Make Your Own Almond Milk—Just Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes (2024)

FAQs

Make Your Own Almond Milk—Just Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes? ›

May contain additives

Processed almond milk can contain many additives, such as sugar, salt, gums, flavors, and lecithin and carrageenan (types of emulsifiers). Certain ingredients like emulsifiers and gums are used for texture and consistency. They're safe unless consumed in extremely high amounts ( 25 ).

May contain additives

Processed almond milk can contain many additives, such as sugar, salt, gums, flavors, and lecithin and carrageenan (types of emulsifiers). Certain ingredients like emulsifiers and gums are used for texture and consistency. They're safe unless consumed in extremely high amounts ( 25 ).

Instead of paying for expensive water or low percentage of almonds, when you make your own you know you're drinking quality. By making your own you also avoid all of the additives, preservatives and thickeners and guarantee you are drinking it at its purest state.

Avoided in case of nut allergies: People who have a history of nut allergies should avoid almond milk because it is derived from nuts.

Unlike refrigerated or shelf-stable versions, homemade almond milk doesn't go through the pasteurization process, so any bacteria found in any of your ingredients aren't killed. It also isn't immediately sealed in a sterilized container, so oxygen gets in right away to create the perfect playground for more bacteria.

For overall nutrition profile, however, almond milk and cashew milk top our list. In an extremely low-calorie package, one cup of each contains approximately 25 to 50 percent of your day's calcium and 25 percent of your daily vitamin D.

Almond milk is a good source of vitamin E, which is important for your immune system and blood vessels. Some studies have shown a link between high vitamin E intake and a lower risk of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's disease.

The KU Medical Center research team found that adults aged 60-89 who drink three cups of dairy milk a day can boost their brains' levels of glutathione (GSH), a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the brain from some of the damage that accompanies aging and aging-related diseases.

The short answers is that this recipe is based off of 1 cup of almonds. You can blend that 1 cup of almonds to make about 3 cups of milk or up to 5 cups of milk. The lesser amount makes a more full-flavored milk, and of course the higher amount of water added makes a thinner almond milk.

What is the controversy with almond milk? ›

Almond trees rely on cross-pollination, which requires pollinators, namely bees. But the fertilizer used on the crops is extremely toxic to the insects. “The bees in the almond groves are being exploited and disrespected,” one organic beekeeper, called Patrick Pynes, told The Guardian in 2020.

Healthiest milk to drink

Ultimately, cow's milk is the healthiest to drink if you can tolerate it. It has the most nutritional value. Cow's milk has many health benefits, such as helping to improve muscle mass and bone health. For regular milk drinkers, three cups per day is the standard.

Nutritionists believe that vitamin E, along with bioactive plant compounds including polyphenols, are responsible for many of the health benefits of almonds. These compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are good for heart health ( 12 ).

Unopened almond milks are generally considered safe to consume for five to seven days past their sell-by days. After opening, assuming you have stored it in the fridge, you have about 10 to 14 days before it starts to turn.

Expired almond milk can turn thick and clumpy, but before you toss it, give the container a good shake to see if it's just separated. If your almond milk still has a funky texture—into the bin it goes. Speaking of funky, give your almond milk a good sniff. It should smell subtly nutty and mildly sweet.

Another reminder: Nuts are full of oil and can go rancid at room temperature; unsurprisingly, rancid almonds will make sour almond milk. Before you put the effort in, do yourself a favor and taste one to ensure the nuts are fresh, especially if they've been in your pantry for a while.

But you know what? If you're wary, this is an easy problem to solve, because not all almond milks contain carrageenan. And even better, almond milk is one of those products that's dead simple to make at home — like ricotta, paneer, mozzarella and cottage cheese, only even easier.

While some individuals may experience the anti-inflammatory benefits of almond milk, others may have a different response. For example, some studies have reported that certain individuals may experience allergic reactions or sensitivities to almonds, which can manifest as inflammation in the body.