How to make almond milk | Almond Milk Alpro | Almond Milk Health Benefits | Almond Milk Calories
The increase in the variations of alternative milk now on offer is vast. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start and what dairy alternative you should be drinking. Almond and oat milk are two of the most popular milk alternatives on the market. But what is the difference, apart from the main ingredients, and what are the benefits of drinking them? Is one better than the other? We take you through almond milk vs oat milk.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is a non-dairy milk alternative made from almonds. It has a nutty flavour and a creamy consistency and can be used as a replacement for cow’s milk. It’s a plant-based milk alternative that is suitable for vegans and contains no dairy or animal ingredients. It comes in different types such as sweetened and unsweetened. Unsweetened vegan milk is thought to be healthier for you and can be used in direct replacement for cow’s milk.
How to make almond milk?
Making your very own almond milk starts with soaking almonds overnight in cool water. Warm water will drain the flavour out of the almonds so make sure the water is cool, but not freezing cold. It is also important to leave the almonds in a fridge overnight and not out on the counter. In the morning, drain the almonds thoroughly and then add them to a blender. In the blender, add water, salt and anything else you wish to add. You can add vanilla, dates or berries for different variations of flavours.
Once added, blend for 1-2 minutes until combined. Then using a nut milk bag, if you don’t have one of these you can easily use a clean tea towel, strain out the mixture into a bowl or glass.
How long your milk lasts depends on the temperature of your fridge and how fresh the ingredients are. On average we would say your milk should last around 4-5 days.
Some benefits of almond milk include:
- Naturally Lactose Free
- 100% plant-based
- A great source of fibre
- Creamy texture and nutty flavour
- Naturally low in fat and saturated fat
- Low in sugars
- Contains vitamins B2, B12 and D. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Some disadvantages of almond milk include:
- Almonds are low in calcium. If the type of almond milk you are drinking is not forfeited with calcium, then you will be missing out on this important mineral.
- Some almond milks are low in protein, it usually less than 1 gram protein per 100ml.
- Low in carbohydrates.
We are pleased to offer almond milk in both sweetened and unsweetened versions. The benefits of almond milk and the creamy, nutty taste combined make it a perfect option for those who wish to choose a plant-based milk option.
Almond Milk Alpro
We are pleased to offer almond milk in both sweetened and unsweetened versions. This means you can wake up to your almond milk on your doorstep, ready for your all-important first cuppa.
The Alpro sweetened almond milk is: naturally lactose-free, 100% plant-based vegetarian & vegan naturally low in fat, naturally low in saturated fat, low in sugars, and a great source of calcium.
The Alpro unsweetened almond milk is: naturally lactose-free, 100% plant-based, vegetarian & vegan, naturally low in fat, naturally low in saturated fat, sugar-free, without added sugars or sweeteners, rich in fibre, a great source of calcium and a good source of vitamins D and B12. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Almond Milk Health Benefits
Almond milk has various health benefits. Firstly, it is low in calories, so if you are being careful about your calorie consumption, almond milk is the milk alternative for you. It is also low in sugar, with almond milk from Alpro only containing 2.4g per 100ml. The unsweetened version contains zero sugar, so if you are health conscious, then opt for unsweetened almond milk.
Is almond milk good for you? Overall, almond milk is good for you. This is thanks to its low sugar content, added calcium and its added nutrients of vitamin B, B2 and B12. Almond milk is one of the more popular milk alternatives for it’s health benefits and ability to resemble cows milk in tea/coffee. There are also many benefits of almond milk for skin too. Almond milk is infused with many powerful antioxidants. The antioxidants help to protect the skin cells from oxidizing and dying off by fighting free radicals that cause this. This helps in doing away the wrinkles and fine lines on your skin. It is also good for weight loss, in particular, unsweetened almond milk due to it’s zero sugar content.
Almond Milk Calories
Almond milk is one of the lowest alternative milks in terms of calories. Per cup, unsweetened almond milk has about 30 to 60 calories. Sweetened almond milk contains around 90 calories per cup. This in comparison to some oat milks is low, so would make a great option if you are looking for an almond milk that is low in calories.
What is oat milk?
Oat milk is a great non-dairy milk alternative. It is made from natural oats that have been blended with water. Oat milk can be used for teas, coffees, and cereals. It is also heat stable so it is good to cook with and makes an excellent milk alternative for your latte. Many have said it is the best oat milk because of the ingredients it is made from. It is made with more protein and fibre than other milk alternatives like soya or coconut milk. It is also lactose-free which makes it the perfect milk alternative as lactose-free milk is good for you and offers a suitable alternative. Lactose-free milk is good as it has the same nutritional value as cow’s milk and is high in protein. You can get your oat milk delivered by McQueens Dairies, straight to your doorstep.
