Plant-based milks are a great alternative to dairy milk, but store bought options can be expensive and full of preservatives. Making your own plant-based milk is one of the healthiest and cost-effective milk options, and can also be a fun project.
Making your own plant-based milk is also great for the environment because it doesn’t require any animal products or byproducts to produce, unlike traditional dairy that requires massive amounts of water and feedstock.
Ready to start making your own plant based milk? You may be surprised to learn how easy it is to do so.
Choose Your Ingredients
You can use any nuts or seeds of your choice. Some people prefer to use raw nuts and seeds, while others prefer to dry-roast them in a pan over medium heat until they turn golden brown in order to enhance the flavor.
Common choices include almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, hemp seeds, or oats. Each option will have a unique flavor, so consider which you enjoy the flavor of the most as this will affect the flavor of the final product.
Salt or sugar can also be added to taste, but avoid using salted seeds or nuts in your plant based milk, because they will likely be heavily salted and potentially unsuitable for milk.
Otherwise, all you need to make plant-based milk is the nuts or seeds of your choice and water. A cheesecloth and blender will be required for preparation.
Soak Nuts or Seeds Overnight
Soaking the nuts in water for a few hours before blending will help to soften them.
This is especially important if you’re using almonds or cashews, which are generally quite hard and don’t blend easily. Soaking overnight also breaks down phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors, and other compounds.
If you’re pressed for time, a few hours can suffice to soften the nuts for blending, but leaving them overnight will yield the best results.
Rinse Oats, Nuts, or Seeds with Water
After the nuts have soaked overnight, rinsing them with cool water can help to remove skins and other impurities. This will make the blending process easier, while also ensuring that there is no dirt or debris in the milk.
Blend With Water, Sweetener, and Flavorings
After your main ingredients have softened, you can blend with flavors and sweeteners of your choice. Honey, agave, and sugar can all enhance the flavor of your plant-based milk.
You can also add in any other ingredients you’d like to add—flaxseed oil, cinnamon, or vanilla extract are all good options. The best way to do this is in a high-speed blender on the highest setting for 3-5 minutes.
After blending, strain the milk through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into another bowl.
Strain the Milk
If you want a creamier texture, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a separate bowl. You can use this liquid as is or add more water or other liquids to make it sweeter or thinner.
Some press on the solid remnants of the nuts or seeds as an attempt to add more flavor to the milk, but this is not recommended because it can result in a more bitter flavor.
How to Make Plant-Based Milk: Final Thoughts
Making plant-based milk is easy! It’s a healthier alternative to dairy milk, completely free of cholesterol and lactose, and full of vitamins and minerals.
You’d also be hard-pressed to find another product that gives back so much while still being delicious. Making plant-based milk is better for your health and the planet while also putting less strain on our finite resources than traditional dairy production systems do; and you’ll feel good knowing that no animals were harmed during its creation!
Homemade plant-based milk can last up to 7 days when refrigerated. As you enjoy fresh plant based milk along with fresh produce, download the Lil’ Broc app in order to track and monitor the shelflife of your produce.