Can You Put Milk in a Keurig?

It’s the holiday season and nothing is quite as satisfying as a warm mug of your favorite hot chocolate or latte between your hands as you enjoy your cozy socks and a movie on Netflix, right? As much as it may be tempting to skip boiling some milk on the stovetop and filling your Keurig with milk instead of water to make your beverages, this is something you’ll definitely want to avoid doing. Never put milk in your keurig. 

In this article, we’re going to explain exactly why you shouldn’t and what to do if you already have – so read on, friend! 

How Does a Keurig Work?

Keurig machines have become so common that they’re a staple in most households and recognizable by name. They paved the way for single-serve coffee-pod java makers and have grown to have a variety of models in numerous colors. Through their growth, the basics of what produces your coffee in these machines has remained the same: a water tank and single-serve coffee pod that has enough coffee grounds to make a cup of your favorite flavor java. 

When you’re ready to brew a cup, you simply have to add water to the water tank, put a K-cup coffee pod into the holder, close it and press the “Brew” button. Voila, you’ll have coffee in seconds! 

Why You Should Never Add Milk to Your Keurig Water Tank

The reason Keurigs are so popular around the world is because they’re so convenient and quick. Now that they have come out with hot chocolate pods, it might feel logical to simply put some milk in your water tank and make your winter beverage that way. However, we’re here to warn you: that’s a really bad idea. The water tank is meant for just that – water, not milk. If you were to add milk to your water tank, it could not only ruin your milk but also your machine. 

What Happens If You Add Milk to Your Keurig?

So what happens if you put milk in a keurig? Well, if you do this, you’re going to run into at least one of the following problems:

Spoiling

One of the reasons a Keurig is so handy is because you can leave water sitting in its water tank. Don’t use water that’s been sitting for over 12 hours in there, but if it’s been in there for about 4 to 5, that’s okay. On the other hand, you can’t say the same for milk. When exposed to room temperature, milk spoils pretty quickly. If you have milk in your water tank, it won’t be long before it starts to curdle.

So if you’re looking to make some hot chocolate or a delicious, milky latte, you should heat it on a stovetop, in a microwave or anything else – just avoid putting it in your appliance’s water reservoir. Not only is it incredibly hard to wash out of your machine, but any residue left will curdle and leave your appliance smelling sour and foul.

Burning

Keurigs feature a special coil that has the ability to heat water extremely quickly. If you expose milk to the same coil, it will more than likely burn and end up producing a bitter, sour taste in the beverage you’re trying to produce. Once this occurs, you’ll be able to smell it and it can permeate your home and leave it smelling unpleasant for a while.

Scorched Metal

If you use milk in your machine and it burns, it’ll end up sticking to the heating element within. That can scorch the metal and cause buildup that’ll prevent the appliance from working properly. Since these areas are hard to access for cleaning, you’ll have a tricky problem on your hands. 

Final Thoughts

At this point, we hope we’ve answered your burning question: can you put milk in a keurig? The answer is a resounding: no!

So, if you ever have the craving to make a milky, warm beverage, just stick to boiling some milk in a pan on the stove or heating it up in the microwave. There’s no need to expose your keurig to milk and ultimately break it. You deserve to enjoy your yummy coffee espresso from your keurig at any given time, so take care of your machine! And of course, happy caffeinating, friend!