Baked MilkBaked milk is a variety of boiled
milk that has been particularly popular in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. It is made by
simmering milk on low heat for eight hours or longer.
In rural areas baked milk has been produced by leaving a jug of boiled milk in an
oven for a day or for a night until it is coated with a brown crust. Prolonged exposure to heat causes reactions between the milk's amino acids and
sugars, resulting in the formation of melanoidin compounds that give it a creamy
color and caramel
flavor. A great deal of moisture evaporates, resulting in a change of consistency. The stove in a traditional Russian loghouse (izba) sustains "varying cooking temperatures based on the placement of the food inside the oven".
Ryazhenka
Today, baked milk is produced on an industrial scale, as is soured or fermented baked milk, traditionally known as ryazhenka. Like scalded milk, it is free of bacteria and enzymes and can be stored safely at room temperature for up to forty hours. Home-made baked milk is used for preparing a range of cakes, pies, and cookies.
Caramelized sweetened
condensed milk is a similar preparation used in home-made pastries, often prepared by prolonged heating of unopened cans of condensed milk.
Also see
Evaporated Milk,
Soy Milk