Fill a jar halfway up with milk. This should be a microwave-safe glass jar that has a lid. You can use any type of milk you prefer, although dairy milk tends to froth better than non-dairy milks, such as soy or rice milk.

Seal the container with its lid tightly sealed, and then shake it vigorously until the milk inside starts to get foamy. The milk should double in size while it is still in the container.

Remove the lid and place the container of foamy milk in the microwave, heating it on high for 30 to 60 seconds, until the milk is hot, but not boiling. The foam above the liquid will be slightly firmed up.

Spoon out the foam to use, as you wish. If you are making a coffee drink, strain the hot milk from the foam, pouring it into your coffee, and then spoon the foam on top.

Use a milk-frothing pitcher. A wide number of manual- and electric-milk frothing pitchers exist that will heat and froth milk. With an electric-milk frother, you can pour cold milk into the pitcher, as the electric frother will heat the milk as well as froth it. With a manual frother, you will have to use a pumping mechanism to aerate the hot milk manually, creating the froth. A French press, if you have one works in much the same way.

Use an electric, hand-held milk frother. Generally, hand-held frothers look like a slim, wire version of an immersion blender with a rounded wire-frothing wand at one end. To froth milk, stick the frothing wand at the tip into the warm milk and press the on button or switch. It should start making your milk frothy in 30 seconds or so, depending on the amount.

Use electric beaters or a wire whisk. If you are in a pinch, you can use electronic beaters to foam hot milk, much as you would to make whipped cream. You can also use a hand-held wire whisk, although it will take quite a bit of time and arm strength.