At least in the U.S. UHT and ultra-pasteurized are not the same:
Ultra-Pasteurized Milk Ultra-pasteurized milk undergoes a more intense heat treatment, where it is heated to 138°C (280°F) for 2 seconds. This process extends the milk’s shelf life to 30–90 days under refrigeration. Ultra-pasteurized milk is packaged in paper or plastic, with the package being treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to ensure sterility and preserve freshness.
Heat Treatment: 138°C (280°F) for 2 seconds
Shelf Life: 30–90 days
Storage: Requires refrigeration
UHT Milk UHT milk is heated to 138°C (280°F) or higher for at least 2 seconds, making it nearly sterile. This high heat treatment not only kills bacteria but also allows the milk to remain shelf-stable for up to 6+ months without refrigeration, until it is opened. UHT milk is packaged in a hermetically sealed container that is sterilized, ensuring the milk remains fresh and safe to consume.
Heat Treatment: 138°C (280°F) or higher for 2+ seconds
Shelf Life: 6+ months (unopened, no refrigeration needed)
Storage: Shelf-stable, no refrigeration required
ByteJunk@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
TIL that in many countries people don’t buy UHT.
That’s crazy to me, there’s always boxes and boxes of milk in the pantry, no way I could store all that milk in the fridge
hanrahan@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
because it tastes like actual milk that’s been filtered through a used diaper
ByteJunk@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Whoever is using those diapers probably has diabetes then, because it’s making the milk taste sweeter.
tacosanonymous@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
I don’t drink it bc it’s nasty but it’s always in the cold part of the grocery stores here.
ByteJunk@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The point of UHT is that it keeps for months at room temperature until open, the only point I can see of selling it refrigerated is because people there expect it.
No idea how it can taste “nasty” to you though, I get that it’s a bit different, slightly sweeter, but cold out of the fridge I’m not convinced everyone could tell them apart, let alone if you’re pouring it into cereals or for cooking/baking.
jak@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
100% you can tell the difference. I’ve been vegan for several years and I can still smell a difference (I work as a barista, there’s a lot of milk). The first time I had UHT Milk, I thought it was flavored, because it’s significantly sweeter to me. I could never get used to it and found it unpleasant.
tacosanonymous@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Sorry, I meant that all milk is nasty. I’ve never liked it. The film it leaves, the aftertaste, it’s all bad to me. So, if there’s a difference between the the things you’re describing, I wouldn’t know it.
mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Boxed… milk?
I’m honestly not sure if that’s worse than bagged milk
ByteJunk@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Boxes as in the typical tetrapaks. They’re very much like the regular milk cartons I’ve seen sold in the US, and basically built the same way but have an additional very thin aluminum foil layer in between the cardboard and plastic, to provide a more complete barrier against light and oxygen, and nowadays they even sell them with screw caps and what not.
Either option still seems much better than plastic jugs to me, that just screams liquid laundry detergent or motor oil to me.
RudeOnTuesdays@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
What’s wrong with bagged milk?
mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
What isn’t wrong with bagged milk?