Some folks exclude dry milk to boost the gluten-free component of their bread recipes. There is, however, a great deal of disagreement on whether dry milk can be omitted from a bread recipe. It is not advised to exclude dry milk without carefully considering how it may affect the final outcome of a bread recipe.
However, it is possible to exclude dry milk from bread recipes. Although dry milk may cause bread dough to rise more, consumers frequently choose dry milk over liquid milk out of pure convenience. Dry milk is a common ingredient in bread recipes when using a bread machine. Users frequently specify a delayed start time using the built-in timer. Regular milk may turn sour as a result of this delayed start.
Is Dry Milk Required For Bread?
One of the critical components of bread is dry milk; therefore, it’s crucial to consider whether you actually require it. Although many people adore its distinctive flavor and texture, you won’t miss it if you can do without it.
Without dry milk, there are many ways to moisten your bread dough. Instead, try substituting a little water, veggie broth, or yogurt.
On whether you must use dry milk to make bread, there is no right or wrong response. In the end, it comes down to your particular choices. Err on the side of caution and skip it if you’re unsure whether you need it.
Having said that, if you’re genuinely enamored with the flavor and texture of bread, by all means, try with various ingredients to see which you prefer. A great loaf of bread can be made in any way.
Can Dry Milk Be Left Out of a Bread Recipe?
It can be challenging to exclude dry milk from bread recipes without having the finished product lose texture or flavor. Here are some pointers to get you going:
- In your bread recipe, consider combining wet and dry ingredients. You will have some flexibility in modifying the ratios of each element.
- By using more water or milk, you can give your bread dough more hydration. This will aid in making up for the dry milk’s moisture loss.
- Be persistent and try out many iterations of your bread recipe until you find one that yields good results without using dry milk.
- Before baking the bread, you can increase the moisture if necessary. You can do this by putting an extra tablespoon of milk or water or giving the dough a few minutes to rest after combining the wet components.
- Ultimately, experimenting and seeing what works best for you is the only surefire way to determine whether dry milk is required in a bread recipe.
Bread Making Recipes Without Dry Milk
You’re lucky if you’re seeking a bread recipe that doesn’t call for dry milk.
What May Replace Dry Milk
Both liquid substitutes and other dehydrated options can be used in place of dry milk. Knowing the function or use of dry milk in a recipe will help you decide whether to use a liquid substitute or another dry alternative.
1. Regular Milk
Because regular milk contains all the same ingredients as dry milk, it is an excellent substitute for milk powder. The moisture content is the only significant variation. Therefore, when the moisture content is not the main issue or if a recipe calls for another liquid, such as water, it is recommended to use ordinary milk.
One cup of ordinary milk should be used for every 1/4 cup dry milk. Remove one cup of water for every cup of milk if the recipe also calls for water. For instance, you might just use one cup of milk instead of the one cup of water and 1/4 cup of dry milk that a recipe calls for.
Dry milk can be substituted with dairy milk, excluding buttermilk. Only replace buttermilk powder with buttermilk to drastically alter the outcome of a recipe because buttermilk has qualities that affect textures and flavors.
2. Plant-based Milk
You can use plant-based milk, including oat, soy, cashew, and almond varieties. Additionally, plant-based milk can be used in place of milk powder. Because it enables those on vegan diets and those with lactose intolerance to prepare recipes that initially called for milk powder, plant-based milk is an excellent substitute for milk powder.
Use plant-based milk only when a recipe also calls for water, just like regular milk. Additionally, the substitution ratio is the same. You can use 1 cup of plant-based milk for 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of dry milk.
3. Coconut Milk Powder
Although coconut milk powder can be used to replace a variety of milk powders, because it also has a high fat content, it is the most excellent replacement for whole-fat milk powder. Simply substitute the equivalent amount of coconut milk powder for the dry milk. Another benefit of coconut milk powder is that you may use it in recipes without adjusting the measurements.
Many soups and curries benefit from the addition of coconut milk powder. These kinds of meals get a creamy texture with coconut milk powder. But because it’s so fatty, it won’t go well with baked products. You’ll probably produce something very dense and weighty.
