How to make oat milk

What is oat milk?

Porridge oats are soaked in water, then blended and strained to create a creamy, dairy-free milk substitute.

What are the best oats to use for oat milk?

Porridge oats and rolled oats work well. We would avoid using jumbo oats, as they are a lot bigger, more difficult to blend and will need longer to soak. The coarser the oats, the longer they take to soak. After you’ve soaked them, try pressing one of the oats between your fingers; if it’s completely soft, they’re ready to be drained and blended.

How do you make oat milk less slimy?

First, make sure that you don’t over-blend the oats – blitz them in a high-powered blender for no more than 45 seconds. If you blend them for too long, they’ll start to warm up – similar to porridge, this will cause the oats to become more gelatinous and slimy.

You should also avoid soaking the oats for too long, as they will absorb more water and therefore become slimy. Finally, make sure you remove the excess starch by straining thoroughly. If you find your results are still slimy, we’d recommend straining the oat milk twice.

What can I do with oat milk pulp?

The leftover oat milk pulp can be used for lots of things. Specifically, it can be blitzed into soups and sauces to thicken them and make them creamy. It can also be made into porridge by adding a few tablespoons of fresh oats, a splash of milk and whatever toppings you like.

Is oat milk good for you?

The cereal grain’s proven benefits include helping lower high blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol. Oats are also packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre. Read our guide to the health benefits of oats for more information.

What if I don’t have a blender?

A liquidiser works best, as it will blend the oats very finely. Or, use a food processor if you don’t have one. A hand blender will also work, but make sure you blitz until really smooth or your oat milk will end up too watery.

The oat milk isn’t filtering through the muslin?

You have to be patient with the process of making oat milk, as it takes a while to strain. If it stops passing through the muslin (this may also happen if you’re using a particularly fine cloth), use a spoon and stir the sediment at the bottom of the muslin. If it gets completely stuck, transfer to a clean cloth and wash the first one under the tap before using again.

My oat milk is too thin

If it’s just water that comes through, the cloth may be too thick to allow the oat milk to pass. Try a tea towel or fine mesh sieve. If it’s too thin, this is normally because you haven’t squeezed out the sediment at the bottom enough. Simply squeeze the muslin tight to press some of the creamy liquid through, as this is what makes the oat milk thick and creamy.

My oat milk is too thick

Whisk in some cold water until the oat milk reaches your desired consistency.

The oat milk separates in the fridge

Like coconut milk, this is completely normal – simply shake or stir the oat milk before using it. If it separates when you add it to coffee, it’s just because the of the coffee reacts with the milk and it ends up separating the fat from the liquid, especially if the milk is cold and the coffee is piping hot.