{"id":2689,"date":"2019-03-22T06:55:53","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T06:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simpletasty.recipes\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2019-12-07T10:52:04","modified_gmt":"2019-12-07T10:52:04","slug":"10-secrets-for-making-the-perfect-almond-milk-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simpletasty.recipes\/10-secrets-for-making-the-perfect-almond-milk-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Secrets for Making the Perfect Almond Milk at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Who needs dairy when you have almonds? Almond milk is a popular alternative to cow\u2019s milk; it has a smooth, creamy texture, and nutty taste. Vegans and vegetarians rely on almond milk as a dairy substitute in their diet, it\u2019s a great source of healthy fats and minerals, compared to cow\u2019s milk that\u2019s packed with hormones and antibiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy almond milk at your local grocery store. However, it\u2019s vital that you understand that commercial almond milk brands dilute their product as much as possible, and they often add sugar into the milk. Some brands include flavors and enrich the milk with minerals to improve its taste and nutritional profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we prefer to make our almond milk at home, it\u2019s really not that challenging to do, and making almond milk at home will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Here are 10 secrets for making the perfect almond milk at home.
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1.    Use Unsalted Organic Almonds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Almonds are a popular nut. This foodstuff contains healthy fats and soluble fiber that makes them a top choice for health fanatics all over the world. Almonds are rich in minerals and vitamins, and if we compare it to traditional cow\u2019s milk, it stacks up somewhat favorably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almond milk contains a third of the calories of cow\u2019s milk, with less than 2-grams of carbs, compared to the 12-grams in cow\u2019s milk. The most significant differences between the two are in their fat content, with almond milk offering a source of healthy fats compared to the lactose and saturated fat found in cow\u2019s milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend that you select unroasted, unsalted almonds for your milk. Always choose an organic product from a sustainably farmed source. Some farmers may use toxic pesticides to prevent pests from devouring the almond trees, avoid these products at all costs. Stick to nuts that come from organic farms that only use biomass fertilizer.
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2.    Soak The Almonds for as Long as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It may surprise you to learn that almond milk actually isn\u2019t milk. Manufacturers make it using crushed almonds and water. This fact is good news for almond milk fans because most of us have the ingredients and equipment we need at home to make our almond milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first and most critical step in making almond milk at home is the soaking process. Add your rinsed almonds to a blender and grind them coarsely. Add a few cups of water to the blender and let it sit overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longer you soak the almonds, the higher the concentration of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats in the milk. We prefer to soak our almonds for no less than 12-hours to release all of the nutrients into the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the nutrients leech into the water, you\u2019ll begin to notice it cloud over and eventually turn milky. The final product has a light tan color to it, and a similar viscosity to cow\u2019s milk.
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3.    Choose Your Flavor Combination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Store-bought almond milk comes in a variety of flavors. Chocolate almond milk, fortified blends, unsweetened, and organic are a few examples of what\u2019s available at your local grocery store. You can create a personalized flavor combination to your almond milk by adding specific ingredients to change the taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our favorite flavor combination has to be vanilla and cinnamon. Add a vanilla bean and a few sticks of cinnamon to the chopped almonds before soaking. The flavor from the spices draws into the milk, producing a pleasant spicy vanilla flavor that tastes fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experiment with your flavor combinations until you find your perfect blend. Almond milk is not sweet, it has a very nutty taste and smooth flavor, but no traces of sweetness at all. If you want to sweeten your milk, add a teaspoon of brown sugar to water before you soak the nuts. For the best results, we recommend you use lukewarm water to dissolve the sugar completely before soaking.
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4.    Use Purified Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, you can\u2019t drink the tap water in most American cities. Decades of infrastructure problems result in a dysfunctional public water purification system \u2013 It may be okay to bathe in this water, but it\u2019s not going to suit your almond milk recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s critical that you use purified and mineralized water for your almond milk. Purified water enhances the taste while ensuring that the milk contains all of the essential elements your body needs to maintain its mineral balance and hydration levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend you install a reverse osmosis water purification system in your home. A reverse osmosis membrane removes even the smallest particles from your water while returning the minerals to your drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reverse osmosis runs your tap water through a set of carbon filters to remove the majority of particulate matter. The cleaned water then passes through a reverse osmosis membrane that eliminates toxins, hormones, and pathogens from the final drinking water.
