There’s arguably no trendier milk in the world right now than oat milk. In fact, the creamy dairy-free beverage is so popular that a shortage of the product last year lead some addicted consumers to drop up to $200 on a single carton, and for one popular brand to open up a whole new plant just to keep up with demand.
Luckily, making homemade oat milk is not only insanely easy, but also far more affordable than making nut milks from scratch. Rather than stocking up on bags of costly almonds, all you need is some rolled oats, water, and a pinch of salt. Once you get a hang of the process, you’ll never have to battle it out at the grocery store for one of the prized cartons again.
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Oat milk is popular not only for its creamy, subtly sweet taste, but also its minimal environmental impact in comparison to the other milk alternatives. Although oat milk has little nutritional value, it still makes for a delicious dairy-free supplement in place of traditional cow’s milk.
What You’ll Need
To craft your homemade oat milk, you’ll need only three tools: a blender, a nut milk bag, and a large glass jar or lidded container. If you don’t have a nut milk bag, you can also opt to use a cheesecloth placed over a strainer to filter your milk.
In terms of ingredients, you’ll need: 1 cup rolled or steel-cut oats, 3 cups water, and a pinch of salt. Other optional ingredients that can be used to customize the flavor of your oat milk include: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon raw honey, and cinnamon or nutmeg. We highly recommend including vanilla extract in your milk, as the oats on their own are relatively flavorless.
The Process
Begin by soaking your oats in a bowl of water overnight, for up to 12 hours. This process helps soften the oats, making them easier to blend, and to remove the naturally occuring phytic acid, which can be harmful to digestion. Although the soaking step is optional, not soaking your oats could result in a slightly slimy final texture.
Once your oats have soaked for a minimum of a few hours, drain and rinse them thoroughly to prevent your oat milk from turning out thick or slimy, like oatmeal. Shake out any excess water, and transfer the rinsed oats to your blender.
Add the rest of your ingredients—water, salt, and the flavoring ingredients of your choice—to the blender and blend for two minutes.
Place your milk bag or strainer over a large jar and pour the blended oats through the bag, using your hands to strain the milk through the bag and remove any oat pulp. Voila, you’ve made your first oat milk! Store your homemade creation in the fridge for up to 5 days. Some separation is natural, so be sure to give your milk a good shake before pouring into coffee, over cereal, or wherever your heart desires.
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