The dimple in a milk jug isn't just for looks; it's a clever engineering feature that provides pressure relief for temperature changes, adds structural strength, helps control filling levels, and saves on plastic, acting as a flexible buffer against expansion and contraction, preventing bursting if dropped, and managing volume consistency for consumers.
It's for expansion. Milk can expand or contract do to temperature changes. It also adds strength to the container. Keeps it from breaking if dropped instead of blowing apart the dent will pop outwards. It also helps with molding and filling in the manufacturing process.
The circular indentation, or dimple, on a milk jug serves multiple purposes, primarily related to structural integrity, volume changes, and material usage. It strengthens the jug, allowing for thinner walls and less plastic, while also accommodating expansion from freezing or spoilage.
If the dent on your milk jug is bulging out — don't drink it!
That humble dent guards against food poisoning as the milk goes from dairy producer to refrigerator. “Maintaining the container's integrity prevents breakages or leaks that could occur in the shipping process, both of which may compromise a product's freshness,” Herrick says.
If milk smells sour or off, don't risk drinking or cooking with it. Taste — If milk smells and looks fine, but you're still unsure it's safe to drink, you can try tasting a small amount. If the milk tastes sour or just not right, spit it out and pour the rest of the carton down the drain.
According to The Dairy Alliance, an organization that promotes dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry, the indent, also called a mould, isn't just a stylistic decision. It helps control the amount of milk filled into the jug, and strengthens the container enough to hold the milk inside.
Glass bottles preserve flavours much longer than other types of packaging, especially plastic. In addition to smell and flavour, glass preserves the vitamins and minerals that are found in food products like cows milk.
Never use food from containers showing possible botulism warnings — leaking, bulging, or badly dented cans; canned food with a foul odor; milky liquids surrounding the vegetables that should be clear; or any container that spurts liquid when you open it. Don't even taste the food!
If you smell a sour, rancid scent when you open up the jug, it's a sure sign that it's past its prime. That's true even if it's still within its “best by” date. Even if you didn't use the "smell test," you'd know immediately from its sour, off-putting taste (and possibly chunky texture) that your milk went bad.
The main advantages of a milk carton is that it is very light. In fact, it only weighs one ounce more than a plastic milk jug. They also are made from paper, which is a renewable resource. However, the milk carton also has environmental consequences.
For efficiency, baristas will often steam enough milk for two drinks or sometimes even three. The problem is when you pour, the first thing that come out of the milk jug is foam. So to make sure each drink has the same level of foam, you split half the milk into another jug and this splits the foam.
As long as the milk smells like fresh milk, it's good! The cream (fat) will solidify & break into pieces in cold temperature after a few days. If this does not look appealing, you can skim off the cream & use in hot coffee or soup!
Using less water results in thicker milk, which may seem grittier. Adding a little more water can help create a smoother consistency.
Early signs of foodborne botulism are sudden weakness, fatigue, and dizziness (vertigo), often followed by blurred vision, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and trouble speaking, as the paralysis descends from the head downwards, affecting the eyes, face, and throat muscles first, with no fever. Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, or constipation might also occur early on, and prompt medical care is crucial as it progresses to respiratory failure.
In addition, if you have any dented cans, even if you think it's only a small dent, discard them as well. Dents can hide little holes in the cans, which allow Clostridium botulinum and other bacteria to thrive.
The typical source of foodborne botulism is homemade food that is improperly canned or preserved. These foods are typically fruits, vegetables, and fish. Other foods, such as spicy peppers (chiles), foil-wrapped baked potatoes and oil infused with garlic, may also be sources of botulism.
Unfortunately, the convenience and cost factor also meant that glass milk bottles were soon replaced by plastic containers and wax paper cartons. By the 1950s, almost all milk in the United States was packaged in square cartons.
Stainless Steel – Many experts agree that stainless steel water bottles are the healthiest choice. Unlike plastic, they are highly sustainable and eco-friendly because of the longevity of the material. They also offer other benefits, such as being free from harmful chemicals and toxins.
I immediately noticed that the expiration date was about twice that of plastic containers. So I checked: Milk in a carton often lasts longer because it is typically ultra-pasteurized, which kills more bacteria than regular pasteurization, and the packaging helps protect it from light and air that can cause spoilage.
So why does a gallon of milk have a circular indent on two sides of the container? It isn't just a style decision. The indent helps control the amount of milk filled and strengthens the jug enough to hold the nutritious milk inside. They also (slightly) change size according to the surrounding temperature.
Even if the date on the carton tells you that your milk should still be good, there are various factors that can cause your milk to go bad before its time. Examining the smell, consistency, and color of the milk, testing it with heat, or seeing if it reacts with baking soda will tell you if the milk is bad.
It's normal for breast milk to separate into layers during storage, but it should blend back together with a slow swirl. If it stays curdled and stringy or forms unusual clumps that don't dissolve, it may have spoiled.