There is a valid reason.

Dear Lisa: What is the purpose for scalding milk before using it in a recipe? Is it absolutely necessary? I don't have a thermometer for checking the temperature. -- Linda C.

a pot of milk with herbs and a whisk in it - MaraZe/Shutterstock Scalded milk is an ingredient that often appears in older recipe books. Because of its association with times past, many cooks today ...

If you've been digging through stacks of old family cookbooks, you're likely to come across a recipe that calls for scalded milk. The process of scalding milk calls for the milk to be brought to a ...