How to Steam Milk Without Using a Steamer

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Make warm, frothy milk for lattes and more without special equipment

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 Tested

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Steaming Milk in the Microwave with a Jar

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Using the Stove and a French Press

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Using the Microwave and a Whisk

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Video

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Q&A

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Things You'll Need

ARTICLE

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Steamed milk is a great addition to hot drinks and adds a delicious foamy texture. Each of these methods takes less than 5 minutes and only require basic kitchen utensils. Add the warm, foamy milk to your favourite hot drink or enjoy it by itself.

Alternate Ways to Steam Milk

Microwave & jar: Shake the milk in a jar until it's frothy, then microwave the milk for 30 seconds to warm it up to steam the milk by hand.
Stove & French press: Warm the milk to 60 °C (140 °F) on the stove, then pour it into a french press. Pump the plunger on the press for 60 seconds to froth the milk.
Microwave & whisk: Heat the milk for 30 seconds in the microwave, then hand-whisk it for 30 seconds or until it doubles in volume

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Steaming Milk in the Microwave with a Jar

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1
Pour your milk into a glass jar. Any kind of milk works for this technique; however, skim milk works best, as it froths easily. Pour the milk into a glass jar and screw the lid on tightly.^{[1]
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- A regular espresso or flat white requires about 0.5 cups (120 mL) of milk.
- Fill the jar no more than halfway so that the milk has room to froth.
2
Shake the milk until it is frothy. Shake the jar of milk up and down until it has doubled in volume. This normally takes about 30 to 60 seconds. If you have used full-fat milk, it may take an extra 30 seconds to achieve the same level of frothiness.^{[2]
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- Double-check that the lid is on tightly before you shake it to prevent milk spilling on the floor.
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(Note that some microwaves are more powerful than others, so you may need to adjust how long depending on your microwave.) Take the lid off and place the jar of milk into the microwave. Adjust the microwave to the highest setting and then set it to heat for 30 seconds. The heat warms the milk and causes the foam to rise to the top of the jar.^{[3]
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Pour the milk and froth into your mug. Hold the foam in the jar with a spoon and allow the milk to run into your mug. Then, spoon the foam on top of your mug to provide a fluffy top layer.^{[4]
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- This steamed milk has a very similar consistency to that made with a steamer.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Stove and a French Press

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1
Warm up your milk to 60 °C (140 °F) on the stovetop. Pour your milk into a small saucepan and set the stovetop to medium heat. Place the tip of a cooking thermometer in the milk to measure the temperature. Once it reaches 60 °C (140 °F), remove the saucepan from the heat.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, heat the milk until it's warm but not too hot to touch.
- Turn down the heat if the milk starts to boil.
2
Pour the milk into your French press. Before you tip in the milk, ensure that the French press is clean; otherwise, your milk will taste like coffee. Take the plunger lid off your French press and carefully tip the warm milk into the bowl.
- If you have a pump frother, use this instead.
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Pump the plunger handle up and down until the milk is foamy. Use 1 hand to hold down the plunger lid and use your other hand to move the plunger stick up and down. Pump the stick vigorously for about 60 seconds or until the milk reaches your desired level of fluffiness.
- If you don’t have a French press, foam the milk with a whisk or blend it for 30 seconds in a blender.
Fill your mug with cocoa or coffee and then pour in the warm frothy milk. Alternatively, enjoy the frothy milk by itself as a creamy, calcium-rich treat.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using the Microwave and a Whisk

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1
Warm up your milk for 30 seconds in the microwave. Pour your milk into a microwave-safe jar or dish. Then, place it in the microwave on the highest setting for 30 seconds. This technique works with any type of milk; however, it is slightly quicker if you use low-fat milk.^{[6]
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- Glass and ceramic are good microwave-safe materials.
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Whisk the milk until is foamy and bubbly. Use a hand whisk or an electric whisk to foam the milk for about 30 seconds or until it doubles in volume. If you use an electric whisk, set it to the lowest speed to avoid the milk spilling over the edges of your bowl.^{[7]
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- If you don’t have a whisk, place the milk in a blender for 30 seconds instead.
Carefully pour the milk into your hot drink and stir it gently with a spoon. Alternatively, pour it into a glass and enjoy its warm, creamy taste.^{[8]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How can I steam milk without a machine?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

There are a couple of different ways you can steam milk without a steaming machine. You can place the milk in a jar with a lid, shake it so it's frothy, then microwave it uncovered for 30 seconds. You can also warm up the milk on your stove and pour it into a French press, then pump the handle up and down vigorously to froth up the milk.

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Question

Can you steam milk on the stove?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

While you can't fully steam milk on a stove, you can warm it up to about 60 °C (140 °F) on your stovetop, then transfer it to a clean French press. Pump the handle of the plunger up and down vigorously for about a minute or so to make the milk nice and frothy and take on the texture of steamed milk. You can then add it to your coffee or tea!

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Can you make steamed milk in the microwave?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Yes, you can make steamed milk in your microwave by pouring the milk into a glass jar and screwing on the lid tightly. Take the jar and shake it up and down for about a minute until it reaches a frothy consistency. Then, remove the lid and microwave the jar uncovered for 30 seconds to heat it up before you add it to your tea, coffee, or any other beverage.

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