How to Filter Fresh Cow's Milk

We filter milk a little differently than most people.  This is because it really is a one person job here on our farm.  Here is a picture of the filters that we use.  We purchase these filters from Hamby Dairy Supply.

Buy the size filter that you need for your strainer.

Next, gather all of your supplies into one location.  I run our jars through the dishwasher on a high heat cycle to ensure they are sterile.  Then I store them with a sterile lid and ring attached until I need them.  The milk buckets and strainers also go through the dishwasher on a high heat cycle.

Here are my strainers, jars and filters...all ready to be used.

Because this is a one person job, and sometimes we use small mouth jars, the first strainer that we put on a jar is a small milk strainer for goat's milk.  This is a 'cute' strainer that is good for a family that has only one or two goats.  Any more milk than that and you need something bigger.

Place the small strainer on the jar.

 We use this also because we can then pour the milk without the strainers falling.  This is important!

Next we add another strainer.  This one is for more goat's milk.  It is good for someone that has a few more goats.  This is nice because it will fit in a small mouth jar.  The reason 'we' use it now is because the first strainer is too small for our large strainer.  So now we have something that will catch the milk from the large strainer and that will funnel the milk down into the jar.

This strainer is used because our larger strainer will not fit into the first strainer.

 Next I will put on my larger strainer.  This is for the cow's milk or lots of goat's milk.  The diameter of the bottom is 6.5 inches and that is why we need the middle strainer.

It may look funny, but it works!  It is perfectly balanced and I don't have to worry about loosing milk.

 Now I'm going to put the filter in the bottom of  the large strainer.  The wire ring is very stiff and holds the filter in place very nicely.  We were given this from a dear friend of ours that used to have a dairy back in the 1960s.  He hand milked five cows each day growing up and then had about 20 cows when he had his own place.  We love the fact that he blessed us with this strainer a couple of years before he died.  He taught us much about dairy cows and horses!

First put the filter in under the plate; then add the wire which is not shown in this picture.

Now, pour the milk!  Keep an eye on how much milk you add to the strainer.  You don't want to add too much and overflow.

Pour the milk into your clean jars is easy!

Cap your jars and now you have clean milk to enjoy!  I will share how to properly cool your milk in another blog.

Enjoy your fresh milk!

Our Jersey is 12 years old now.  We have had her since she was six.  We have bred her three times and she has always given us great milk!  We normally get about one to two gallons of milk each day from Laurie Belle.