Types of Plant-Based Milk; Vegan Friendly!

Types of Plant-Based Milk 

For many years, there have been different types of plant-based milk available. However, they were not that popular compared to cow’s milk. Recently, more people have been looking into trying plant-based milk or the best vegan milk. It is due to the various uses for plant-based milk and its health benefits. Thus, making it a great addition to anyone’s diet. In case you are wondering what the uses of plant-based milk are or what’s the best vegan milk option out there are. Worry no more! This article will discuss the best vegan milk options, the best types of plant-based milk and the different ways to make it at the comfort of your home.

Benefits in Using Plant-Based Milk

People get non-dairy milk from plants like soy, different nuts, seeds, and grains. These types of plant-based milk alternatives were initially controversial because the media initially released that they had bad side effects. One of which was that it stimulated your hormones and caused several complications in the body. However, people were getting more informed about the many benefits of plant-based milk through science and proper research. 

Industrialized Cows are Suffering

The dairy business puts cows through hell their whole lives. Many people see cows as commodities from the time they are born. Cows, like humans, only produce milk exclusively for their kids. People abuse cows until they are no longer capable of producing milk or offspring. When this happens, slaughterers kill cows for their meat. Though few people realize it, it is unlawful for cows to experience agony when killed in most instances.

The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act, passed by Congress in 1958, established slaughter requirements for all meat producers supplying the federal government. However, as shown by many online videos, the machinery used to kill them often fail, causing cows to die in an excessively long and painful manner. That is why having plant-based milk alternative is essential not only for us humans, but also for the lives of our dear cows.

Ecological Nightmare

Dairy cows and their manure are contributors to climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases. Manure and fertilizer mishandling may even potentially damage local water supplies. In reality, compared to other foods, beef and milk from cows is by far the worst offender in terms of environmental effects.

The dairy business is extremely harmful to the environment since it consumes a lot of water and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is California’s main producer of smog-forming pollutants. Manure from dairy farms has poisoned hundreds of square kilometers of groundwater, rivers, and streams in America’s top milk-producing state. Another factor to consider is that a single cow produces more of these hazardous gases than any vehicle. 

Healthier for Everyone

The different types of plant-based milk are lower in saturated fat and calories than cow’s milk, and they offer some of the nutritional advantages of the entire plant. Plant-based alternatives are sometimes even supplemented with calcium, vital minerals, and other nutrients. Calcium and vitamin D are essential nutrients and vitamins to maintain healthy bones. You also avoid pesticides when you select organic products.

Plant based milk is also an excellent choice for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk. Lactose intolerance is a condition in which your body cannot digest milk, resulting in severe stomachaches. In addition, lactose intolerance affects about 65 percent of people globally.

Types and Uses of Plant-Based Milk:

Soy Milk

First on our list of the types of plant-based milk is soy milk. It is often known as soya milk or soymilk, is one of the best plant-based/vegan milk alternatives available. It is a tofu byproduct. You can get Calcium and vitamin B12 in soy milk. Drinking Soy byproducts like soy milk has shown evidence to reduce the risk of cancer in recent studies. Another bonus to soy milk is that soy milk is an excellent alternative if you are lactose intolerant or dislike the flavor of cow’s milk.

Best Used For: Great for baking, cooking, or drinking plain, or in smoothies, or combining other drinks like coffee. 

Making it at Home: Making soy milk is a simple process. All you have to do is soak your soybeans overnight in around 700ml of water. Rinse the soybeans after discarding the water. After that, remove the skin and mix the soybeans with three to four cups of water in a blender. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and drain through a nut milk bag or muslin cloth. After that, cook the milk in a skillet over medium heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes, then let it cool before drinking.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is now nearly as commonly available as soy milk. Many grocery stores and coffee shops are selling almond milk. Vitamin E, found in almonds, is an antioxidant that benefits your brain, blood, and skin. A lot of commercial almond milk is very watery, with just around 2% almonds in them. It is one of the reasons why many individuals choose to make their own.

Best Used For: Almond milk may be used in every manner that regular challenging dairy milk can be. Try putting it in your cereal or coffee, blending it into smoothies, or using it in ice cream, soups, or sauces dishes.

Making it at Home: The first step in making homemade almond milk is to soak almonds in cold water overnight. You can even roast the almonds beforehand to add more taste. You then empty the water and combine the almonds with new water, salt, and any other ingredients in a blender. After blending for one to two minutes, the milk is transferred via a nut milk bag and into a mixing dish. Then squeeze out the liquid completely.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is the new almond milk. The Swedish company Oatly popularized it in the United States. It is a plant-based milk made by combining rolled oats and water, then straining off the pulp using a muslin cloth or cheesecloth. Because of how simple it is, it is one of the best vegan milk to create at home. Oat milk is also rich in essential vitamins and minerals, making it a perfect vegan-friendly option.

