre tetra packs but I don’t think it caught on. I remember buying it when we were in New Zealand. We stayed at a remote area that only had a little corner store and that’s all they had in the way of milk.
interesting…we drink soya milk. I’d show this to my sisters — see what they think too!
Had this option in South America, but found the nutritional value was a lot less than milk which needs to be refrigerated. I guess it depends on your reason for wanting to drink milk.
Another one here who likes cold milk but it would be great for my babies!
I don’t know if i’d want to try it
I don’t know why but I’m quite wary of unrefrigerated milk in a tetra pack. Intellectually, I know that it’s safe but it’s just not appealing. Of course, I rarely drink milk and then only chocolate so I’m probably not the best to comment! Might be good for the emergency pantry.
I think I need a bit of convincing. To me dairy means refrigeration.
I dont think I would ever use this!!!
Not really for me.
Safe or not, good for you or bad for you, shelf safe milk is unnerving to me.
i think it’s a great idea – particularly for school lunches and field trips
Guess I would have to try it !
I drink it all the time & like the taste of it! Rice milk & almond milk also comes in shelf stable packaging.
I rarely have milk. I drink soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk. I try to avoid dairy when possible.
Yea I rarely drink milk bc of digestive issues. Even if it has to be cold:)
I don’t know if I would bother buying this. My kids drink milk at a restaurant and if we were anywhere else, water is our go to.
Ok the thought of it does weird me out a bit BUT great for 72 hour kit. How far off is the expiry date?
When I went to Colombia, there were shelf milk like that, and I found it really weird, but it’s custom there.
I thnk id rather just buy regular milk but this is interesting because I had never heard of this before!
I’m not sure what I think about this type of milk. I prefer mind cold anyways, but these would come in handy while camping or, as you said, on trips.
Hmmm seems a little odd to me. I will need some time to adapt, I think.
I would rather have my milk refrigerated
I remember trying this when I was in London over 15 years ago! It tastes just fine and is great for picnics, road trips, etc!
I have started buying shelf safe milk for my kids when we go on outings as i dislike giving them pop and juice as they are loaded with sugar!
We bought a few cartons of this during the recent floods. Our town was cut off and we didn’t have groceries delivered to the stores for almost a week! It was nice to have milk on hand for cereal.
It would be great to have for camping! It would save a lot of cooler space. I don’t think it would be something I would use all the time.
I find I’ve been cutting back on my milk. It’s starting to make me feel bad when I drink it, both my stomach and my peace of mind. I personally don’t think I would buy shelf-stable milk.
Interesting– would feel strange to have milk on the shelf though.
I’ve had it in France/Austria – it’s okay on cereal I guess – I thought it tasted quite different. But then I don’t drink milk straight anyway cuz I don’t like it. ha! Sides…we should drink it unpasteurized anyway. 😉
I lived in the Caribbean for 5 years and sometimes that was our only choice. I don’t like the taste but in a cup of tea it was ok. I’m sure they make better tasting ones now though.
I think I would find it easier to simply buy a cold chocolate milk while I’m out and about. For as often as I do that buying shelf milk just isn’t worth it.
You find it on the shelf but I don’t think I will be trying this anytime soon… may use it for coffee but that’s about it.
I have tried a couple of the shelf stable milk products and they are not quite as good as the refrigerated product but they are good to have on hand in case you run out of milk.
I would love to be able to take milk with me and not have to worry about keeping it cold when I go out for a day. I worry that the taste would not quite be the same. Plus I like really cold, cold milk.
Not sure I would try this
It sounds interesting. My kids really like cold milk though.
I always bring shelf safe milk when I travel (small sizes so it’s always handy) and I have it in the pantry for when I run out. Saved many a day!
Never tried it, but there’s nothing like a frothy cold glass of milk!
Sounds interesting, but my milk has to be cold! 🙂
Never tried this, but I really like when milk is COLD, it’s so refreshing!
imagine how many unwanted things are in them in order to make it shelf stable….
pretty sure that I wouldn’t try it. the thought is kinda nasty
I can’t wrap my mind around room temperature milk.. Yuk. I like mine ice cold. Interesting idea though
I don’t think we’d like this! We drink a lot of milk, but nice ICE COLD milk is the way we drink it!
I would prefer fresh ice cold milk!!
I’ve heard of this but never seen it in store. We rarely have milk in the house anyway, unless it’s a dairy-free alternative.
This is interesting… and informative! Didn’t realize that some Canadians were experiencing severe lack-of-sufficient-milk intake… guess those ‘Got Milk’ Commercials weren’t kidding! Good to know, and perhaps I shall keep an eye out for them, the next time I go grocery shopping… 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 🙂
This would be useful for picnics.
I’m not sure about this. How do they make it shelf stable?
I’ve tried it and don’t love it.. It does taste ‘different’.. not horrible, but it’s not what I’m used to. I like the idea of having it on hand for say, baking, but to drink.. not really for me!
This sounds very convenient.
Dorm living for a month while I am moving, so this is very good news!!
Always thought it won’t taste as fresh. Maybe I am wrong & will try again if there is any promotion.
I’ve never tried it, would be convenient for camping!
I think this would be great to have on hand in case you run out of milk. I’d tend to use in in recipes I think
I”m not one for having procedures that rob the real nutrients out of the food just to gain shelf life. Fresh is always better.
I didn’t know this product excited so a big thank you, Tenille…I will have to give this a try. I would think it would be nice to have in the pantry for those emergencies.
not really sure if I want to try this out or not – kinda of odd
I have never heard of it before! I sure would give it a go!
So used to refrigerated milk that I’m not sure I try shelf stable products.
I’ve tried this and while it was a little odd taking the milk out of the cupboard instead of the fridge, it was good.
Hmmm, I’ve never heard of this before. I’m not sure how my family would enjoy this as we are used to nice cold milk but it does sound very convenient.
It would be great to keep a few boxes in the pantry…. Lord know I’ve been caught cooking only to look in the fridge and find we’re out of milk!
I’m so used to buying refrigerated milk, I’d find it odd to buy it from the shelf. I don’t think I’d enjoy it as I agree with a lot of other posters that I like my milk COLD.
I am not really a milk drinker unless its chocolate but would maybe use this in my tea. Otherwise I don’t really think I would try it. Besides it would have to be ice cold for me to drink it.
Not sure how this would taste…
I like my milk cold and warm and on the shelf??not really turning my crank
WOW! Sounds interesting but i also love my cold milk. 😀
I use milk only in cooking – waffles – cheese sauce – but I dislike the taste of milk so never drink it
I don’t normally drink milk but this would be useful for the kids with sending cereal to school for snack time
Would be so much easier to save money with shelf milk. Buylots of it on sale and your set.