Lactometer - Milk Hydrometer

A Lactometer – dairy hydrometer is used to determine purity of milk. The lactometer is used to determine if the milk is heavier or lighter than water using specific gravity / density. The test does not give a conclusive indication of its composition since milk contains a variety of substances that are either heavier or lighter than water. Additional tests for fat content are necessary to determine overall composition.

The instrument is graduated at specifc test levels. Milk is poured in and allowed to stand until the cream has formed, then the depth of the cream deposit in degrees determines the quality of the milk. If the milk sample is pure, the lactometer floats; if it is adulterated or impure, the lactometer sinks