separating cream from milk

[keezawitch]

I would like to seperate the cream from my fresh goatmilk. I have a few questions hopefully you guys can answer. First if i scald the milk will it seperate easier, does anyone know where I can get a spigot jar, not too pricey, here in aus. What is the easiest way to seperate if I dont have a seperator or a spigot jar.

thanks Kerry

[minnie]

I don't know if goat milk separates the same as cow's and I've only done cows but...

If you leave it in a wide bowl overnight, the cream rises to the top and you can scoop it out with a spoon, not a ladle. The idea is to skim along the top for the cream. If you used a glass/pyrex bowl you'd see where it ends.

This way you do get a little milk and the cream although rich can be runny, a bit like normal cream. We found with the separator you only get cream and most of it and it was the consistency of cream cheese when left in the fridge overnight after separation.

Scalding in all cases of separating won't work, it needs to cool and sit or using a separator needs to be (in the case of cows milk) 28-30 degrees, lower it won't separate, higher it's just froth city. I posted here a long time back a link to an old book on dairy and goats may have been in that, do a search of our posts and you should find it. If not I must have it somewhere, I'm just flat chat at the moment with work.


Vicki

[keezawitch]

thanks minnie, I have found the goat milk does separate and the longer you leave it in fridge the better separation, just impossible to scoop off in bottle, I have scalded some milk about 3-4 litres and i have put it in a lrge wide mouthed jar and refridgerated it, milk fridge is set at very cold, I think i will leave it a few days and see if i can scoop it off. I would love to get a seperator as i want to try and make cream cheese but getting enough cream is a problem. My dad recons I should put an add in country paper, maybe the land, saying i am looking for a cheap one. Wish i could get some farm clearance sales.


Kerry

[minnie]

Hi Kerry,

I got mine on ebay an old one but works perfectly. They have new plastic ones made in India but personally I'm not sure about them, give me an old one any day. Here's a photo of ours and how we separate with it http://seco.com.au/cream_separating.php

There's a lot of science behind the heat etc. We got 4 degree milk from the dairy, and got NO cream at all, then we thought we'd get it straight from the cow at the dairy (via a hose that goes into the vat) and got froth. The we found the old manual and heated it to 28 degrees and got the cream.

It's a brilliant old manual, I've got it (downloaded the PDF) but can't remember the URL so I'll email you the PDF.

Vicki

[dggoatlover]

Goats milk won't cream up like cows milk as the fat globules are dispersed differently through the milk. If you leave milk set in the fridge a small amount will rise to the top and you can skim it with a spoon - would take a few days to get a decent amount though. The amount you get will also greatly depend on the breed of goat you have, butterfat content etc.

A separator is the best thing for goat milk. I have an old separator that I was lucky to purchase for quite cheap off an old gent who advertised in our local handy trader. I know several breeders who have purchased the plastic one off ebay and they have all have great reports for how well they work - just need good arm muscles! Goat milk needs to be fresh or heated up to approx 30C to separate.

[keezawitch]

thanks dg, I am going to save up for a seperator, in the mean time my dad had an idea, I have heated the milk up, popped it into a wide mouthed jar and it has been sitting in very cold fridge for a few days soooo his idea is to carefully run a hose, the type off a fish tank, into the bottom of jar and siphone off the milk leaving the cream behind, I am going to give it a go hopefully tomorrow. My nanny is a saanan, I seem to get about 2inches of cream in a widemouth 1Litre bottle, and it is really thick thats why i thought would give it a go

kerry

[dggoatlover]

Great idea! Can't wait to hear about all the yummy things you make with it

[BJTJ]

I have been milking a couple of our sheep and making soap and have now made ricotta from the milk. I would love to get the cream off the milk so would appreciate any information on how to do it with sheep milk.
Bel

[keezawitch]

Great idea! Can't wait to hear about all the yummy things you make with it

Hi, I didnt get a lot of cream about 1 cup from 6 litres, because I only have gerty and she doesnt produce a lot about 2lt a day it took me quite a while to get that, the idea worked well needs a few refinements, I ended up whipping it with sugar and vanilla and indulging myself, yummy off a spoon I had hoped to make cream cheese oh well one day when i am rolling goats i will give it another go.

keeza

[keezawitch]

I have been milking a couple of our sheep and making soap and have now made ricotta from the milk. I would love to get the cream off the milk so would appreciate any information on how to do it with sheep milk.
Bel

I really dont know a lot about sheep milk but i quess it would work the same as for goatmilk, good luck and let us know how it goes.

keeza