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Are you looking for a super easy and inexpensive alternative to dairy? Homemade oat milk is your answer! It's full of calcium, low in fat, low in sugar, cholesterol-free and creamy.
Hey, friends.
Have you heard the statement that a plant-based diet is super expensive? I have, and I have had some pretty expensive grocery trips on a plant-based diet. That was when I bought a lot of packaged foods, like mock meats and non-dairy milk. A plant-based diet does not have to be expensive, though.
I'd be lying if I said I never buy those things anymore (just bought a Daiya frozen pizza last week!), but I've definitely cut back on the grocery bills by implementing some money-saving tips and sticking to eating whole foods. An incredibly helpful tip is to make your own homemade non-dairy milk. And one of the cheapest dairy-free milks to make at home is oat milk!
You can usually find steel cut oats from $1-3 a pound. Don't forget to check the bulk bins at your grocery store - they are usually the cheapest there! Feel free to use other types of oats though like rolled oats or quick oats if that is what you have.
The second best part about oat milk is that it is incredibly - and I mean incredibly - easy to make. If you own a blender, something to strain the oats out of the milk, and find 5 minutes to spare, you can have homemade oat milk.
How to Make
Simply blend up some oats and water in a blender. You do not need an expensive blender, feel free to use whatever you have access to. You can strain the oats out of the milk by using any of the following options: a cheesecloth, flour sack, a towel, a nut milk bag or a mesh strainer over the top of a bowl. If you're using one of the first two, gather the sides up and gently squeeze out the milk to make the process quicker.
Store into a mason jar or pitcher and place in the fridge.
Top Tip
Dairy milk alternatives tend to separate when sitting in the fridge, even store bought brands. Not to worry, just be sure to shake well before each use and you should be good to go!
Storage
Store your homemade oat milk for 3-5 days in the fridge. If you plan on freezing, remember to leave a few inches of space in your storage container - the liquid will expand when frozen! Oat milk can last approximately 6 months in a freezer.
FAQ
Can I use a different type of oats? Yes. Steel cut oats are used for this recipe, however, you can use what you have on-hand.
Is Oat Milk healthy? Yes! Oat milk is:
- Low fat
- Low sugar
- Cholesterol-free
- Rich in calcium
Recipe
Homemade Oat Milk
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup steel cut oats
- 4 cups cold water
Instructions
- Blend together the oats and cold water for about a minute.
- Using a super fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or nut milk bag, strain out the milk from the oats into a bowl. Pour into a jar or pitcher.
- Drink straight, pour over cereal, add into your smoothies, etc!
Leonard Hughes says
Is there any way of stopping the milk from separating into liquid and solid - a suitable stabilised ?
Karissa says
I just shake it well before using.
Lucy says
What a great idea! What do you do with the leftover strained oats? I’d hate to just throw them out!
Mackenzie Weaver says
I use them in my smoothies 🙂
Kat says
How long does it last in the fridge ? Thank you!
Karissa says
3-5 days!
Coni says
Can I sub the steel-cut oats with any kind of oats?
Karissa says
Yes, absolutely.
Moksha says
I tried with regular oats and it ended up gelatinous. What did I do wrong?