How many pounds of skim milk does it take to produce one pound of non-fat dry milk?

To produce one pound of non-fat dry milk, it typically requires about 11 pounds of skim milk. This conversion reflects the process of removing moisture from skim milk to create the dry product. Non-fat dry milk is essentially concentrated milk solids, and during its manufacture, a significant amount of water is evaporated from the skim milk.

Understanding that skim milk contains a substantial amount of water (approximately 90% by weight), the conversion process involves removing this water to yield a concentrated product rich in proteins and nutrients. The reason behind the 11-pound figure lies in the efficiency of the dehydration process and the composition of the skim milk itself.

This knowledge is crucial for those in dairy production and milk quality assessment, as it highlights the resource requirements for processing dairy products and aids in cost calculations and product formulation.