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5.    Choose Your Weapon Carefully \u2013 Blender Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the soaking process, the almonds release all of their nutritional properties into the purified water. To speed up the process and ensure that your milk receives as many of the nutrients from the nuts as possible \u2013 you need to grind or chop the nuts coarsely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A food processor or blender is the perfect appliance for the job. However, we recommend you don\u2019t grind your almonds into dust, as the nut dust will seep into the milk, creating thick and chewy almond milk that you won\u2019t enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We prefer the food processor for this task, it has a stronger motor than most blenders, providing years of use, and hundreds of gallons of almond milk. If you don\u2019t own a mixer, then it\u2019s time to enter the technology era and purchase your first machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look to purchase a unit that has a powerful motor and a large mixing bowl, the bigger, the better.
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6.    Buy a Nut Milk Bag<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re about to let you in on the super-secret to making almond milk \u2013 buy a nut milk bag. Nut milk bags feature a porous material, similar to cheesecloth, that allows you to strain fluid through the cloth on the sides and bottom of the bag while retaining all of the nut pulp inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This product is cheap, and an absolute necessity if you want to take your nut milk manufacturing to the next level. Sure, you can make the milk without a bag if you\u2019re just trying the idea out, but once you realize that you can make almond milk in the comfort of your home, you\u2019ll want to whip up a new batch every other day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nut milk bags take the effort out of the process, all you need to do is add the chopped almonds and flavorings to the bag, drop it in the water, and then pull it out the following day \u2013 how easy is that?
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7.    A Gentle Squeeze<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A nut milk bag is the super-secret for this recipe, but how you use the bag is just as important as using one in the first place. Before you start the soaking process, add the chopped nuts from your food processor to the nut milk bag. Toss in your flavoring ingredients and soak it overnight in the processor with 3.5 to 4-cups of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day, you should wake up to find your almond milk ready for the final step in the process \u2013 straining. Straining is a critical part of making the best almond milk you can dream of, right in your kitchen. Get this step wrong, and you\u2019re leaving valuable nutrients behind in the bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove the bag from the processor and hold it above the lip of the bowl. Let gravity naturally pull out most of the milk, and as the stream begins to weaken, give the bag a gentle squeeze to release all of the goodness from the chopped almonds into the water.
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8.    Keep the Pulp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best part about making almond milk at home is that you get to keep the almond pulp! After straining the nut milk bag, empty the pulp contents onto a baking tray and leave them to dry either in the sun or at room temperature. The pulp is still a fantastic source of fiber, and you can add it to a variety of dishes to enhance the texture and flavor of the meal. How you choose to use it is up to you, just make sure you don\u2019t throw it away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our favorite uses for almond pulp include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Add it to oatmeal for a crunchy texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Whip up a batch of hummus, with almond pulp for extra flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Add it to granola.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Use it in other batters for cookies, crackers, and bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Add it to smoothies for a thicker texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Dehydrate it and make almond meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Almond pulp stores fine in the freezer as well.
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9.    Storage Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After prepping and straining your almond milk, it\u2019s time to pack it away for use during the week. We recommend you search online for glass milk bottles \u2013 the old-school milk bottle types are our favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almond milk isn\u2019t like dairy, in the fact that it doesn\u2019t start to turn sour after a few days. Leave milk in your fridge for a week, and you\u2019ll come back to foul-smelling, the curdled mess that makes you want to gag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, almond milk stores much better, it can last for weeks in the fridge. However, we recommend you err on the side of caution and keep it for no longer than 5 to 7-days after manufacture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s okay to freeze almond milk as well. Make a super batch at the beginning of the month and store the excess in the freezer for use later in the month. Store your milk in plastic zip-lock bags in the freezer for up to 6-months.
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10.    The Ultimate Almond Milk Recipe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s our ultimate recipe for cinnamon-vanilla almond milk, try it, and you\u2019ll never drink cow\u2019s milk again! This recipe is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recipe makes 3-1\/2 cups of almond milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1-cup raw almonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3-1\/2 cups purified and mineralized water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1-vanilla bean, chopped coarsely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4-cinnamon sticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pinch of granulated sugar.
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Method<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rinse and drain the almonds to remove any residue on the exterior of the nuts. Place the nuts in your food processor and blend until coarsely chopped. Add the nuts to a nut milk bag, and toss in the cinnamon, along with the vanilla bean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add 3.5-cups of purified water to a large mixing bowl or jug. Place the nut milk bag in the water and leave it to soak overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following morning, remove the bag from the water and leave it to drip into the jug or bowl. Give the bag a gentle squeeze at the end to ensure you get out all of the nutrients and milk into the water. Pour the milk into jugs and store in the fridge for up to 5-days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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