4. Soy Milk Powder
The benefits of soy milk powder are comparable to conventional dry milk powder. Soy milk powder is one of the most excellent solutions if you’re seeking a lactose-free or vegan option with nutrients similar to dried milk.
You can use the same quantity of soy milk powder instead of dry milk, just like coconut milk powder. Soy milk powder, unlike coconut milk powder, pairs well with baked items. You can use it for baking beautiful, fluffy cakes and muffins.
5. Powdered Potato Milk
Potato milk powder is not as well known or accessible as other milk powder substitutes. The fact that it’s nourishing and a fantastic choice for those who have food allergies or gluten intolerance, though, makes it worth mentioning.
Potato milk powder might not be readily available in stores, but you can find it online. You can also create your own liquid potato milk by combining cooked potatoes, water, and a few additional components.
With potato milk powder, you can create delicious, creamy soups. Additionally, you may use it in bread recipes to make dinner rolls that are soft and fluffy.
Questions and Answers
What Function Does Powdered Milk Serve?
If you run out of ordinary milk, powdered milk is an excellent backup because of its long shelf life. The initial use of powdered milk is to create liquid milk by combining it with water. However, it also affects many other types of dishes distinctly.
For soups and gravies, powdered milk works as a thickening. It provides more richness but doesn’t thicken as flour or cornstarch does.
Dry milk is also included in a lot of ice cream recipes. Dry milk absorbs liquid from milk to stop ice crystals from forming. This procedure maintains the ice cream smooth and creamy.
Homemade hot chocolate mixes can also be produced using powdered milk. This is a fun and practical technique to rapidly prepare tasty sweets that can keep you warm throughout the chilly winters.
Is Powdered Milk Bad for You?
The nutritional value of powdered milk is nearly identical to that of liquid milk. Simply put, the process by which ordinary milk becomes dehydrated milk involves evaporation. It is sprayed into a heated space, decreasing to a powdery state.
Because powdered milk has a longer shelf life than liquid milk and won’t spoil quickly, it is a fantastic substitute.
You should have no problems consuming powdered milk if you can drink milk. Powdered milk is, therefore, no more dangerous than ordinary milk. People who are allergic to ordinary milk should avoid using powdered milk. Issues like lactose intolerance and dairy allergy would be considered aversions.
Can I substitute milk powder for milk in a cake?
Yes, milk powder can be used in place of milk in cakes. In actuality, milk powder can improve the flavor of baked items like cakes. Famous pastry chef Christina Tosi enjoys using dry milk in her baked items and thinks that it enhances the flavor of everything.
Many baked items benefit from the richness and creaminess that milk powder adds. The milk powder’s sugar caramelizes during baking to add a layer of crunch and flavor.
Therefore, don’t be afraid to experiment with milk powder and other baking ingredients. Try to detect the difference in flavor.
Is Malted Milk Powder an Alternative to Milk Powder?
Yes is the clear-cut response. Malted milk powder can be used in place of milk powder. Malted milk powder differs from regular milk powder, including ground barley and wheat flour.
Malted milk powder and ordinary milk powder can be mixed in equal proportions. Malted milk powder is an excellent replacement for chocolate-based dishes because it enhances chocolate’s flavour.
Malted milk powder might not be a suitable replacement for ordinary milk powder. Although the recipe would probably taste a little blander, you can use ordinary milk powder. This is so that other dishes’ flavours can benefit from the additional ingredients of malted milk powder.
Can I substitute milk powder for condensed milk?
Although milk powder can be replaced with condensed milk, doing so is not very convenient. You need to combine the dry milk with 40% of the usual amount of water to make it into liquid milk for the amount of dry milk to match the amount of condensed milk in a recipe.
Condensed milk can therefore be used as a replacement, but more practical options are available. Unless you have no other choice, it’s preferable to avoid using condensed milk.
Conclusion
According to research, omitting dry milk from bread recipes can make the final product more flavorful and consistent. Dry milk contains a lot of proteins and carbs, which might be problematic when added to the dough or baked items. But now that you know how to do it and whether you can exclude dry milk from a bread recipe give it a shot today.

Hiiii! My name is Ruth and I am an experienced chef with a passion for food and cooking. My love of baking began when I was nine, and I have since been refining my skills in the kitchen ever since.