Where Can I Buy Oat Milk
It's a wonderful time to be vegan. Long gone are the days when lactose-intolerant or non-dairy eaters had only soy milk on their side. Today, those looking to avoid dairy have a wonderful array of plant-based options to complement their morning coffees. One of the more popular options is oat-based milk. Oat milk has garnered popularity as a dairy milk alternative in recent years due to its nut-free nature. It tends to have a creamier taste and texture compared to other non-dairy milk, like almond milk.
where can i buy oat milk
We've found that when a product is marketed as all-natural and organic, it tends to either be really good or really bad. We found Malk in Whole Foods Market, and upon a quick Google search, it doesn't seem that you'd find it anywhere else, save for some other all-natural grocery stores. Like Whole Foods Market itself, this milk had simple ingredients, was expensive, and had modern packaging.
There are several reasons that customers flock to non-dairy kinds of milk. Some are allergic to lactose, some choose not to consume dairy products, and others simply want a healthier, more natural milk option (via WebMD). After all, oats themselves are known to be packed with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Elmhurst oat milk was the toughest brand to fit into a ranking. The reason for this is that Elmhurst makes two variations of its oat milk: The original and the barista edition, both of which cost nearly $6 for a 32-oz container, which makes it the most expensive oat milk that we sampled.
For those of us who enjoy a creamy, sweet coffee, but unfortunately can't stomach the harshness of heavy cream or whole milk, it's a tough battle. That's why we were ecstatic when we found out that Dunkin' announced it would start offering oat milk back in 2020. Since then, an iced oat milk latte from Dunkin' has never disappointed; it always fulfills that sweet, creamy coffee craving.
Most plant-based milks are more environmentally friendly than dairy milks are, as explained by Our World in Data. Silk takes "environmentally friendly" to the next level, boasting on the site that it puts back the water used to grow the oats into rivers. This certainly deserves bonus points.
If you were to make oat milk at home, you'd simply have to blend oats and water. Of course, you could choose to add vanilla bean flavoring, salt, or sugar for your taste preferences. Knowing this, we have wondered why so many oat milk brands contain far more ingredients than simply oats and water. Many contain xantham gums, various oils, and other additives. While this sometimes means that the milk tastes better, it also means they aren't as naturally healthy as they could be.
Chobani has an entire line of oat-based products aside from its regular oat milk. The brand makes a unique protein-packed spoonable oat snack that comes in a variety of fruity flavors. It also carries various oat-based coffee creamers which taste exactly how you'd expect any coffee creamer to taste: creamy, sweet, and packed with added sugars.
Have you ever tried something you didn't like from Trader Joe's? The answer is no, you haven't. When we found a Trader Joe's brand oat milk that cost less than $3, we simply had to try it. And, like almost everything else that the notorious health-food store sells, it was inexpensive but perfectly satisfying.
There is a lot to love about Califia Farms oat milk, and it has the options of extra creamy, protein-packed varieties, and the barista blend. Califia Farms barista blend oat milk has 130 calories, 3 grams of added sugar, and 7 grams of fat per cup, according to the company website. Its calorie count and fat content are about average across all of the brands that we tried, but its sugar content is relatively low. Surprisingly, this oat milk tastes super creamy and satisfyingly sweet. It's very comparable to whole milk. The extra creamy version tasted, well, extra creamy, and we were happy that it wasn't overly sweet. In fact, Califia Farms shares that the extra creamy oat milk has just 4 grams of added sugar per cup, making it one of the oat milk brands we tried with the least amount of added sugar.
365 Everyday Value is a brand owned by Whole Foods Market, and, as such, we expected it to have clean ingredients, an underwhelming (healthy) taste, and a high price tag. We were wrong about all three. Despite it being sold at one of the most notorious health food stores around, this oat milk's ingredient list was long and filled with less than wholesome ingredients like firming agents and gellan gum (via Whole Foods Market). However, far as nutrition facts go, Whole Foods Market reports that a cup of this oat milk contains a calorie, sugar, and fat content that are very comparable to most other oat milk brands: 120 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 7 grams of sugar. Notably, this was one of the cheaper oat milk brands that we purchased, at just over $4 per gallon.
You may have had your first sip of oat milk in recent years, but CNBC reports that the head honchos at Oatly have been making the stuff since 1994. Yes, Oatly has been in business for over 25 years, and we think that it shows. Wonderfully creamy, lightly sweet, and all-around good, Oatly is easily the best-tasting oat milk brand that we have tried.