Best Used For: Milk-based coffee beverages. Most oat milk may be used in cooking and baking, owing to its thickness and taste.

Making it at Home: In a high-powered blender, combine the oats, water, and extra sweeteners, and process for twenty to thirty seconds. Pour it into a big mixing basin or pitcher through a nut milk bag or a thin cloth. It is to ensure that all of the sediment is gone. For better results, you can strain the mixture twice. Place the oat milk in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk in a carton is a thinned-out version of the thick cream found in cans and used in many Asian cuisines. It’s light and refreshing, with a touch of coconut taste. The creamy texture and mild flavor of this tropical drink are from coconut flesh and water.

Best Used For: For smoothies, coffee drinks, and even cereals.

Making it at Home: It’s best if you use fresh coconut. To begin, split the coconut open, extract the flesh, and mix the white meat with water. You’ll use the flesh of the coconut to create coconut milk. The typical water-to-coconut ratio is four cups of water to one whole coconut.

Rice Milk

Rice milk has a moderate flavor and is naturally sweet. Rice milk is somewhat watery in texture, and it’s the least allergic of all the milk substitutes. Most rice milk contains calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Rice milk has a sweeter flavor when compared to other milk substitutes. Rice milk has a high carbohydrate content but is low in protein and calcium.

Best Used For:  It’s delicious on its own, but also in smoothies, desserts, and porridge.

Making it at Home: Rice milk is commercially produced by pressing rice through a grinding mill and filtering it with water. Use rice flour and brown rice protein, add water, put the ingredients in a blender, and use a muslin or cheesecloth to filter the result.

 

Spelt Milk

Spelt is a popular wheat substitute because of its mild, nutty taste. It also contains iron, magnesium, and zinc, among other important minerals. In fact, Spelt and other whole grains may help individuals reach or maintain a healthy weight, enhance heart health, assist digestion, lower the risk of diabetes, and improve heart health.

Best Used For: Spelt milk is a delicious addition to your smoothies, muesli, and baked goods.

Making it at Home: Soak the Spelt grains (also known as Dinkel or hulled wheat) for twelve hours or overnight. Afterward, drain the mixture and place the spelt flakes inside your blender. Then use a muslin cloth or a clean kitchen towel to drain and get the milk.

 

 

Pistachio Milk

Pistachio milk has a greater protein content than other non-dairy milk, which is a minor plus. In addition,

Pistachio milk has a beautiful pale-green hue and a mild yet unique taste. Because pistachio trees need a particular environment and take a long time to develop, the cultivation process is extensive, making pistachio milk more costly.

Best Used For: Cereal, chai tea, coffee, and smoothies. You can also use pistachio milk when baking and preparing foods like soups and cakes.

Making it at Home: Pistachio milk is very easy to make and is the same way as almond milk. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you peel your pistachios. If you leave the skins on, the milk will be a more subdued green-brown color.

To begin, soak the pistachio nuts in four cups of filtered water overnight. Blend the soaked pistachio nuts on high in a high-powered processor or blender. You want to break down the nuts into tiny bits without mixing them too much so that they turn into pistachio butter. Pour the liquid into a dish through layers of cheesecloth or a nut milk bag and press out all the pistachio milk after mixing the nuts with the water.

Cashew Milk

Finally on our list of best plant-based milk is cashew milk. It is high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamins and minerals. Making cashew milk a regular component of your diet may also help avoid vitamin K insufficiency. A single serving of cashew milk may provide up to twelve percent of your daily vitamin K requirements. Cashew milk, like cow’s milk and other non-dairy milk, has a creamy, sweet taste.

Best Used For: It may be an alternative in most recipes that call for cow’s milk, such as smoothies, baked goods, and cold or hot cereals. You can also use cashew milk to create ice cream or add it to sauces to make them creamier.

Making it at Home: Cashew milk is simple to make. Just remembering to soak the cashews the night before is the most difficult part. The first step is to have one cup of cashews soaked overnight, then drained and rinsed. Then, in a high-powered blender, combine the cashews with four cups of water and any sweeteners you like. Finally, mix on high for a minute, then pour into a storage container and place in the refrigerator.

Best Vegan Milk 

I know that there are different types of plant-based milk out in the market, and choosing one may seem scary at first. But always remember that in choosing the best vegan milk out there, you should always choose the one that would taste the best and would be the most accessible option for you. 

 

Read More

Got Non-Dairy Milk (Fuhrman)