Got milk? If so, it may not be the best money can buy. The world’s most popular dairy product has proven to be quite polarizing … for many reasons.
First is a general aversion and/or intolerance to anything containing lactose. Despite the creation of lactose-free milk using the enzyme lactase, plant-based alternatives such as almond, oat and coconut have seen exponential growth in the past decade. These varieties are also generally lower in saturated fat (at least when it comes to whole milk), making them the typically healthier option.
The second is humane farming practices. Aside from health concerns and controversy regarding the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to increase production, animal welfare groups have often flagged the mistreatment of female cows on dairy farms. Pasture-raised typically implies that they are given time to graze outdoors and grass-fed diets are often more nutritious than grain, though many major companies have been found guilty of skirting around the legal requirements to slap these labels on their bottles.
That said, milk plays a fundamental role in many types of cuisine, especially French. I recently dined at Gaby Brasserie Francaise at the Sofitel New York, feasting on everything from traditional quiches to croissant bread pudding — dishes where milk was the undisputed star.
So, I emailed executive chef Fabian Ludwig, an obvious expert on the ingredient, for his take on shopping for the cooking and baking essential.
“Choose organic,” he advises. “Organic whole milk dairy products have healthier omega-3 fats than conventional dairy. And when you’re buying organic, you can be sure no GMOs, antibiotics, or chemical pesticides were used in their production.
“On top of that, cows raised on organic farms have to pasture their cows for at least 120 days a year. That’s good for the animals and your health — providing the cows more space to roam and enhancing nutritional quality for eaters.”
After sipping (and dunking, frankly) my way through literally dozens of mainstream, store-bought milk cartons these were the six that stood out most and for different reasons.
The Best Store-Bought Milks
Best Overall:
Moo-ve over, literally every competing brand. Maple Hill dominated the taste test with an ultra-creamy yet flavorful, almost buttery milk that tasted as if it was delivered that morning. I will say that because of its richness and decadence, this absolutely murdered my stomach, but it was honestly worth the sacrifice. I can’t wait to use it in baking, as I think it will lend itself well to cakes and cookies around the holidays. So an early “you’re welcome” to the friends and family who will be benefiting from the good stuff in December.
Best Mainstream:
Seeing red is no longer a bad thing. The texture of Organic Valley was silky-smooth and even a bit thick on the tongue, almost like melted ice cream. Best of all, this was easily purchased via Amazon Fresh and is readily available in grocery stores nationwide. It is now my go-to pick when I’m in a pinch and don’t have the time (or money) to shop for fancy-schmancy cartons.
Best for Sensitive Stomachs:
A2 is really No. 1. As an IBS sufferer, I was elated to stumble across this brand of milk with cows that only produce the A2 protein, which research suggests is easier on digestion. Quality is also not sacrificed in the process, as this tasted like it came straight from the farm with a velvety mouthfeel and zero trace of artificiality or added ingredients.
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Best Organic:
Stonyfield has made a commitment to partaking only in organic and sustainable farming practices and it absolutely showed. And while there is debate over how much “ultra-pasteurized” milks are stripped of their natural flavors, this tasted pure and luxurious, unlike the watered-down organic milks we often subject ourselves our palates to when desperate.
Best Skim Milk:
The natural sweetness of Straus did an excellent job of detracting from its lack of fat. In fact, I would have guessed that this was at least a low-fat bottle, making it the best skim milk I’ve probably ever sampled in my entire life (which is saying a lot because I grew up in a skim milk household with a professional bodybuilder mother … aka deprivation).
Best Chocolate Milk:
I found this chocolate milk in Target by chance and am so happy that I did. Aside from tasting like a straight-up milkshake (but thinner), the sweet treat’s emphasis was entirely on the milk and less on the chocolate (which they advertise on the label as having 33% less sugar than leading chocolate milk brands). As a result, this was downright luscious, as if it was concocted by a famous pastry chef who made it entirely from scratch and not from a generic cocoa powder.
