The Best Vegan Milks Out There (And How to Make Vegan Milk at Home)
If you’re vegan, or are looking to reduce your dairy intake, you’ll know that finding the best vegan milks can be tricky.
There are so many brands and types of plant-based milk on the market these days, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.
In this article, we will list the 8 best vegan milk alternatives available in the USA and UK today.
We’ll also give you a brief overview of each brand, and some tips on how to make your own plant milk at home so that you can make an informed decision about which choice is best for you!
The 8 best vegan milk brands in the USA and the UK
United States:
Blue diamond – Bluer diamond is regarded as one of the top vegan milk brands in the USA. The brand is known for its almond milk which is vegan, non-GMO, and gluten free.
Califia farms – Another top vegan milk brand in the USA is Califia Farms. This company offers a wide variety of plant-based milks, including cashew, coconut, hemp, and oat milk.
Silk – Silk is vegan, plant based milk. It’s also soy free and nut free. The company offers a variety of vegan milks (including almond, cashew, coconut), vegan creamers as well as vegan yogurts.
Ripple – Ripple is another popular vegan brand in the USA that makes vegan milk from peas. The company also offers vegan cheese, yogurt, and ice cream products.
United Kingdom:
Oatly – Oatly is one of the most popular vegan milk brands in the UK. All of its products are vegan and dairy free. The company’s range of oat milks are low calorie, vegan, and gluten free.
Alpro – Alpro is a vegan brand that offers a wide variety of plant-based milks, including soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and hazelnut milk. The company also has vegan yogurt, ice cream, and cheese products.
Sojade – Sojade is a vegan brand that specializes in vegan soy milk. The company’s products are organic, gluten free, and GMO free.
Vaiva – Vaiva is a vegan brand that offers a variety of plant-based milks, including rice milk, hemp milk, and oat milk. The company also has vegan yogurt and ice cream products.
Best Non Dairy Milk For Coffee
I have tried pretty much every vegan milk varieties and without a doubt the best plant based milk for coffee is Oat Milk.
And here are my reasons why:
– Oat milk is very creamy and delicious.
– It is easily the best non dairy milk for frothing for a vegan cappuccino or latte.
– Most vegan coffee shops have it in stock (Starbucks, Pret A Manger, Costa Coffee etc) and if those guys are using it then you know it must be good!
If you are not a fan of oat milk, then the next best vegan milk for coffee would be soy milk.
It is also very creamy and has a slightly nutty flavor which goes well in coffee. You can find soy milk at most supermarkets and online.
What is the best vegan milk for baking?
In my experience the best types of vegan milk to use when baking are almond milk and coconut milk, but there are many vegan milks that can be used when baking.
I have used soy milk in the past as a vegan alternative to dairy milk when making cakes and breads, but I have found that it is not great for vegan pancakes.
Soy milk usually contains more protein than other types of vegan milks, so if you are looking for a milk that will help your baked goods to rise, then soy milk may be the best option for you.
Another vegan milk that can be used when baking is rice milk. I have not tried using it as much as almond milk and coconut milk, but some people say that it works well in cakes and vegan pancakes.
In the vegan cookie recipes that I have tried making, plant based milks do not usually make much difference to the recipe.
But when it comes to vegan cake and dessert recipes, vegan milks can often make a big difference in texture and taste of your final result.
I find that coconut milk is my absolute favorite vegan milk to use when baking cakes and vegan desserts, as it gives the food a richer flavor and often a creamier texture.
But almond milk is also a great choice for vegan baking, especially if you are looking for a milk that has less fat than coconut milk.
So whichever vegan milk you choose to bake with, just make sure that you try it out in vegan recipes and see if it works for you.
What is the best vegan milk to simply drink?
One of the things I missed most when I first started my plant based lifestyle was a nice big cold glass of milk. In the UK we are very lucky that vegan milk is easy to find in most stores.
However, when I first started going plant based it was so hard to find a plant milk that got close to the taste of cows milk!
There are now so many vegan milks available it can be hard to know which one you should choose.
The best vegan milk that is most like cows milk in my opinion is a vegan oat milk.
I was not so keen on vegan soy, rice or nut milks for drinking as they were very watery and had an odd aftertaste!
Vegan Oat Milk is the best vegan milk for drinking by the glass in my opinion. It has that creamy texture and slightly sweet taste that cows milk has.
If you are looking for a vegan milk to simply drink, then I would definitely recommend trying vegan oat milk!
I prefer the unsweetened variety, but there are also sweetened vegan oat milks available if you prefer that.
How to be a vegan milker!
There are many vegan milk alternatives on the market these days.
But, did you know that it’s also possible to make your own homemade plant based milks?
It’s really not difficult at all!
Here are some basic instructions:
To make almond milk, soak one cup of almonds overnight in water. Drain and rinse the almonds then transfer to a blender and add three cups of fresh water. Blend until smooth then strain through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.
To make rice vegan milk, soak one cup of rice overnight in water. Drain and rinse the rice then add to a saucepan with four cups of vegan friendly soy-free broth and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour. Add vegan sugar to taste, then blend until smooth and strain through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.
To make oat vegan milk, soak one cup of oats overnight in water. Drain and rinse the oats then transfer to a blender and add three cups of fresh water. Blend until smooth then strain through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag.
Alternatively you could invest in one of the fantastic milk makers available on the market.
Imagine being able to produce your own 100% natural plant based milk at home in minutes.
Two of the best rated premium non-dairy milk makers out there is The ChefWave Milkmade Non-Dairy Milk Maker and the Nutr milk making machine!
It is a little bit of investment but overall will save you money as store bought vegan milk is quite expensive.
Is a fantastic device for creating fresh, delicious, plant-based dairy alternatives.
Creates milk from oats, almonds, soy, macadamia, cashews and coconut with no soaking required!
With 6 preprogrammed milk-making settings, digital touch control, simple storage and an auto-clean function, Milkmade is a simple part of your daily routine that won’t let you down.
There you have it! Some basic instructions for making vegan milk at home. It’s really not difficult at all and can be a fun project to do with your family or friends.
If you don’t fancy yourself as a vegan milker, here’s a few of the best plant milks you can get your hands on today!
A comprehensive guide to vegan milk varieties and brands, as well as instructions on how to make your own vegan milk at home.
I hope this information was helpful for you and that you will give some of the vegan milks a try.
My personal favorite is oat milk because it has a mild flavor and creamy texture, but I would love to hear which vegan milk is your favorite. Let me know in the comments section below.
The ChefWave Milkmade Non-Dairy Milk Maker
The Nutr milk making machine
