Convenient bagged milk has become a daily beverage for urban residents. Many residents have the habit of heating milk before drinking, and some believe that heating can sterilize the milk, making it safer to consume. Consequently, some people boil the milk in the bag in a pot, while others heat the bagged milk in a microwave oven. Experts believe that this method of heating milk is unscientific and not beneficial to human health.
The reason liquid milk has a shelf life of several days, a month, or even several months is because its packaging materials are made of polymers with barrier properties or aluminum foil-containing materials.
Although both of these packaging materials are safe and reliable, there is an issue with their use. The main component of polymer material is polyethylene, which decomposes and changes at a temperature of 115°C. Furthermore, it is not resistant to high microwave temperatures, so this type of bagged milk cannot be boiled in boiling water or heated in a microwave oven. For bagged milk with aluminum foil packaging, because aluminum foil is a metallic material, it can catch fire when heated by microwaves, so it is strictly prohibited to heat it in a microwave oven.
In fact, it is best not to drink bagged milk after heating it. Relevant professionals believe that because it has been sterilized at high temperatures, the milk will not produce bacteria within its shelf life. High-temperature heating, on the contrary, can destroy the nutritional components of the milk, and the vitamins added to the milk will also be damaged.
Some people are not accustomed to drinking milk that is too cold. Experts suggest that since general plastics do not cause problems below 100°C, you can use boiling water below 100°C to warm the milk bag, making the milk warm. If you need to heat milk in a microwave oven, you must pour it into a microwave-safe container before heating.