Thank you Emma. I am going to try this. Similarly I have not wanted to invest in a milk steamer.

A french press also works. Rather than shaking a closed container, give the press and few good pumps and the milk froths very quickly.

Would it work with almond milk? I don't do dairy in the mornings...

i don't use a microwave, would this work the same shaking/pumping the milk and then heating it on the stove? or heating the milk first then shaking? I am in search of a good stove top milk frother/heater.

Exactly SydneyBristow! I need a microwave alternative!

Milk holds excellent bubbles. I think any heated milk will allow this. I would just do the opposite. Warm the milk on the stove, put in a jar with a lid and shake. I remember heating baby bottles for my mom and major foam happening when i shook them.

SydneyBristow and shantell:
One of the big enemies of foam is time; heating on the stove might take too much time and your foam will flatten out. Shaking the hot milk might work, but I'm pretty sure it'd be messy and un-fun, since the jar would be hot, and the steam would make it ooze when you opened it.
The french press method would probably work just fine with pre-heated milk.

I personally like cold milk foam, so I just skip the microwave. (I also happen to have a home espresso machine with a steam wand, so hot isn't a problem, either).

You can foam milk sans microwave w/a whisk. Heat it gently on the stove and then whisk the hell out of it. If you can alternate arms it counts as a workout.

I do have a micro and I can't wait to try this trick!

For $1.99 I purchased a battery operated milk frother from IKEA. Works great.

this would be perfect for me! i have an espresso machine but don't always want to clean the wand and milk container just for 1 serving of milk!!

What a great idea!!

I sometimes do this on the stove with an immersion blender too.

I have the Aerolatter frother and I love it. But I have to admit that I bought it because Nigella Lawson recommends it and I have a huge girl crush on her! Here it is at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Aerolatte-Milk-Frother-Satin-Finish/dp/B0002KZUNK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257803518&sr=8-1

I also recommend the aerolatte one - works very well.

sinnela - I just tried it with almond milk and it worked just fine! Probably not QUITE as foamy as regular milk...but I might just not have shaken it long enough (I got lazy). (:

AWESOME tip!

I hope it can work with soy milk, which is my substitute for all things dairy.

I also have the IKEA frother and love it to death. It was so cheap and works perfectly, but I like knowing about this technique.

I'll add that fresher milk makes more and better froth. If your milk isn't giving you the foam you crave, maybe it's a little old.

i just tried this with disappointing results. my milk was a week past its best before date though so slowdown is probably right.

will try again with fresh milk!

Just have to second the french press recommendation. We have two presses. We make coffee in one and foam milk in the other. Just heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave, then pour it into the press and push down the plunger. Then pump the plunger up and down about ten times and you have amazing milk foam!

The only problem with this method (and also the jar method) is that it doesn't cause the same chemical reaction that steaming does, so the milk doesn't come out as sweet. But at least it's foamy!

I guess I'm just too low-tech. I pull out the whisk and have at it.

I'm usually not woken up enough in the mornings to think about this, but I'll give it a try tomorrow. I drink strong Indian-like milk tea in the mornings.

Also try this $15 portable milk frother: http://www.amazon.com/Aerolatte-Milk-Frother-Satin-Finish/dp/B0002KZUNK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257873684&sr=8-2

It has great reviews on Amazon.com and I've bought it for gifts a few times!

If you use a wisk, twirl it between your two palms. Beats the heck out of using one hand/arm at a time.

I have the IKEA milk frother, too. $1.99 and works great -- just heat the milk on the stove and go at it.

Dhm - was the pun intentional? Using a whisk between your two palms BEATS the heck out of using one hand... :o) Ha!

I've never found a problem with using one hand at a time, but I whip up whipped cream by hand all the time, so I guess my arms are just used to it by now.

I love just shaking milk or cream container and pouring it cold over coffee...

This is a great tip - we just saved major $$$ becoz now we won't buy the milk steamer. Thank you...

Anyone have any suggestions for someone who does not have a microwave? Cause this sounds like such a great idea!

Step three says to microwave it for "another 30 seconds." Should there have been a step where it was mircrowaved for a FIRST 30 seconds?

I have the same question as empresscallipygos!

i think the "another" refers to the 30 seconds... shaking was the first 30, microwaving was another 30.

i'm with vicious. for everyday i just shake the soy milk container and pour it in as is. i might get a bit fancier and try this trick on a weekend.

SydneyBristow You can try heating the milk first and then putting it in a thermos to shake up.

I froth my milk by putting 1/2 a cup of milk in a 2 cup capacity glass measuring cup and microwave for 60 seconds. Then I put my bamix immersion blender with the whipping attachment, touching the bottom of the measuring cup at first to make sure I don't splash, and then slowly move it straight up and down for about 30 seconds; making sure that the blades are always in the milk. I then pop it back in the microwave for another 20 to 30 seconds. It's best to do 20 seconds and then another 10 or 20 seconds, depending on the microwave. Just make sure you keep your eye on the microwave window and watch the foam as it rises in the glass pitcher so you can press the STOP button to make sure that it doesn't spill over. It works like a charm and I get bigger bubble foam at the top and a micro foam right above the liquid milk. Makes a great latte or cappuccino.

I forgot to mention that if your immersion blender has two speeds, use the LOW speed.

I really loved the IKEA frothers and I loved how it was only two bucks. I thought it was cheap as. And one sad day, it broke :( I went to buy a new one, but I couldn't fit the batteries in it... I had to chuck it out since I couldn't use it.
I like the idea of using a jar to make the foam, but since I had no empty jars, I just used an empty bottle, which provided to be a good substitute. After I shake it, I pour it into a glass cup and I then microwave it.
Thanks for the idea/tutorial!

Just want to let everyone know this works great. All the comments seem to be crap on here so I thought I would actually leave a real one. Thanks for this tip!

I thought you couldn't put metal in the microwave? Huh. We use an aerolatte in scalded milk and it works beautifully.

Darlingcaro, you take the lid off before putting it in the microwave. :)

Just tried it and it's amazing :D I added no-sugar Hazelnut coffee syrup to my fresh hot coffee, used the directions for how to steam the milk, poured the milk in my Hazelnut/coffee mixture and it is AMAZING :) thank you!

I just tried this with some milk over the stove. I don't have a microwave. It worked so well. I took it off the stove a little after some steam started to show. Then I followed the directions just as it said. I've never had a coffee at home that tastes this good. Or so much like those at restaurants. Thanks so much for this.