SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK STRIKING 97 



pounds of cane sugar are added to every 100 pounds of fresh 

 milk and that it takes 250 pounds of fresh milk to make 100 

 pounds of sweetened condensed milk, 100 pounds of sweetened 

 condensed, milk, therefore, contain 16 X 2.5 = 40 pounds of cane 

 sugar. Using the sugar-free finished product as the basis for 

 calculation, then, the ratio of concentration would be : 



250 



-=4.17 to 1. 



(100 40) 



Instead of giving the ratio of concentration, this basis of 

 calculation determines the ratio of evaporation only. The results 

 are, therefore, erroneous and misleading. It does not materially 

 matter whether the diluent in the condensed milk is water or 

 cane sugar, or both ; the really important factor is the per cent 

 milk solids in the condensed milk as compared with the per cent 

 solids in the original fresh milk, and this relation is solely deter- 

 mined by the amount of fluid milk required to make one pound 

 of condensed milk, or by the true and actual ratio of concentra- 

 tion. If it takes 2\ pounds of fresh milk for every pound of con- 

 densed milk, then the ratio of concentration is obviously 2.5 to 

 1 and not 4.17 to 1. 



Methods. To know just when the proper degree of concen- 

 tration has been reached is difficult and requires experience. It 

 is here w r here the processor can easily make or lose his wages. 

 There are various indications reminding the observant processor 

 that the milk in the retort is nearly "done," viz., time consumed 

 for condensing, time elapsed since all the milk has been "drawn 

 up," amount of condensed milk left in the pan and, most of all, 

 the appearance and behavior of the boiling milk itself. Milk 

 that has been sufficiently condensed assumes a glossy, glistening 

 lustre, it boils over from the periphery towards the center, form- 

 ing a small nucleus or puddle of foam in the center of the pan. 

 An experienced and observant operator knows within a few min- 

 utes when the milk is condensed enough. This does not mean, 

 however, that he should wait until the last minute before he 

 "strikes" the batch, for even the most skillful and experienced 



