Out of Dry milk, one case
Dry milk substitute for bread and bread machines
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Fresh milk in place of the water
1 cup milk for every cup of water
Leave out the dry milk and use fresh milk in place of the water, cup for cup. That gives the same soft crumb and browned crust. If you would rather not use milk, simply omit the powder: the loaf rises the same and is a little less tender and paler.
- Verdict —
- Works
- The tweak —
- Skip the powder and replace the water with the same volume of milk, warmed to room temperature.
- Best for —
- sandwich loaves
- Pantry —
- Likely in your cupboard
One casethe full dry milk card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of dry milk | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh milk in place of the watersandwich loaves | 1 cup milk per cup of waterWorks | Works |
| 2 | Leave it outany loaf, including delay-timer loaves | See notesTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Buttermilk powderbread machine loaves on a timer | 1 tbsp per 1 tbspWorks | Works |
| 4 | Coconut or soy milk powderdairy-free sandwich bread | 1 tbsp per 1 tbspTweak it | Tweak it |
| 5 | Instant potato flakessoft sandwich bread and rolls | 1 tbsp per 1 tbspTweak it | Tweak it |
Fresh milk in place of the water
the same; soft crumb, golden crust
Dry milk plus water is reconstituted milk. Using liquid milk gets you to the same place.
- Best for
- sandwich loaves, dinner rolls, bread machine recipes baked right away
- Prep
- Skip the powder and replace the water with the same volume of milk, warmed to room temperature.
- Contains
- dairy
- Where it fails
- The delay timer. Fresh milk should not sit in the machine for hours.
Leave it out
plainer; chewier crumb, paler crust
A tablespoon or two of milk powder softens and browns the loaf. It is not needed for the bread to rise.
- Best for
- any loaf, including delay-timer loaves, dairy-free bread
- Prep
- Use the water as written. For browning, add 1 tsp sugar.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Enriched milk breads, where dairy is the character of the loaf.
Buttermilk powder
a slight tang; very tender
Another shelf-stable dairy powder. Safe on the delay timer.
- Best for
- bread machine loaves on a timer, biscuits and pancakes
- Contains
- dairy
- Where it fails
- Nothing in particular.
Coconut or soy milk powder
a faint coconut or bean note
Dairy-free powders that soften the crumb in the same way.
- Best for
- dairy-free sandwich bread
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Lean, crusty loaves, which do not want it.
Instant potato flakes
neutral; moist crumb
Starch that holds moisture and keeps a loaf soft for days.
- Best for
- soft sandwich bread and rolls
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Browning. Potato flakes do not color the crust the way milk does.
Tips for substituting dry milk
4 tips- Typical bread machine recipes use 1 to 2 tbsp dry milk per loaf, so the swap is forgiving.
- Milk that is very cold slows the yeast. Warm it to about 80°F, or microwave it 20 seconds.
- For the delay timer, stay with a dry substitute or leave the powder out.
- Check the dough ball after 5 minutes of kneading. It should be smooth and slightly tacky; add flour or water a teaspoon at a time.
Questions
4 questionsCan I leave dry milk out of bread?
Yes. The bread still rises. The crumb is a little chewier and the crust paler.
Can I use regular milk instead of dry milk in a bread machine?
Yes. Leave out the powder and use milk in place of the water, in the same amount. Do not use the delay timer.
Why do bread recipes call for dry milk?
It adds protein and sugar that soften the crumb and brown the crust, without adding liquid, and it is safe at room temperature on a timer.
What is a non-dairy substitute for dry milk in bread?
Leave it out, or use coconut milk powder, soy milk powder or potato flakes in the same amount.