Powdered Milk vs Whole Milk: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Powdered milk contains 36.2 g of protein, significantly higher than whole milk's 3.3 g. Whole milk has 60 calories, while powdered milk has 362 calories.

The comparison between powdered milk and whole milk reveals distinct nutritional profiles. Understanding these differences can help in making informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Powdered Milk and Whole Milk?

Powdered milk is a dairy product made by evaporating milk to dryness, resulting in a concentrated form. It is often used in baking and cooking due to its long shelf life. Whole milk is a dairy product that contains all the fat naturally found in milk, typically around 3.25% fat content. It is commonly consumed as a beverage or used in cooking.

Powdered Milk vs Whole Milk: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of powdered milk and whole milk to highlight their nutritional differences.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Powdered milk (nonfat)	Whole milk
Calories	362 kcal	60 kcal
Protein	36.2 g	3.3 g
Carbs	52.0 g	4.8 g
Sugar	52.0 g	4.8 g
Fat	0.8 g	3.2 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	535 mg	38 mg

Which Is Better, Powdered Milk or Whole Milk?

For weight loss: Whole milk has 60 calories, significantly lower than powdered milk's 362 calories, making it a better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Powdered milk provides 36.2 g of protein, far exceeding whole milk's 3.3 g, making it more suitable for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Powdered milk has 52.0 g of carbs and 52.0 g of sugar, while whole milk has 4.8 g of carbs and 4.8 g of sugar, making whole milk a better choice for low-carb diets.

How to Track Powdered milk and Whole milk Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when comparing different forms of milk. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers presented are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary recommendations. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Powdered milk has 36.2 g of protein, while whole milk has 3.3 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Whole milk has 60 calories, whereas powdered milk has 362 calories.

What are the carbohydrate contents?

Powdered milk contains 52.0 g of carbs, while whole milk contains 4.8 g of carbs.

How much sugar is in each type of milk?

Powdered milk has 52.0 g of sugar, compared to whole milk's 4.8 g of sugar.

What is the fat content of powdered milk?

Powdered milk has 0.8 g of fat, while whole milk has 3.2 g of fat.

How much sodium do they contain?

Powdered milk contains 535 mg of sodium, while whole milk contains 38 mg of sodium.

Key Takeaways

• Powdered milk has 362 calories per 100 g.
• Whole milk has 60 calories per 100 g.
• Powdered milk contains 36.2 g of protein.
• Whole milk contains 3.3 g of protein.
• Powdered milk has 52.0 g of carbs.
• Whole milk has 4.8 g of carbs.