As much as it is fun to use a milk frother and see the milk go from shiny liquid to double in volume and get a smooth milk foam, everyone who uses a milk frother or coffee maker knows that milk is the hardest substance to clean.
Milk tends to burn easily, and build up residue, especially if the milk is overheated. Warm and moist environments are breeding grounds for germs. An unclean gear can develop harmful bacteria and spoil the taste of your morning cup of coffee. Hence, it is extremely crucial to clean any such equipment properly.
While coffee makers and milk frothers are an excellent addition to your kitchen appliances, they can be a little difficult to clean since a lot of these gear are usually not dishwasher safe. In this guide, we have explained how you can clean different types of milk frothers easily.
What is a Milk Frother?
In simple words, a milk frother is an equipment used for frothing milk or creating Milk foam. Milk foam is most commonly used in beverages like cappuccino, macchiato, etc. The process of frothing milk involves incorporating air into the milk until it becomes light and foamy.
Most electric and handheld frothers have spiral whisk attachments that whisk or stir the milk this is done to introduce air into the milk. Doing this causes the milk to create spheres around the milk and then the protein in the milk stabilizes the air bubbles, which form the milk foam.
Read this to find out what is a milk frother and why do you need one.
Types of Milk Frother
There are mainly 3 types of Milk frothers – Electric, Handheld, and Manual Frother.
1) Electric Milk Frothers
Electric Milk Frothers are definitely the most famous option if you want to get high-quality foam within seconds. Most electric frothers also serve as a milk steamers.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The capacity of frothing milk can vary from 115ml of milk to 250ml in different devices. Electric devices are great for non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, etc.
Most electric frothers have an auto-off feature which means after you pour the milk and turn on the machine, you can completely walk away while the frother is doing its thing.
Whether the device is dishwasher safe or not would vary on different brands and their style.
Here is a list of the 6 best electric milk frothers for home use.
2) Handheld Milk Frothers
A handheld milk frother is the most commonly used milk frother. They are a battery-operated frother wand. It comes with a whisk on one end.
When you dip the whisk wand in milk, it helps incorporate air in the milk which creates small bubbles and milk foam. They come at a very reasonable price and create fairly good foam.
Here are the 10 Best Handheld Milk Frothers. Check It Out!
3) Manual Milk Frothers
A manual Milk frother is a plunger-style frother. In appearance, they look very similar to a French press. It comes with a Milk carafe, a plunger and at the bottom of the plunger, there is a mesh screen.
When you add milk to the carafe and pump the milk using the plunger the mesh screen helps aerate the milk which creates milk foam.
Hand pump milk frothers are affordable, easy to use, and clean but it does require more effort in frothing milk than the electric or handheld milk frother.
Here are some of the best manual milk frothers.
How To Clean An Electric Milk Frother? Step-by-Step Guide
Cleaning an all-electric milk frother is fairly simple and it follows a similar procedure.
Step 1: Detach the carafe from the base unit and remove the whisk and any other removable unit.
Step 2: Clean the jug by washing it under running water carefully. Use a sponge with a non-abrasive detergent to remove any milk residue or sticky substance. Most milk frothers come with a non-stick interior, so the cleaning process should be easier.
Step 3: Clean the whisk separately in warm water.
Step 4: Take the lid of the frother and clean it under running water. Once cleaned wipe using a soft damp cloth.
Step 5: To clean the exterior use a soft damp cloth to wipe off any milk spill. Do not submerge these in water or use soap to clean the stainless steel exterior as it could lead to discoloration or rust.
Quick Tips
- If there is stubborn burnt milk stuck, inside the container. Fill the milk jug with water and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. This should get rid of any sticky substance and make the cleaning process easier.
- If you have used matcha powder or chocolate in your milk frother, always soak the milk jar with some warm water and wash it with a soapy solution after. This ensures, that the frother is cleaned thoroughly and any strong smell like that of chocolate is gone.
How To Clean A Manual Milk Frother? Step-by-Step Guide
Usually, most manual milk frothers are dishwasher safe, so cleaning them isn’t that big of a task. However, for manual milk frothers that are not dishwasher safe follow the step-by-step process to clean them.
Step 1: Remove the plunger and the mesh from the jug and wash them with a soapy solution. After that clean it under running tap water to remove all the soap and milk residue if any.
Step 2: Clean the jug with a soft sponge and soap to clean milk deposits. If there’s any burnt milk in the container, fill the jug with water and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After that use lemon or citric acid to clean the jug thoroughly.
How To Clean A Milk-Frother Wand? Step-by-Step Guide
Cleaning a handheld milk frother is by far the easiest. It doesn’t take a lot of time or energy.
Step 1: Fill a small glass with water and dishwashing liquid. Dip the tip of the wand and turn the device on for 10 to 15 seconds.
Step 2: Take another glass filled with clean water and dip the tip of the milk frother wand and turn it on for 10 to 15 seconds.
Quick Tips
- Do not use water to clean the handle of the milk frother wand. Clean it lightly with a soft damp cloth.
- Clean the milk frother wand immediately after use so that the milk doesn’t dry up making it difficult to clean.
Conclusion
It is extremely important to clean your kitchen appliances properly before and after use to avoid dirt from settling deeper in the device and creating harmful bacteria. In case you do not like the hassle of cleaning these appliances regularly try and switch to dishwasher-safe gear.
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