FINDING THE BEST MILK BUCKET TO USE WHEN YOU HAND MILK YOUR COW IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOUR MILK BUCKET HOLDS YOUR RAW MILK AND YOUR RAW MILK IS FOOD FOR YOUR FAMILY. TO CHOOSE THE BEST MILK BUCKET YOU MUST CONSIDER THE SIZE OF YOUR COW, THE SIZE OF THE BUCKET, AND THE MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THE BUCKET.
Now that you have your family milk cow, it is time to buy the best milk bucket for milking cows. Your precious raw milk needs to only come in contact with safe surfaces. After all the time and expense you have gone through to find your family milk cow, you need to make sure your milk bucket is high quality and fits your needs. For some guidance in choosing a family milk cow PLEASE READ OUR POST ABOUT TESTING YOUR COW FOR DISEASE THAT MAY PASS TO HUMANS RIGHT HERE.
Over the years I have tried it all! I do not feel plastic is safe to come in contact with raw milk so stainless steel is the best option. PLEASE READ this article about “Plastics in Household Products”.
ARE ALL STAINLESS STEEL BUCKETS THE SAME?
You will find a great variation in price and quality of stainless steel buckets. The cheaper buckets are often made overseas and sometimes are thin and dent extremely easily. The percent of nickel can also vary. High quality milk buckets tend to cost more but are definitely worth it. Watch our video to see an inexpensive stainless steel bowl crushed by our milk cow Belinda.
For more information about the different qualities and gauges of stainless steel please read this and go to the section 304 Stainless Steel.
WHAT MILK BUCKET SHOULD YOU USE TO TRAIN A COW OR HEIFER TO MILK?
When training a heifer or milking a fresh experienced milk cow, we use a stainless steel pitcher. You hold the pitcher with one hand and milk with the other. Using a pitcher makes it convenient if you need to protect your milk at a moment’s notice. It will take more time but better to keep your milk safe. If you would like to see what we use go here.
WHAT SIZE OF STAINLESS STEEL BUCKET WITH LID IS BEST TO USE TO HAND MILK A COW?
We use a 13 quart pail with a lid. Keep in mind the size of your cow, the amount of milk she produces, and the weight you can carry with the bucket full of milk. Here is one if the pails we use in our home dairy.
DOES THE SIZE OF MILK COW MATTER?
Your milk bucket needs to have plenty of space between the bucket and the cow’s udder for you to milk your cow. If you have a mini-sized cow then you will need to choose a shorter bucket.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BUCKET WITH A LARGE DIAMETER SO YOU CAN EASILY STREAM MILK INTO THE BUCKET WHEN MILKING.
Yes, especially if you have a milking partner. The bucket’s diameter needs to be large enough so both milkers can quickly and easily stream milk into the bucket. A bucket with a small opening is very inconvenient and will cost you time when milking your cow.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO AVOID DEBRIS GETTING IN THE MILK BUCKET?
- You can buy a stainless steel milk screen that fits down inside the stainless steel bucket. This works great to pre-filter your milk by keeping out hair, dirt, and hay. The hand milker’s package that I purchased come with a 13 quart 304 stainless steel bucket (13 gauge), a stainless steel custom screen that fits inside the bucket, and a stainless steel lid.
- Another option is to buy a stainless steel bucket and cover it with a tea towel secured with elastic. This will keep debris from falling into your milk.
STAINLESS STEEL BUCKETS MADE IN THE U.S.A. ARE THE SAFEST OPTION
America regulates manufacturing more than most countries therefore I feel more comfortable despite the expense.
DOES THE GAUGE MATTER (OR THE THICKNESS OR THINNESS) OF THE BUCKET?
Yes, absolutely! Your bucket needs to be strong and study so it can withstand barn use. The lower the gauge the thicker the metal therefore a 13 gauge bucket is far stronger than a 18 gauge bucket. Some of the milk totes are very thin and dent easily. You should also be informed if the metal is 18/8 or 18/10, this will tell you the percent of nickel.