Some benefits of Oat Milk include:
- Naturally Lactose-Free
- 100% plant-based
- Great for adding to cereal and teas/coffees
- Naturally low in fat and saturated fat
- Without added sugars or sweeteners.
- Rich in Fibre
- Creamy in taste
- A source of calcium. Contains vitamins B2, B12, and D.
Some disadvantages of oat milk include:
- Some oat milks may contain gluten, making it unsuitable for those who follow a gluten free diet.
- Oat milk has more calories than almond milk.
- May contain more sugar and preservatives. This is to improve the shelf life and the taste of the milk.
- At McQueens Dairies we deliver Oatly Oat milk, which has a subtle sweet taste of oats, contains naturally occurring sugars and is a great source of calcium. We also offer Oato oat milk from Oato too. Oatomilk comes in glass reusable bottles and is a creamy milk alternative that is nut, sugar and soy-free.
How to make oat milk
You may have tried our delicious McQueens oat milk before, but have you ever tried making it yourself? It’s simple to make your own oat milk and it only takes 1 ingredient to make it.
All you need is 100g of porridge oats to make your homemade oat milk. Making your own oat milk is easier than you think. By making it homemade, you can control exactly what goes into it.
- Put the porridge oats into a bowl and fill it up with water from the tap. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let the bowl sit for 4 hours or overnight. Do not put it in the fridge.
- Once you have let the oats overnight or for 4 hours, take a sieve and sieve the mixture, and draining the water. Rinse the oats under the tap for a few seconds.
- Now, put the oats into a blender or food processor with 750ml of cold water and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Blend until completely smooth with no oats visible. The more you blend, the creamier your homemade oat milk will be.
- Put the sieve over a bowl or jug and let the mixture pour out. Leave to strain for about 1 hour.
- When most of the mixture has been strained, take the sides of the cloth together and squeeze tightly to extract the oat milk.
- At this point, you can bottle it up and keep in the fridge until you are ready to drink. If the oat milk is too thick for your liking, you can add 50ml of cold water until you reach the consistency you like.
Oat Milk vs Cow’s milk?
If you are lactose intolerant, looking for a gluten-free, dairy-free milk alternative, then oat milk is for you. The nutrients in both differ vastly with oat milk containing less calcium than oat milk. Although some oat milks are forfeited with calcium, consuming calcium through cow’s milk is best. Oat milk has higher levels of Vitamin D, as well as B12. This doesn’t mean cow’s milk does not contain these important vitamins, but if vitamins are important to you, the we would say opt for cow’s milk.
Oat Milk Calories
You may be surprised to find out that oat milk calories are fairly low. Oat milk contains around 130, of course, this varies from brand to brand but the standard oat milk calories is around this number. In our Oatly barista-style oat milk, this is the lowest of them all with 39 calories. The Oatly whole milk has 160 calories, the Oatly semi milk has 46 calories per 100ml whilst the skimmed milk contains 37 calories
Some people are unable to consume cow’s milk, or just don’t like the taste of it. Oat milk is then of course better. However, if you want to get all the good nutrients from cow’s milk, then opt for this instead.
Which is the best milk alternative?
There is no one true winner as both almond and oat milk offer different benefits. Oat milk is also considered to be higher in calories than the almond drink. Oat milk is also good for lactose-intolerant people. It contains 120 calories in one serving compared to only 60 calories in a serving of almond milk, therefore it may be the better option if you’re trying to reduce your calories.
Almond Milk vs Oat Milk – The verdict
Overall, the benefits of both of these plant-based milks are vast. Depending on what you are looking in a plant based milk, there is a variety of options to suit everyone. Whichever alternative milk products you decide to go for, we’re sure you will love it. Oat milk is perfect for lactose intolerant sufferers and is described as one of the best tasting oat milk. Almond milk is great for adding to cereal for its creamy and nutty flavour. There is no real winner of the debate almond milk vs oat milk, each have their benefits and it’s up to personal preference.
McQueens Dairies offers both almond milk and oat milk to be delivered weekly to your doorstep. We have recently introduced it in glass reusable bottles which are great for the environment. You can choose from 1 or 2 deliveries per week and amend your order online at any time.
Join thousands of happy McQueens Dairies customers and enjoy fresh daily milk delivered straight to your doorstep before 7am with our local milkmen. Add on alternative milk, yoghurt, juice or just choose a milk and eggs delivery. Place your order in our online shop.
