Milk Math: Mixing Different Fat Content Milk

[Shel_B]

There are two recipes I want to work with, one of which requires 2% milk and the other full-fat milk (4.0%?).  All I have in the fridge is 1% milk and half-and-half.  In what proportions should they be mixed to give an overall fat content of 2% and 4%?  What's the math for determining the proportions?  Thanks!

[Mjx]

Use the rule of three, and you can figure it out in a couple of minutes

[Martin Fisher]

Here's a Pearson Square calculator specifically intended for "milk."

 

http://www.dairyscience.info/newcalculators/pearson.asp

[cyalexa]

I believe I got this chart from Cooks Illustrated but I can't find the link:

 

To Replace: 1 cup whole milk

 

* 5⁄8 cup skim milk + 3⁄8 cup half-and-half

* 2⁄3 cup 1% milk + 1⁄3 cup half-and-half

* 3⁄4 cup 2% milk + 1⁄4 cup half-and-half

* 7⁄8 cup skim milk + 1⁄8 cup heavy cream

 

By the way, whole milk is 3.5%

 

I don't have a chart for 2%. 

[FeChef]

If you boil down 4 cups of 1% to one cup that would be 4% right? Or is that 3%, i dunno its too late, time for bed.

[cyalexa]

Thinking again about making 2% out of 1% and half-and-half - you could adjust the chart I posted above so that you used 60% of the half-and-half and made up the difference with your 1%. (2 is 57% of 3.5)

[Deryn]

I would run to the store and buy 2% and whole milk, because by the time I figured this problem out, all the milk in my fridge would be sour. Or I would just wing it and put a bit of half and half into the 1% to approximate 2% and a bit more half and half in to approximate 3.5% unless it was a modernist cuisine recipe.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Deryn (log)

[Shel_B]

I would run to the store and buy 2% and whole milk, because by the time I figured this problem out, all the milk in my fridge would be sour. Or I would just wing it and put a bit of half and half into the 1% to approximate 2% and a bit more half and half in to approximate 3.5% unless it was a modernist cuisine recipe.

 

What percentages would you use to wing it?

[Shel_B]

I believe I got this chart from Cooks Illustrated but I can't find the link:

 

To Replace: 1 cup whole milk

 

* 5⁄8 cup skim milk + 3⁄8 cup half-and-half

* 2⁄3 cup 1% milk + 1⁄3 cup half-and-half

* 3⁄4 cup 2% milk + 1⁄4 cup half-and-half

* 7⁄8 cup skim milk + 1⁄8 cup heavy cream

 

By the way, whole milk is 3.5%

 

I don't have a chart for 2%. 

 

Thanks so much for posting the chart.  I found the original at CI:  http://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5524-how-to-substitute-dairy-products?incode=MCSCZ00L0 for those who have access and wish to look it up themselves.  It has much more info than what you posted here.  I'll be happy to share the chart ... just PM me and it'll be on its way.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Shel_B (log)