Though scalding was a form of insur¬ance in times when milk quality was uncertain, it can now be dispensed with in custard making—unless you need to flavor the milk by infusing it with vanilla or cof¬fee beans, citrus peel, or another solid fla¬voring. A custard mixed cold has just as even a texture and sets almost as quickly as a pre-scalded one. Pre-scalding the milk remains handy in making creams because milk (or cream) can be boiled quickly with little attention from the cook, while heat¬ing the milk-egg mix from room tempera¬ture requires a low flame and constant stirring to prevent coagulation at the pan bottom.