UHT or Ultra-high temperature milk is ultra-pasteurised milk that comes in sterilised containers. It's real milk, just like the kind you buy chilled in the dairy aisle, but its special pasteurisation and packaging process gives it a shelf life of several months.
UHT milk is fresh milk that does not need refrigeration after the container has been processed using a method that destroys bacteria while preserving the flavour, taste, and nutritional value of milk.
UHT or Ultra High Temperature process is an effective modern method of pasteurizing milk. Ultra-Pasteurized or UHT treated milk is nothing but milk processed through ultra-high temperatures. In this process of pasteurization, the milk is heated in a continuous flow system at 137-140 degree Celsius for 4 seconds before being packed in a sterilised container. This process destroys almost all the harmful bacteria or microorganisms present in the milk.
UHT processing is complete within seconds, making it rapid. Heating is typically done in 1-2 seconds after which product is cooled and packaged aseptically.
UHT milk can have a shelf life of 6 months or more without refrigeration. This simplifies the distribution of product and allows for long storage on store shelves.
Kills up to 99.999999999% of microorganisms (including pathogens) and inactivates spores. The only time issues arise is if the milk was contaminated with spore-forming organisms that survived the UHT treatment, if harbourage or biofilm formation is found in cracked processing and filling lines, or if milk was contaminated post-processing, i.e, during packaging or handling. However, ultra-high temperature can achieve a 12-log reduction to control Clostridium botulinum and allow safe storage of food at room temperature in which other processing methods such as pasteurization processing cannot achieve.
UHT milk is considered "commercially sterile" and is always packaged aseptically. It must be tested under extreme conditions to ensure no deterioration of product. Samples spend 15 days in a closed container at a temperature of 30℃ where necessary, provision can also be made for a period of 7 days in a closed container at a temperature of 55℃
Storing UHT milk at ambient temperatures is definitely an advantage. It simplifies distribution chain management and reduces storage costs overall - at the processing facility, distribution centres, and on the store shelf.
There are significant logistical advantages here. By eliminating large glass or plastic containers, empty packages can be stored flat until needed, simplifying storage space and allowing for larger shipments to be transported. The packaging provides space efficiencies, and a variety of sizes and shapes of empty packaging can easily be delivered via semi-trailer for filling.
In conclusion, UHT processing of milk destroys the heat-resistant bacteria in milk, which makes UHT milk safer for you and your kids to consume. Serving a wide range of health benefits, UHT milk is extremely hygienic, delicious, nutritious and free from preservatives. A popular product in the market, UHT milk is easily available everywhere and there's long list of brands selling it.