How to Make Oat Milk: Homemade Oat Milk Recipe

Oat milk is a dairy-free milk made by blending rolled oats with water and straining the pulp through a cheesecloth to achieve a liquid smooth enough to add to your morning smoothie or cereal. You can make your own oat milk with old-fashioned oats, rolled oats, or steel-cut oats. To make oat milk using steel-cut oats, soak and strain the night before to make them easier to blend; quick oats, or instant oatmeal, are so fine that blending them further results in milk with a slime-like consistency.

Oat milk has a few notable benefits:

1. 1. Excellent source of fiber. The cereal grain is a strong source of daily dietary fiber, with four to five grams of fiber per serving on average.
2. 2. Good source of vitamins and minerals. Oats are chock full of vitamins and minerals including B12, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.
3. 3. Less carbs than cow’s milk. Oat milk has less saturated fats and carbs than cow milk options, making it a better choice for people with dietary restrictions.
   
4. 4. Sensible option for dietary restrictions. Oat milk is a great choice for those in search of a lactose-free creamer for their morning coffee. You can also make oat milk with gluten-free oats, however, those with celiac disease should consult their physician or dietitian to determine if they can safely consume the beverage.
5. 5. Vegan-friendly. The oat beverage is one of a few vegan alternative milks, along with coconut milk and macadamia nut milk.
6. 6. You can use the leftover pulp as a garnish. Homemade oat milk has another unique benefit: After straining the oats to make the milk, you can save the strained oats (pulp) from your milk and add it to smoothies, granola, or muffins.

There are a few differences between the “barista-style” oat milk with the creamy texture that you can find in coffee shops and grocery stores and homemade oat milk.

• Store-bought oat milk is not heat-sensitive. Commercial oat milk is made using a formula specifically designed to be heated. Homemade oat milk can turn slimy when introduced to heat. Homemade recipes typically work best as a base for smoothies, granola, or cereal.
• Homemade oat milk typically lasts up to five days. Since homemade oat milk does not contain preservatives, it typically only lasts up to five days when refrigerated. You can consume store-bought oat milk for up to 10 days after opening.
• Homemade oat milk is not creamy. Store-bought oat milk may contain enzymes and phosphates that result in a creamier beverage. You can create homemade oat milk with a creamier texture by adding two tablespoons of neutral oil to the mixture before blending. The emulsifying effect will help the milk maintain a creamier consistency.

Oat milk has a nutty, naturally sweet flavor with a distinct aftertaste of oats. The warm, lightly grassy, nutty flavor of toasted oats becomes more of a subtle undertone when blended with water.