Oat Milk

From organic oat milk to barista oat milk, from Oatly Oat Milk to Califa Oat milk… Finding the best oat milk brand for you is harder than it sounds and it can all get a little confusing when you are standing in the supermarket aisle!

That’s where we come in. Here is everything you need to know about Oat Milk including our top tips for picking the best oat milk for you…

What is Oat Milk and how is Oat Milk made?

Oat milk is plant milk made from soaking oats in water and then blending them. Amazingly, this plant-based process produces a deliciously drinkable substance, very similar to cow’s milk, only made from oats. Basically, this simple recipe is the cruelty-free solution that has made our mornings a whole lot better!

Oat milk has a mild and slightly sweet taste, reminiscent of the oats it is made from. Oat milk can be bought sweetened or unsweetened, and also comes in various flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, or even this Three Trees Oat Milk made from a combination of oats and seeds!

What is the history of Oat Milk? 

Believe it or not, a lot of types of plant-based milk have been around since as early as the 13th century. Oat Milk is different. The Oat Milk alternative was innovated in the 1990s when a Swedish scientist had a bright idea. Rickard Öste came up with the idea of blending oats with water. A few years later he co-founded the Oatly Oat Milk enterprise. The rest is history!

Over just a few decades, Oatly Oat Milk has taken off, brands such as Rising brew Co., Califia, Minor Figures Light Barista Oat Milk, and Elmhurst Oat Milk have joined the party and a lot of vegans and lactose-intolerance suffers have been made very happy!

What are the benefits of Oat Milk?

Oat Milk has loads of amazing benefits, but here are our top three…

•  It has its own health benefits 

Thanks to its main ingredient (oats), Oat Milk boasts some wonderful health benefits. 100% whole grain oats are packed with fiber, B vitamins, and minerals which are welcome additions to your daily milk dose. Also, most Oat Milks currently on the market are fortified with many essential nutrients, including Vitamin B12!

The best thing about Oat Milk is its beta-glucan content. This means it is thought to help reduce the chance of heart disease. Oatly Oat Milk contains ⅓ of your daily beta-glucan requirement per 250ml serving - we like those stats! 

• It’s good for the environment

When it comes to environmental impact, Oat Milk has one of the best track records among plant-based milk. Per liter, Oat Milk uses 0.9kg C02e, 0.8 sqm, and 48 liters of water. These numbers are lower than many other plant-based alternatives and much lower than dairy alternatives. 

Another huge plus is that oats can be grown in milder climates, which means they are not linked with deforestation or the destruction of biodiversity. Organic Oat Milk like this Minor Figures Organic Oat Milk is another great environmental option! 

• It’s allergen-friendly 

Oat Milk is a great choice for people with allergies. Why? Because naturally, it is free from lactose (tick), soy (tick), and nuts (tick). So, as some people suffering from intolerances or allergies may struggle with soy milk, dairy milk, and almond milk, oat milk is a great alternative that ticks all of the right boxes. 

Where To Use Oat Milk? 

Like most types of plant-based milk, Oat Milk can be used for just about anything you would use dairy milk for. This milk is the perfect option if you want a creamy base for anything from coffee to vegan bechamel sauce! Unlike some other plant-based options, it does not have a strong aftertaste or a distinctive flavor. Thanks to this, it was one of the most adaptable kinds of milk on the market that can be used for everything!

Why not try oat milk in your cereals, smoothies, savory sauces, and baked goods? You can even buy oat milk specially designed for your morning brew, like this Minor Figures Barista Standard Oat Milk!

Simply Delicious Oat Milk Recipes

Making organic oat milk at home couldn’t be easier, tastes delicious, and is ready in 10 minutes! Here’s how…

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Rolled Oats
• 3-4 Cups of Water
• 1 pinch of Salt
• Tbsp Maple Syrup

Directions:

• Add the oats, water, salt, and maple syrup to a blender and mix for 30 seconds or until well combined. 
• Place a thin towel over a large bowl and pour over the oat mixture to strain it. 
• Pour into a milk jug or container, refrigerate and enjoy!

