Turn milk powder into liquid milk, and back
Milk powder keeps for months without a fridge, which is why it is used in kitchens, camping, tea shops and anywhere fresh milk is hard to get. The question is always the same: how many grams of powder for a litre of milk? This milk powder to milk conversion calculator answers it for whole and skimmed powder, for any amount, and also works out the powder, water and sugar for homemade evaporated and sweetened condensed milk.
Choose what you want to make, the type of powder and the amount, and the page gives grams of powder and millilitres of water, with the strength as a percentage and a ratio. The powder percentage is editable because packs differ. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
How to use the Milk Powder ↔ Liquid Milk Converter
- Choose liquid milk, evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk.
- Choose whole or skimmed powder; the usual strength is filled in.
- Enter the amount you want in ml, litres, cups or fl oz.
- Weigh the powder, stir it into warm water until smooth, and chill. If the pack gives a ratio, enter its percentage.
Milk Powder ↔ Liquid Milk Converter features
Whole and skimmed
Whole milk powder defaults to 12.5% by weight, skimmed to 10%, both editable.
Three products
Drinking milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk from powder.
Weight-based
Grams, not scoops, because instant and regular powders pack differently.
Fat shown
The milk-fat percentage of the result, compared with the commercial minimum for the concentrates.
Any unit
ml, litres, US cups or US fl oz.
Where the ratios come from
The US Dairy Export Council’s Reference Manual for U.S. Milk Powders describes reconstituting non-fat dry milk at about one part powder to nine parts water and whole milk powder at about one part to seven, by weight. That is 10% and 12.5% powder, and it gives drinks with about the solids of fresh milk. A litre of milk weighs about 1,030 g, so whole powder comes to roughly 129 g per litre and skimmed to about 103 g, which fits the 120–130 g that many cooks quote for whole milk powder.
Evaporated and sweetened condensed milk are defined by their composition. In the United States, evaporated milk must contain at least 7.5% milk fat and 25.5% total milk solids, and sweetened condensed milk at least 8.5% fat and 28% milk solids (21 CFR 131.130 and 131.120); sugar in the can is usually 40–45%. In India the composition of milk powders and concentrated milks is set by FSSAI regulations, so check the current text if you need exact figures for sale. The page treats the powder as 96% solids.
Making it smooth
- Weigh the powder. A scoop of instant powder weighs far less than a scoop of regular powder.
- Start with warm water, about 40 °C (104 °F), and add the powder slowly while whisking, then top up with cold water.
- Rest it in the fridge for an hour. Bubbles settle and the flavour improves.
- Use it quickly. Treat reconstituted milk like fresh milk and keep it cold for a day or two.
Limits
These are approximate. Brands differ in moisture and in how they dissolve, and skimmed powder lacks the fat of whole milk, so the result tastes thinner and homemade concentrates are not identical to a can. Never use plain milk powder in place of infant formula, which is made to a strict recipe. For other swaps see the ingredient substitution finder, and to scale a whole recipe the recipe scaler.
Milk Powder ↔ Liquid Milk Converter FAQ
How much milk powder for 1 litre of milk?
About 125–130 g of whole milk powder or about 100 g of skimmed milk powder in enough water to make 1 litre. Check the pack, because the instructions on it take priority.
What is the milk powder to water ratio?
By weight, roughly 1 part skimmed powder to 9 parts water and 1 part whole milk powder to 7 parts water. The calculator shows the ratio for your percentage.
How do I make evaporated milk from milk powder?
Choose Evaporated milk above. About 27 g of powder per 100 g of finished milk, with the rest water, gives a similar solids level to the can. It will be a little lower in fat than the commercial product.
Can I make condensed milk from milk powder?
Yes. Roughly 29 g of powder, 44 g of sugar and 27 g of water per 100 g, dissolved warm and cooled, gives a similar sweetness. It is thinner than the can and should be kept in the fridge.
Does skimmed milk powder make milk like skimmed milk?
Yes, at about 10% powder. For milk that tastes like whole milk, use whole milk powder; skimmed powder with a little added fat, such as cream, is a workaround.
Can I give reconstituted milk to a baby?
No. Infants need infant formula made exactly as its label directs. Ordinary milk powder, or cow’s milk, is not a substitute for a baby under one year old.