Powdered skim milk is a dried dairy product. According to the University of Guelph, dried dairy products often contain less than 4 percent water. Drying dairy products helps to increase their shelf life, making them easier to transport and store. As well, drying is useful in circumstances in which fresh milk may be difficult to store or transport, for example during camping trips or when access to refrigeration is limited.
Powdered Skim Milk
To begin the powdered milk production process, milk is clarified and then standardized. It then undergoes a heat treatment using a much higher in temperature than with conventional pasteurization techniques. The milk is then evaporated, dried and packed in its powder form. Skim milk powder contains between 0.05 and 0.10 percent milk fat. It has a general shelf life of around three years. Production can also involve a low-heat treatment. High-heat treatments are more often applied to powder intended for use in baking or confectionary work.
Calcium
According to FitClick.com, 8 ounces of powdered skim milk contain 328.85 milligrams of calcium. This is around 33 percent of the daily requirement for a 2,000-calorie per day diet. The body contains more calcium than any other mineral, the majority of which is stored in the bones and teeth. Calcium helps muscles and blood vessels contract and expand, aids in the secretion of hormones and enzymes and helps send messages throughout the nervous system.
Calories
FitClick.com lists the caloric content per 8-ounce serving of powdered skim milk as 868.63 calories. None of these calories are from fat; the majority are from carbohydrates and proteins. The carbohydrate content for 8 ounces is 122.47 grams, mostly sugars. The protein content is 90.72 grams, or 181 percent of your daily requirement on a 2,000-calorie per day diet.
Other Nutritional Content
Powdered skim milk is fairly high in sodium, with 8 ounces providing over 1,360 milligrams. This is more than 50 percent of your daily requirement on a 2,000-calorie per day diet. In addition to calcium, powdered skim milk is a good source of vitamin C, with 42.41 milligrams per 8-ounce serving. The same serving size also provides 1.36 milligrams of iron.
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