Powdered Dry Milk To Liquid Milk Conversion Ratios

New to powdered milk and not sure how to use it? Here’s a guide about how to get the correct ratio of milk powder to water, preventing clumping, and also using milk powder in baked goods, coffee, and more.

You may also want to read:

• How to store dried milk
• How to make your own dried milk powder
• Best emergency food brands

What Is the Ratio of Powdered Milk to Water?

With most brands of nonfat powdered milk, the ratio is approximately 4 Tbsp. of powdered milk to 1 cup of water (or 1 cup of powdered milk per quart).

The following table will work as a general guide (we get into specific brands below)

Milk	Water	Powdered Milk
1 Cup	1 Cup	4 Tablespoons
3/4 Cup	3/4 Cup	3 Tablespoons
2/3 Cup	2/3 Cup	2 -1\2 Tablespoons
1/2 Cup	1/2 Cup	2 Tablespoons
1/3 Cup	1/3 Cup	1 -1\4 Tablespoons
1/4 Cup	1/4 Cup	1 Tablespoons

Ratios can vary drastically between brands, especially if you use whole-fat powdered or non-dairy milk powder.

Below, I’ve included a chart of milk powder-to-water ratios for the most popular brands of powdered milk.

Tip: You don’t have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing powdered milk! Add more milk powder for creamier milk or less for a thinner texture.

Brand	Water	Powdered Milk
Valley Food Storage (Nonfat)	1 Cup	4 Tablespoons
Legacy Food Storage (Nonfat)	1 Cup	3 Tablespoons
Augason Farms (Nonfat)	1 Cup	5 Tablespoons
Kesler Foods (Nonfat)	1 Cup	4 Tablespoons
Bob’s Red Mill (Nonfat)	1 Cup	2 -1\3 Tablespoons
NOW (nonfat)	1 Cup	3 Tablespoons
Anthony’s (whole milk)	1 Cup	4.8 Tablespoons
Hoosier (whole milk)	1 Cup	4.8 Tablespoons
Judee’s (whole milk)	1 Cup	5 – 8 Tablespoons
Anthony’s Coconut Milk Powder	1 Cup	8 Tablespoons
NOW Organic Soy Milk Powder	1 Cup	4 Tablespoons
Better than Milk Soy Milk Powder	1 Cup	2 Tablespoons
JOI Almond Milk Powder	1 Cup	1 – 2 Tablespoons

Powdered Milk Is Clumping

It is best to mix the powdered milk and water in a blender. This should create a nice, lump-free texture.

If you don’t have a blender, then use this method to prevent clumping:

• Mix the milk powder with a small amount of hot water
• Mix it until you’ve got a nice smooth paste
• Add the remaining water (which can be hot or cold).

Baking with Milk Powder

You don’t have to pre-mix the milk when baking with powdered milk. Instead, add the milk powder to the dry ingredients. Then, add the water to the wet ingredients.

Using Nonfat Milk Powder Instead of Whole Milk

To use nonfat milk powder instead of whole milk, add 1 Tbsp of neutral-tasting oil per 1 cup of mixed milk. This will replace the fat removed from the nonfat milk before drying.

Making Coffee Creamer with Powdered Milk

To make a liquid coffee creamer out of powdered milk, use ½ the water when mixing. You can also add the powdered milk directly into your coffee.

To prevent clumping, put the powdered milk into the cup first and then add a small amount of hot coffee. Stir into a paste, and then add the rest of the coffee to the cup.

If you use nonfat milk powder to make your creamer, you might want to add a small dash of coconut oil to the coffee to get a creamier texture.

Making Evaporated Milk from Powdered Milk

Evaporated milk is just milk that has had half of its water removed from it. So, to make evaporated milk from powdered milk, you need to use double the amount of powder when mixing. For example, to make 1 cup of evaporated milk, you’d use 8 Tbsp of milk powder instead of 4 Tbsp.