10 Best Milk Powders in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist

Ruchi Wadhwa is a certified Nutritionist with a keen interest in Ayurvedic sciences. She has a wholesome, holistic, and sustainable approach to nutrition. Check out the Food and drinks section as she has reviewed some more articles on the mybest website.

There are milk powders for all – vegans, diabetics, lactose intolerants, kids, elders, and just about anyone! Wanna know about the best ones? Read on as we list India's ten best milk powders, starting at just Rs. 145.

Powdered milk is a viable substitute for your regular pasteurized milk. Some advantages it has over milk are easy storage, higher digestibility, and longer shelf life. Many people think it is the same as a dairy whitener. However, there is a considerable difference between the two.

• Milk powder has more protein and higher nutritional content than dairy whiteners.
• Powdered milk has little to no added sugar. Conversely, dairy whiteners contain artificial sugar and unhealthy additives that enhance their taste and shelf life. 

Check this link to know more about milk powder vs dairy whiteners. 

Now that you know about the best milk powders in the country, you must be thinking about which one to go for. Below are some essential points that you must consider before you ahead with the purchase. Note down your dietary preferences, check calories per serving, and more. Read our buying guide to know further!

Today, the milk powder industry offers a wide range of choices to suit the dietary needs of different people. It is not limited to only cow milk. You can choose from plant-based options like coconut & soy milk powder and animal-based options including camel & goat milk powder.

Vegans often find it challenging to meet their daily nutritional needs since they cannot consume dairy products. For them, plant-based milk powder is a perfect choice. These are safe & healthy as they do not contain cholesterol and are enriched with natural plant-based proteins. 

Plant-based options like soy milk or coconut milk powder are an excellent substitute for dairy. They are highly nutritious and have great taste. Soy milk contains a much higher protein content than cow milk. You can also try coconut milk powder, which has a natural sweet taste and is packed with several health benefits. 

Suppose you are lactose intolerant but do not have a problem with animal-based nutrition. In that case, you can try camel milk or goat milk powder. Both of these have much higher digestibility than regular cow milk. Camel milk is rich in antibiotics, which helps in gut healing and boosting immunity. 

Goat milk contains higher amounts of nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin A than cow milk. It is also quite low on lactose compared to cow milk (less than 12% per cup approx.). As such, it is suitable for those who have a mild intolerance for lactose. 

One of the essential points to check before buying powdered milk is the total calories per serving. This is especially necessary for those who are on a calorie deficit diet. Regular milk is high in calories because it is loaded with fat and lactose. You can go for skimmed milk powder as they are known for their low-fat content. 

Always check the calories per serving on the product label. Two examples of low-calorie milk powder are Amirthaa and Shreemat, with only 357.0 calories per 100g serving. The fat content in Amirthaa skimmed milk powder is less than 1% fat and in Amul Sagar Skim milk powder is just 0.5% fat. Both are easy to digest.

Protein is essential for bone and muscle growth. Your body needs protein for its overall development and boosting immunity. Milk is considered to be one of the best sources to get your daily protein. 

When you are opting for milk powder, do check the protein content on the label. Some brands offer a higher amount of protein than others. For example, Urban Platter and Amul brands have a high protein content of 49.0g and 35g per 100g serving, respectively. 

One main advantage that milk powder has over milk is that it is a non-perishable item. This is, in fact, the USP of this product. So, it makes sense if you go for a product that has a long shelf-life. You buy it once and use it for an entire year! 

Any milk powder has a minimum shelf life of 6 months. But some have more than that, say 9 months or even 12 months. A few examples of these are KLF Coconad, Amrithaa, and Farmer Fresh milk powder. Read the label to find the product shelf-life.

You need to be sure that you are buying an authentic product, especially in the case of milk powder, since they are more susceptible to adulteration. Do not confuse milk powders with dairy whiteners. The latter usually contains artificial sugar or preservatives that enhance their taste and texture. 

Go for pure & natural milk powder. Check if the product is a certified one. You can look for the certifications of FSSAI, ISO, and BIS, amongst others. Read the product label to find other information concerning its quality & safety.  

Before buying one, you might want to know about a few crucial aspects, such as the milk powder's taste, texture, and smell. You cannot get this exact information from the product label or its description. The best way to know about this is by reading customer reviews. 

Major EC sites like Amazon and Flipkart have a good amount of ratings and reviews by the customers. Go through their reviews’ section, especially on Amazon. You will find a lot of information from people who have personally used the product. The reviews will tell you about the product’s taste, texture, mixability, smell, and many other things. 

We can use milk powder in a variety of ways. Apart from using it in tea & coffee, you can also incorporate it in various sweets and snacks. Here is a popular recipe by India’s top cooking expert, Ms Nisha Madhulika. In her video, she explains how you can easily make instant doodh peda with milk powder.

Few ingredients you will need for this recipe are:-

1. Desi Ghee - 2 tbsp
2. Milk - 1 cup
3. Milk Powder - 2 cups
4. Sugar Powder - 1/2 cup
5. Cardamom - 4 (coarsely ground)
6. Pistachio flakes

Watch this six minutes video to learn an excellent way of making peda using milk powder. 

We compromise in many things in life; food shouldn't be one. If you want to know about other healthy & delicious food products, check out the links given below. All these contain our top 10 picks for every food item, along with an in-depth buying guide to make your selection easier. 

Milk powders make a great addition to your kitchens. In situations where you can’t rush to the market to get milk, they come in handy. Not only do they enhance the texture of your food, but they also save time in preparation. Besides, you can easily carry their sachets anywhere. So, go and buy one!

Author: Deeksha Mangla

Editor: Lakshmi Srinivasan