Oat Milk
Discover how to make your own oat milk at home with this easy recipe. Enjoy a delicious vegan alternative to dairy milk with this simple oat milk recipe—no special equipment required! Make your own oat-based milk today for an easy, healthy, and natural alternative to dairy milk.
Oat milk is so popular these days! I know it’s because it’s a delicious and sustainable plant-based milk alternative.
Are you lactose intolerant? Have dairy allergies? It’s an excellent option for you, but it has an added bonus that I really love. It can help you reduce your environmental footprint.
Making oat homemade milk is cost-effective and lets you customize it based on your taste preferences. Today, I’m guiding you through the simple steps of making oat-based milk in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Key Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:
- Oats — I used rolled oats, otherwise known as old-fashioned oats
- Date — To add a bit of sweetness, we’ll use a pitted date. You can substitute a tablespoon of maple syrup.
- Salt — A pinch of salt will also enhance the flavor.
- Water — Obviously, water is an important ingredient in plant-based milk. If your water has flavor (such as hard water), you will want to use filtered water.
How to Make Oat Milk
- Add oats to a blender jar, along with dates, water, and salt.
- Pulse until creamy.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a mason jar.
- Repeat this process to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Use the oatmeal pulp for smoothies.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can I use steel-cut oats to make oat milk?
Yes, you can use steel-cut oats to make oat-based milk, but they require a longer soaking time and more thorough blending. Rolled oats are more commonly used because they are pre-steamed and flattened, making them easier to blend and strain.
Can I use homemade oat milk in recipes that call for storebought oat milk?
Absolutely! Homemade oat milk can be used as a substitute for store-bought varieties in most recipes. However, homemade oat beverages may have a different texture or flavor, depending on your customization (e.g., sweeteners or flavorings). Adjust the quantity as needed, and consider the flavor profile of your homemade oatmeal milk to complement your dish.
Oat Milk Without a Blender
If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry! You can still make oat-based milk using a simple method. Here’s how:
- Soak the Oats: In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, a pinch of sea salt, a teaspoon of maple syrup, and 4 cups of water. Stir the mixture and let it sit for about 30 minutes to allow the oats to soften.
- Strain the Mixture: After soaking, strain the softened oats through a nut milk bag or a fine-mesh strainer into another bowl or container. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to gently press and squeeze the liquid from the oats as much as possible. This may take a little more effort than using a blender, but it’s doable.
- Transfer to a Bottle or Jar: Pour the strained oat beverage into a clean glass bottle or jar for storage. Seal it with an airtight lid to keep it fresh. Homemade oatmeal milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- Shake Before Use: Homemade oat drinks can separate over time. Give it a good shake before each use to maintain a consistent texture.
Enjoy your homemade oat milk without a blender! You can use it in coffee, cereal, baking, or any recipe that calls for an oat beverage.
Marly’s Tips
It can be tricky to make smooth oat milk that’s not slimy. Here are my tips to help you achieve that:
- Keep it Cold. Use ice-cold water to keep the oats firm.
- Short Blend. Blend the oats with the water in a few short bursts to break down the oats but keep their texture. The finer the oats become, the more difficult it is to strain them. This allows more oats to get through, creating a thicker milk texture, which is not desirable.
- Straining is important. If you’re using a fine mesh strainer, double strain to get as much of the oats sediment out as possible. A tightly woven nut milk bag will produce the best results.
- Minimal Strainging. In addition to double straining, don’t squeeze or press the oats sediment into the milk. Remember, the oats sediment in the milk is what creates the slimy texture, so minimal straining is all you need.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you’ve made your own oat-based milk, you can use it in a variety of ways:
- In coffee or tea: Oat milk froths beautifully, making it an excellent choice for lattes and cappuccinos.
- In cereal or oatmeal: Use it just like regular milk for a creamy and nutritious breakfast.
- In smoothies: Oat milk adds creaminess and a subtle sweetness to your favorite smoothie recipes.
- In baking: Substitute oat milk for dairy milk in recipes for pancakes, muffins, and more.
Storage Tips
Store your oat beverage in a lidded jar for up to 4 to 5 days. Be sure to shake it before serving, as the ingredients will settle.
Oat Milk Recipes
If you love this homemade oat milk recipe, here are some exciting ways to use it. These recipes are great for using your DIY oat milk:
In Closing
Making oat-based milk at home is easy and lets you control the ingredients so you can make it just like you want it.
Plus, it’s an eco-friendly choice, as oats have a lower environmental impact than other plant-based milk alternatives. So, give it a try and enjoy the creamy goodness of homemade oat milk while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.
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Oat Milk Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Medjool dates (substitute 1 tablespoon maple syrup)
- pinch sea salt (just a pinch)
Instructions
- Use a blender to pulse all the ingredients until creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Once it's smooth, pour the contents of the blender through a fine mesh strainer (or nut milk bag) into a mason jar and seal tightly. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Double strain for best results. Be sure to shake it before serving as the ingredients will settle.
- Transfer the oatmeal mixture at the bottom of the fine mesh strainer to a lidded container. Refrigerate it and add it to smoothies.
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Notes
Freezing Tips
You can freeze oat milk by pouring it into ice cube trays. Then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. You can add frozen cubes to soups, hot drinks, and more.Preventing Slimy Oat Milk
- Use ice-cold water to keep the oats firm.
- Blend the oats with cold water in a few short bursts to break down the oats but keep their texture. The finer the oats become, the more difficult it is to strain them. This allows more oats to get through, creating a thicker milk texture, which is not desirable.
- If you’re using a fine mesh strainer, double strain to remove as much of the oat sediment as possible. A tightly woven nut milk bag will produce the best results.
- Don’t squeeze or press the oats sediment into the milk. Remember, oat sediment in the milk creates a slimy texture, so minimal straining is all you need.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
In June 2023, I tried to make oat milk for the first time, and it didn’t turn out very well. However, yesterday I followed your recipe and the result was amazing – incredibly delicious and smooth. It honestly surpassed the store-bought ones in taste and texture 🙂 I haven’t calculated if it’s more cost-effective, but I’m seriously considering making homemade oat milk exclusively from now on!
Hi Leslie! I’m so glad to see you like this recipe! It’s a testament to second chances!
Thank you so much, Marly, for this helpful recipe. I use oat milk daily, in smoothies and overnight oats. I had no idea it was so easy to make oat milk. I believe that after your recipe, I won’t buy it in stores anymore. 🙂
Thanks, Amy! So glad you like it! Also, I added some tips on how to make it smooth. I hope that’s helpful too!