This bar reminds us of homemade granola covered in chocolate; it could be breakfast, but it could also be dessert. Cane sugar-free. Cacao from Semuliki Forest in Uganda brings fruity cocoa notes, while gluten-free oat flour creates the cookie bite. We sweeten this bar with maple sugar for a rounded, warm finish. At 58% cacao, this is one of our signature dark milk chocolates; sweet and creamy but still cacao forward and 100% vegan.
If you're scratching your head wondering how in the world people make something resembling milk from oats, we get it. But the process isn't actually that mysterious. You just mix oats and water, puree in a blender, and strain. Now you've got a creamy liquid to use as a substitute for cow's milk in many recipes (or, just as a cold glass at breakfast).
But that still doesn't answer the more important question of why you might go through all the trouble to make oat milk (or search for it at your local health food store). Is it actually better for you than plain ol' cow's milk?
Nicole Magryta, RDN, author of Nourish Your Tribe, says most oat milks contain one to three grams of fiber per serving (which is a little more than an alternative milk like almond), but also contain more calories and carbohydrates. In other words, you're kind of coming out even unless you're buying fortified oat milk from a supermarket.
"The health benefits of the milk itself are not necessarily from the oats and water, which offer marginal benefits, but from the fortified nutrients added during processing," says Magryta. "[Micronutrients like] vitamins A, D, B12, B2 and calcium are added so the product can be a close nutritional substitute for dairy milk."
If you fit the bill for someone looking to consume a plant-based alternative to dairy milk, it's important to know what else you might be getting when you grab a container off the supermarket shelf. Registered dietitian Sarah Rueven, MS, RDN, CDN, founder of Rooted Wellness, says the best oat milks are made with just oats and water, without the added ingredients companies claim improve the taste and texture.
"One of the best oat milk brands is Thrive Market's Organic Oat Milk," said Trista Best, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements. "The ingredients panel is one of the shortest among other oat milk brands with no preservatives, added sugar, or oils."
Magryta says Oatly! milk is made from gluten-free oats, certified Non-GMO, doesn't contain gums or traditional thickeners, and also carries the Glyphosate Residue Free certification by The Detox Project.
Even though this brand is light on fiber and protein, Magryta says the nutrition profile makes up for that. It's fortified with calcium, includes simple, organic ingredients, and is free of oil, phosphates, and natural flavors. It's also one of the few organic offerings as well as one of the only zero-sugar oat milk options.
Although not organic, the original version of Planet Oat's oatmilk is fortified with nutrients and low in fat. And with two grams of fiber and one teaspoon of sugar per serving, it's a solid choice if buying organic isn't in your budget.
Yes, we did tell you to skip barista-formulated oat milk, but that was because most varieties include industrial seed oils. The Elmhurst brand doesn't, though, which is why it's Eat This-approved. Plus, it has two grams of fiber, three grams of protein, no carrageenan or gluten, and is non-GMO verified. If you're going to go barista, Elmhurst is your best bet.
Sometimes products sold as "healthy" alternatives aren't actually all that healthy for you, and oat milk is no exception. Added sugars and industrial seed oils are big red flags, and are common in milk alternatives. Avoid the following oat milk brands the next time you're looking for a dairy milk substitute.
That's why Jay Cowin, registered nutritionist and director of formulations for ASYSTEM, ranks Oatly brand chocolate oat milk as one of the worst oat milks. It has 16 grams of sugar, which is more than you'd find in a glazed donut.
Richards ranked Planet Oat's Extra Creamy formulation as one of the worst oat milk products. It also contains additives like guar gum and gellan gum, which are often used to thicken and stabilize foods and beverages.
"This oat milk is a no-go with a long list of pro-inflammatory oil, additives, gums, and preservatives," says Rueven. Magryta agrees, adding that it's also not organic and made with sunflower oil. Basically, it checks all the wrong boxes.
Magryta only has one thing to say about this organic oat milk: "Put it back on the shelf." Why? Because it contains a whopping four teaspoons of sugar per one-cup serving. There are plenty of other options with much less sugar than this one.
Health experts often recommend steering clear of barista-blend oat milks, which contain additives like oils to make them easier to steam for espresso drinks. These additives can have inflammatory properties. 041b061a72