Protein content
A 1 cup serving of milk (2%) contains 8.1 g of protein - a good source of protein, about 16% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup (244 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 8.1 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 3.3 g |
| Calories per serving | 122 kcal |
| Protein density | 26% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 16% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Dairy |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #171267 |
A typical 1 cup serving of milk (2%) contains 8.1 grams of protein (3.3 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 16% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 26% of the calories in milk (2%) come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 81 dairy foods in the database, milk (2%) ranks 28th by protein per serving, and 347th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against swiss cheese, another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (swiss cheese has 7.6 g per 1 oz).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by volume at 244 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #171267 - "Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Milk (2%) has 3.3 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (244 g) provides 8.1 g.
Yes. Milk (2%) is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
A 1 cup serving of milk (2%) contains 8.1 g of protein, about 16% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Milk (2%) is a good source of protein, and about 26% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against swiss cheese, another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (swiss cheese has 7.6 g per 1 oz).
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