Dairy Tanks

Dairy Tanks

A dairy tank is a stainless steel reservoir used to store milk until it is picked up for transport. Dairy tanks must be able to keep milk cold in order to maintain health standards. After each use, the tank must be cleaned before a new supply can be stored. Farmers and dairy plants both use dairy tanks everyday.

Dairy cows are usually milked twice a day with mechanical vacuum milking machines. After milking the cows, these machines send the milk through stainless steel or glass pipes into the dairy tank, where it stays until pick-up. The raw milk is cooled to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit so that it will not spoil before it arrives at the dairy plant to be processed.

Most dairy tanks are made of stainless steel because it does not stain, rust, or corrode like ordinary steel will when exposed to moisture. Other advantages of using stainless steel for dairy tanks include easy cleaning, durability, and low cost. Stainless steel is commonly used in food storage applications because it is sanitary and does not impart taste or flavors.