How To Make Oat Milk And Why You Should

Let’s learn how to make oat milk. And let’s talk a bit about why we should.

cereal, oranges, and oat milk on a table

I switched from traditional dairy milk to plant milk in my diet some time ago. I’m not even sure how long it’s been at this point. It’s been awhile.

I have no desire to go back. I find that plant milk suits me better. If for no other reason than the way it makes me feel physically.

And yet, there are many other reasons. For today, we’ll explore the reasons that you would want to switch to plant milk derived from whole rolled oats.

Oat Milk vs. Cow’s Milk

Oat milk is very nutritious. It contains soluble fiber which is gelatinous in nature. This quality causes it to turn to a gel in your digestive system, which keeps you full longer, aiding weight loss efforts.

ingredients for oat milk in bowls on a table

It is believed that the soluble fiber in this tasty plant milk promotes the reduction of cholesterol levels. And this milk helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Because it is a plant, it is more environmentally friendly to produce. And with the toll that current farming practices are taking on our planet, that is ideal. It is something we all need to be striving to support.

Cow’s milk, on the other hand, is known to be inflammatory. A physical issue that is at the root of many common health ailments.

It contains harmful hormones, even when there are no hormones used to treat the animals throughout the production process. The very nature of an animal producing milk for it’s young involves hormone production in the animal. These hormones are passed from the cow to it’s milk, as they are needed by it’s young for proper growth.

Studies are increasingly showing that dairy products are likely the most harmful food that humans can consume, even more so than meat.

And finally, there is the treatment of the animals that are raised to produce these products for human consumption. I won’t go into the gory details here, as this is not that kind of blog, but if you are unaware of what happens in these (or any) food production industries I urge you to do a little research on your own.

How Oat Milk Tastes

There are a variety of plant milks available on the market today. And each of them has their own unique flavor.

ingredients swirling in a food processor

I am the first to admit that cashew milk is my favorite. Perhaps that is because I am so very fond of cashews.

But there is no doubt that oat milk comes in a very close second to my beloved cashew milk. It is creamy and has just the slightest sweetness to it. So delicious!

Is It Cheaper To Make Plant Milk?

So, if I prefer cashew milk, why do I choose to make oat milk instead?

Well … it’s exponentially cheaper. The difference in price between a pound of cashews and a pound of oats is pretty vast.

liquid being poured from a food processor bowl into a quart jar through a strainer

I believe the last time I purchased raw cashews they were $6.95 a pound. And that was at the local Amish store, where the prices are quite low.

And the whole rolled oats that I purchased at the same store ran $.82 a pound. Not to mention that there are quite a bit more oats in a pound as they are so much lighter. And it takes more cashews to produce cashew milk than it takes oats to produce oat milk.

Ultimately, when it comes to the wallet … oat milk wins!

Can Oat Milk Go Bad

Yes, oat milk can go bad. And unlike the plant milks that you purchase in the store it will go bad rather quickly when you make it homemade.

strained liquid in a mason jar with a strainer full of oats on top

This may seem like a negative thing. BUT, it truly is just indicative of how much better homemade is for you.

It is not full of preservatives, natural or not, and that is much better for your body. The body has no use for preservatives. It doesn’t process them for fuel or nutrition.

They contribute to adverse health conditions. And the liver is left to deal with the task of successfully removing them from the body.

With the world that we currently live in being full of substances that the liver has to keep up on combating, I say don’t make it’s job harder! Get as many preservatives out of your food as you can.

I make oat milk in small batches. It literally takes minutes to make. And it lasts in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. It will separate rather quickly. But that is not an indication that it is bad. You can just shake it until it is blended well and it’ll be just the same as when you first made it.

When it has gone bad you will be able to smell the difference in it right away. It has a naturally sweet smell when fresh. It will smell a bit rancid as it sours.

How To Use Plant Milk

The wonderful thing about plant milk is that it really is most often a suitable replacement for animal’s milk. Simply use it in any recipe that calls for dairy milk of any kind. The replacement ratio is 1 part for 1 part.

oat milk being poured over a bowl of cereal

I use it almost exclusively when I bake. I use it as a replacement in all of my cooking. And I use it to top cereal and lighten my tea.

It’s very versatile. You just have to experiment with it yourself. And remember, taste buds are trained. It won’t taste like dairy milk. But if you give it a chance, before you know it you won’t want to use anything else!

How Oat Milk Is Made

Making oat milk is likely one of the easiest things you’ll ever do. Not even kidding!

woman holding a mason jar of homemade oat milk with a strainer on top

There is a printable recipe available for you at the end of this post, if you would like to have it on hand. And here is a summary of the steps to give you the general idea …

  1. Place whole rolled oats and filtered water in a food processor
  2. Add sweetener, vanilla, and salt (optional step)
  3. Process on low for 60 seconds
  4. Strain the plant material from the water

It’s really as simple as that! It takes just minutes!

Have you ever made your own plant milk? Do you plan to give making oat milk a try?

Let’s meet in the comments and chat all about it!

pinnable image for how to make oat milk

If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!

You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving and/or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished dish.

cereal, oranges, and oat milk on a table
Yield: 2 3/4 cups

OAT MILK RECIPE

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Making oat milk is so easy. Once you give it a try, you'll never purchase it premade again. Use this step by step guide to get started.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup whole rolled oats
  • 3 cups filtered water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1 tbls pure maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor
  2. Blend on low for 60 seconds
  3. Strain the blended oats out of the mix without applying pressure (squeezing) to them to remove excess liquid
  4. Place in a sealed jar
  5. Refrigerate, will last for 5-7 days
  6. Shake well before using, will separate

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

5

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 44Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 5/6/2021. Nutrition information is not always accurate.

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