On another forum, the subject of bagged milk came up. Most of us had never heard of buying milk in bags, but I think we determined that it was probably a Canadian thing.
But, then again, that forum's not as culturally diverse as Hatrack. So, I'm curious: has anybody here seen or used bagged milk? And, if so, how did it compare jugs and cartons?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
It's very common in Israel too.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
In Brazil, you mostly buy it in bags, but you can buy more expensive milk in boxes.
Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
I usually use bagged milk... I'm Canadian. (only time I don't is if I'm buying milk for my lunch in the little 250mL containers)
I find it doesn't tastes plastic-y like milk that comes in jugs. I prefer bags by far.
*But then again, if you've only had milk in jugs your life, you probably don't know what I mean by "plastic" tasting...
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Christy and I buy all our milk in bags. It's common in southern Wisconsin, but I haven't seen it anywhere else in the U.S. yet.
[ September 02, 2004, 03:31 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
I assume when you guys say bags, you mean something more like sturdy, stiff pouches rather than the kind of bags that when you set the bag with the milk down on a flat surface, it balloons out flat?
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Someone post a link to some of this bagged milk.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Exactly.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Well, Food Services at Brown uses bagged milk. Really large bulk milk.
But in the grocery stores, you can buy milk in plastic cartons, glass jugs (like at WholeFoods), and paper-based cartons. Haven't seen bags, though. I'm in New England (RI), if that helps.
And in VA where I grew up, I remember seeing milk in plastic cartons for at least the vast majority.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Here, Storm.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
I've never heard of such a thing. Can anyone show us an image of one of these bags? The very concept of selling liquid in bags made my eyebrow rise.
Edit: Never mind, someone did while I was typing that.
[ September 02, 2004, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Verily the Younger ]
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
When you get these milk bags, you transfer them into some sort of container for personal use?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Beat you, Verily! Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
In this area, you can buy milk and orange juice in half-gallon plastic bags; the store gives away small pitchers into which the bags can be set and from which the liquid can be dispensed. The bag itself is not sturdy, and needs to be emptied into something else or set upright in a pitcher to be stored after opening.
In general, we've found that milk in a bag is cheaper (and considerably more environmental) -- and, inexplicably, tastes better than milk from a plastic jug.
[ September 02, 2004, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
Here's a step by step of how to use milk in a bag with some other links at the bottom. The Canadian Milk Bag Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Our local grocery store doesn't sell it, but I have seen bagged milk in other areas around southern Wisconsin.
In grade school our hot lunches came with little bags of milk. This resulted in many squirting-milk fights...
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Hm. It seems impractical. I can't imagine what advantage there could be of buying milk this way instead of from a plastic jug or cardboard carton. Those stand up on their own and don't require additional implements to keep the milk from getting everywhere.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Is it reasonable to suggest that the milk tastes better from the plastic bags because it's local/fresher?
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
Verily, the people on the other forum said it was cheaper.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"Hm. It seems impractical. I can't imagine what advantage there could be of buying milk this way instead of from a plastic jug or cardboard carton."
Disposal is much easier; there's considerably less waste. They're easier to transport and store, as well, from a business perspective, and cost less per gallon than milk in jugs or cartons. Provided you have a free pitcher, too, they're not any less convenient -- unless, of course, you have a complete idiot pouring your milk.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
does anyone know if there is a movement to only drink milk from "Good" dairy farms? Treats their cows all nice, and that jazz?
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I've seen it. It looks far too weird to me.
Then again, I am the person who was upset when the university switched from cartons to plastic containers for milk, causing a near double in price. Jerks!
Milk in general is expensive for me. When I'm not home with my immediate family (mom, dad, sister), they'll go through maybe two gallons of milk a week. When I'm home, we go through two gallons of milk every three days.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:Disposal is much easier; there's considerably less waste. They're easier to transport and store, as well, from a business perspective, and cost less per gallon than milk in jugs or cartons. Provided you have a free pitcher, too, they're not any less convenient -- unless, of course, you have a complete idiot pouring your milk.
What if I want to use my pitcher for Kool-Aid? So that's less convenient right there. With plastic jugs, I can have milk and Kool-Aid in my fridge at the same time. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I've only seen milk in bags in a commercial setting -- they sell bags of milk that go into dispensers, for places like cafeterias...
Farmgirl
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Verily, you don't need to pour the milk into the pitcher... you stick the whole bag in.
You can always take the bag out if you want to make KoolAid!
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
Or you could always, you know, buy two pitchers.
[ September 02, 2004, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Da_Goat ]
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
What a revolutionary idea!
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
quote:Verily, you don't need to pour the milk into the pitcher... you stick the whole bag in.
You can always take the bag out if you want to make KoolAid!
And do what with it? Hold it until I run out of Kool-Aid? Hang it from a hook? Pour it into a mixing bowl and put little toy boats in it? Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I can only assume that Verily has no more than three forks at his disposal, and tells his friends they can only come over for dinner in groups of two. Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Whoa!!! I thought milk came in bags. Milk comes in cartons and plastic containers??? So how do they get it from the cartons into the milkbags?
[ September 02, 2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Hey, if I'm taking the trouble to make dinner for my friends, the least they can do is bring their own darn forks!
