Homemade vs Store Bought Nut Milk: Which is better?

What’s your favorite nut milk?

I love plant-base milk. Someone once asked in a Facebook group what is your favorite nut milk? I thought for a second and Almond Milk came to mind. Though I love all the nut milks on the market, almond milk was something I was used to drinking as a teen and now as an adult.

Though I love Almond milk, I also know that it doesn't go well with every recipe. Each nut milk is suitable for different meals and I use a variety of ones on the market.

I have experimented with making my own almond milk and it taste so much better than store bought almond milk. When making your own nut milk it’s free from preservatives and additives. It contain more nutrients compared to store bought nut milk.

It taste way better and you can flavor it with whatever ingredients you prefer. Such as cinnamon, dates, nutmeg, raisins, and cacao. Though the shelf life is less compared to store bought nut milks, it’s worth the try.

Homemade vs Store Bought

Homemade

Shorter shelf life

Higher Percentage of Nut to water ratio

No Additives

No added sugar

Store Bought

Longer Shelf Life

Lower Percentage Nut to water ratio with store nut milk containing less than 2.5% nuts

Additives and Fillers

Added Sugar

Though fresh is often a convenience, we can't always rely on making things homemade. When shopping for nut milk always check the ingredients label. Look for ingredients such as carrageenan. "Degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, is not safe to eat. Research in animals indicates that it causes gut tumors and ulcers, and may even trigger colon cancer. Because of the possible danger, fewer studies have investigated the potential effects in humans." (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323117)

Below is a List of Nut Milks that Are Carrageenan free if you are unable to make your own nut milk.

• Silk Unsweetened Original Almond Milk

• Eden Foods Organic Unsweetened Edensoy

• Rice Dream Classic Original Organic Rice Drink

• Pacific Foods Hemp Vanilla Plant-Based Beverage

• Pacific Foods Organic Oat Original Plant-Based Beverage

How do you make your own Nut Milk? The first time I attempted to make my own nut milk was years ago. I can recall filming a Facebook live and making a complete mess on camera and to top it off, the milk tasted horrible. I do not know what I did wrong but the milk tasted sour and I was so disappointed but I did give up.

Now that I have learned how to make my own Almond Milk, I am excited to share it with you. I made a simple almond milk recipe that is beginner friendly. Its delicious and only contains three ingredients. Remember if the first time it does not come out right, try again.

*A few cautions before you get started. Sterilize equipment and jars with hot water and allow to dry. Do this the night before the save yourself some time. Do not oversoak your nuts because they can become sour and will not give you the taste you desire from your nut milk.

Almond Milk

Makes 1 Quart