Yes, making organic oat milk at home really is that simple. But, remember, buying oat milk ready-made is a great option too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Oat Milk contain Gluten?

While Oat Milk is a consistently great option for people with allergies, there is one problem. Not all oat milk is certified to be free from gluten. So if you have gluten intolerance, don’t go chugging the oat milk without looking at the packet. 

The good news? While not all vegan oat milk is gluten-free, there are lots of gluten-free oat milk varieties on the market. There are lots of types of oat milk varieties that have been made with gluten-free oats, made especially for people with gluten intolerance. The Califia Oat Milk Original is a delicious example! So, if you are celiac, look out for this gluten-free oat milk next time you buy oat milk!

Can I use Oat Milk for baking?

Oat milk is a perfect option for using in vegan baking. Why? Because it can be substituted directly for cow’s milk in all of your recipes! That’s right, with its milky consistency, oat milk is a 1:1 substitute for dairy milk, and its mild flavor means it won’t overpower your baked goods.

Our top tip? Try using full-fat oat milk - like the Willa's Creamy Oat Milk - this texture is just about as close as it gets to cow’s milk so it will make for the best, richest batters and doughs.

Is Oat Milk keto-friendly?

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that was designed for weight loss and health benefits.

If you want to follow a keto diet, the good news is that there are some types of plant-based milk (think nut milk) that will be your keto best friends, as they are much lower in carbs than cow’s milk. 

However, oat milk is not the best option because it actually has a relatively high carb content. That being said, if you can’t resist the oat milk lure, we advise picking organic oat milk that is unsweetened (this will have fewer carbs in it than sweetened alternatives). 

Our top picks for keto-friendly milk though are soy, almond, and coconut milk which all contain more fat and fewer carbs! 

How is oat milk different from dairy milk? 

In terms of health benefits, oat milk and dairy milk have a lot of the same nutrients. Almost every vegan oat milk variety is fortified with the same vitamins and minerals as dairy milk, to make it just as good, if not better than cow's milk. For example, some types of oat milk contain Vitamin B-2, a vitamin not even found in dairy milk.

However, oat milk often contains less protein than cow’s milk and can contain more sugar and carbs. Especially if you are not using organic oat milk or natural oat milk brand.

Aside from that, in terms of environmental impact, oat milk uses less energy and produces fewer emissions than cow’s milk. Oh, and it’s also a heck of a lot better for the cows! 

Top Tips for Picking the Best Oat Milk

When you get to the supermarket, it can be overwhelming to pick your perfect plant-based milk. Here are some useful hints to help you pick…

• Think about what you want from your milk

Do you want to go for the healthiest option or the most sustainable one? Are you looking for an all-rounder or a distinctive taste? Would you prefer low sugars or more vitamins and minerals? Do you have any special dietary requirements? These are all things it is important to think about before you pick your milk. Oat Milk is a great sustainable all-rounder, it has a creamy taste, and it is great for cholesterol levels but less good for your protein intake, so consider if this is exactly what you are after. 

• Pay attention to what you are buying

No two Oat Milks are the same. Some may be sweetened, some may be unsweetened. Some may contain gluten, some may be gluten-free. The difference between an Oatly Oat Milk and an Elmhurst, Silk, or Califia Oat Milk may be big! So, when you are buying your milk, pay attention to the packet to make sure it is exactly what you are after and make sure you find the best oat milk brand for you! 

If you don’t find a brand that is serving what you want, you could even try making it yourself at home. We seriously doubt you won’t find what you need here, just check the numerous options at PlantX.

• Taste is everything - so try a few!

At the end of the day, it all comes down to taste. So, don’t be afraid to buy a few different options to find your favorite. It's great that there are now so many types of oat milk on the market, so it is worth having a good browse to get the best oat milk for you!