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
No, I think you should be curteous enough to make finger food. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
the only milk in bags I have seen was the school lunch line milk (and juice) in the little pouches that you stick the straw into. They switched to that because it caused less waste. We had lots of fun playing with the bags, straws, and reading the quotes on the bag (that were the same from first grade till senior year, but still funny.) Oh the creative things kids and teenagers come up with
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Oh. I thought this thread was about expressed milk and disposable bottle liners.
Never Mind.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
The only time milk in bags is a pain is when you don't drink very much milk and by the time you got to the bottom the milk is bad.
This can be solved by buying milk in cartons.
Milk in bags is not nearly as complicated or as strange as you would think. I grew up with milk in glass bottles, delivered each day by the milkman, so you can imagine how different bags were when I first encountered them.
They're just as good.
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
The milk in the kids' school cafeteria comes in bags. The environmental aspect of it sounds great. I wonder why this hasn't caught on outside of Wisconsin for regular use in the home.
space opera
Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
My mom used to freeze milk in bags when we were travelling when we were little...
it would keep the cooler cold and not take up extra space *shrugs*
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Milk bags are awesome. I freely admit that I hate cartons and jugs. They're cumbersome and inconvenient. And the bags are also re-useable, perfect for freezing meat in smaller portions than they're sold. (Canadian, by the way. )
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
My mom use to buy milk in a bag when we were younger, in MI. It does taste a lot better, and with a family of 4 milk drinkers it never went bad...
It is a lot cheaper, and waste disposal is a lot easier. Also, the price is considerably less, which matters when raising a family on one salary.
The pitcher was free, so you could keep your pitcher for kool aid and still have one for milk!
Kwea
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
when I was in middle school and high school the juice in the lunch rooms came in bags, they thought about putting milk in bags, but they never did
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
Wow I wish they would get that here. Of course once my friend's cow has her calf and is ready to give milk away I'll get fresh milk and keep in in my glass pitcher. Yum....
Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
I loved those little milk bags from the cafeteria! So much fun to play with! You can finish off the milk, then blow it up and try to stick the straw through both sides, so it would stay full, or make volcanos when its full...cartons are just boring.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I remember thinking how weird they were the first time -- after I was old enough to notice -- that we visited Israel. At this point, I just associate them with Israel -- I didn't know you could get them anywhere else.
The milk in the bags in unquestionably fresher, and tastes great. (No plasticizer (from plastic jugs) or wax (from cartons!) residue.) And storing a bunch of malleable bags is WAY easier than trying to cram a couple gallons of milk into the fridge.
I wish they sold 'em here.
[ September 02, 2004, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
They might...my mom got them at a local grocery store, but she had to really look for them. Try asking around, there might be a local store that offers them....
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
*scratches head*
You'd think there'd be more plasticizer in bags. A plasticizer makes plastic squooshier. Unless you have sqooshie jugs, rivka.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
If it takes lots of extra work/time/money to get 'em, it defeats the purpose, though.
Anyway, California laws about milk are weird; I bet we don't have any bagged milk here.
Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
Hmmm...milk in bags=good. Sauerkraut in bags=somebody stab that person in the eye.
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I have *never* heard of bagged milk. Am I the only one who thought of the origins of milk upon reading the thread title? (Mammary glands)
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
'Pardon me, can I see your milk jugs? I mean, bags. I mean...oh, never mind. I'll find it myself.'
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Actually, necause of the savings, it might be worth it....the milk I remember was better tasting, and cost about 25-30% LESS than milk jugs....the plastic ones, I mean...
Kwea
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Maybe they did it just so innocent conversations could sound naughty.
(Heading to the Hoover Dam) "Well kids, this is the dam road that leads to the dam site. Do you see the dam construction? Dam. Mighty fine work."
[ September 03, 2004, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: beverly ]
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I like those milk bags. They have them all over the place in Wisconsin, but you can't find them here in MN. Sad.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
That's so cool that you can get them in the states! Like rivka said, it's something I completely associate with Israel...
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
We, actually, can't find them at our grocery store, but buy them from the local gas station -- Kwik Mart. I think they're more than just a WI gas chain, so if you can find one of them, I'm sure they'd carry it for you.
BTW, I never knew until I came to WI that CA was a huge dairy state.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
quote:I loved those little milk bags from the cafeteria! So much fun to play with! You can finish off the milk, then blow it up and try to stick the straw through both sides, so it would stay full, or make volcanos when its full...
Or shoot little streams of milk at your fellow students...
I've seen the kind with the free pitcher, too. There was a dairy in Chambersburg, PA that sold milk in plastic bags.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Well, this certainly changes my opinion on whether kat and everyone else should move to the North. Milk bags. I love it.
Oh, and I needed to add that my mom bought sauerkraut in a bag one time.
And I have seen the bags they use in food service milk dispensers. I bet they are 5 or 10 gallons.
[ September 04, 2004, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: pooka ]
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Everyone should move north. Then we could have a con and I wouldn't have to go so far! Let's all converge on Abby's point. (waits for people to come to her)
Also, that rocks, pajeba! I'll keep that in mind when I'm in the area...
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
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