Which Plant-Based Milk is Best?

For show notes and more information, visit: www.plantstrongpodcast.com/bl...
If you've ever stood in the alternative milk section of the grocery store and felt a little overwhelmed by all the choices, today's chat is for you! Jess, our VP of Product Strategy here at PLANTSTRONG, took a deep dive into the attributes that are important when purchasing a plant-based milk, and today, she presents the good, the bad, and the....unusual!
Tune in as you batch cook this week, and perhaps you'll be inspired to batch cook some plant-based milk, too!

[@paullemay3218]

Peaches and cream corn is the only variety that my uncle would grow when we were kids and he was gardening before he passed away. It has awesome flavour. 💚🇨🇦

[@drivingmissdisney4322]

We switched to plant based milks about 10 months ago. Watching Chef AJ I found out about the extras added to commercial plant based milk and she was doing a demo on the Nutramilk appliance. We decided to purchase one and it was the best choice and so worth it. Now our milk is straight up Oat, Almond, Cashew, etc. Just our product of choice and water. Tastes wonderful.

[@gretchenlang7741]

I'm surprised to not see MALK almond and oat milks on there. They are probably the best, very clean plant milks and also a local (Austin) company!

[@louismazzone66]

This is was one of my favorite episodes, Jessica delivers!

[@bhavnasoni711]

I make cashew milk,peanut almond milk at home,so easy to make.

[@judithcarter3471]

Great episode!!! Thank you for all the information you both shared.

[@sparkleinco2035]

Having made my own soy milk and its derivative, tofu I buy it now . It is quite a process, lots of cooking but tastes better when homemade as most foods do. I used nigari. these days I buy Westsoy and use it to make yogurt.

[@traceysmith2675]

In Canada peaches and cream corn and sweet corn are the only ones I've seen

[@bonniesouter3026]

I live in a small town in Portugal and even our Aldi here has a wall of different plant based milk alternatives. The newest one I noticed is espelta (spelt) so will try that next. I first quit dairy 22 years ago and back then my options were drink tea/coffee black or walk 30 minutes to a health food shop and buy cartons of soya milk that tasted very "beany" :D

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

So much has changed! Thanks for watching!

[@deborahdriver3554]

Wow I just looks at the ingredients on my oat milk!! I’m mad I’ll be making this for my family now thank you so much it was an eye opener for sure.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

You are so welcome - we were SHOCKED too!!!

[@heidibennett7865]

This was a fun, wonderful, and informative video, thank you!

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@Meccarox]

This was a great video with interesting info.

[@qcdon73]

I grew up in Davenport Iowa and I had no idea the corn I always ate was not known everywhere. I moved just across the Mississippi River to Moline Illinois and I never go a summer without peaches and cream corn!

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Lucky duck!!! =)

[@susans.794]

Thank you! This plant milk craze has really turned into such a guessing game for me. Glad to know oat milk is low on the water/carbon footprint. We quit coffee creamer when we found Chobani plain extra thick. But that has a long list of ingredients, so I'll be looking elsewhere. Maybe will try the cashew for coffee creamer. This episode was so informative, including the stock prices!

[@pennynolan7597]

Just an FYI My husband came home with 3 large bags of steel cut oats, when I sent him out for rolled oats. I knew I would never use them ( too chewy for me) So I thought" I wonder if I can make oat milk?" I did and even though it's not as rich and creamy as the store brand, I use it for our daily green smoothie. And the softened oats in the bottom? I made really great cookies out of them. He got a kiss.🙂

[@debbiepalmer1094]

Great show, thank you.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@loriledner6528]

I love your show. Thank you !!!

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Thanks for watching!

[@kiwifeijoa]

Such an informative discussion, especially about added oils in those milks. I think carageen moss itself is a healthy seaweed, as many generations of Irish people will tell you, but the carageenan is different as it's an extract. Your pumpkin/hemp seed cream looks very nice. I think the first grower that breeds light colored pumpkin seeds will be popular.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Thanks for watching - sounds like you are onto something with that pumpkin seed idea... =)

[@GamerMom528]

Love this episode! I would love it you could do an updated episode on this topic in 2024. Some oat milks were found to have glyphosates in them. So I just avoid the oat milks altogether.

[@jamest681]

I switched from Almond Milk to oat Milk because the potassium to sodium ratio is much better with oat milk. I buy a sugar free oat milk so it is 80 calories per cup. You can buy almond milk at 30 calories a cup but the low sodium is important to me for blood pressure.

[@carolynyoung72]

Which brand for sugar-free. I know of fat free Oatley

[@JustJamey]

I found the use of enzymes to create sugar very interesting. Thank you.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Glad it was helpful! We were blown away!

[@rockyblueberries9723]

i purchased Oat milk from Trader Joes today. It explains on the package that there is sugar in the product that it is not listed on the ingredients. It explains the enzyme process you talked about in the podcast. I thought that was a great thing. If I would not have listened to your presentation I would have not really followed the process. So thank you! Still have not seen the Pacific lite Oat milk in the store only the regular .

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

So glad you were able to apply the principles and catch the added sugars! Great job!!!!

[@giniwarren81]

We have peaches and cream corn in Colorado all the time

[@TheDooskinCO]

It is the best!

[@bpg201]

Great stuff as always! I also had wondered what was up w/ the sugar content in the pacific foods oat milk. I love it but use it in small amounts.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

It was so weird! Thanks for watching!

[@Stephcass]

Low fat Oatly was my go to milk and sadly our Sprouts has quit selling it. It was getting harder and harder to get and one day I noticed the spot on the shelf was gone and replaced with another brand, Planet Oat. I asked at the register and was told it was because of Starbucks buying it all up. 🤷🏼‍♀️It’s so frustrating. I would have to travel an hour away to purchase Oatly. 😢

[@eddiegill]

Oatly makes a yogurt too..plant based

[@cynt9697]

Silk soymilk is very creamy. I add vanilla and stevia or maple for coffee and it’s great

[@flavouroclock]

Great info! I thought all plant based milks from the store were the same. I recently switched back to organic soy and I definitely taste the difference :)

[@kco22]

Hello, thank you so much for sharing! On my very beginnings to transition to plant based foods and this was a winner video for me on choosing milk! I was also wondering if the Rip’s big bowl cereal product is out yet and where can I purchase it? Thank you again for such an informative video! :) Have a good day. :)

[@robinhart1390]

I used to be a half-and-half user and I used quite a bit. Now what I do in my coffee is on I use the west sway soymilk and I warm it and froth it with a froth machine such as the portable kind that you use for Matcha tea or an electric froth machine. If you use the Matcha tea froth device then you need to warm the milk up first. The Froth machines heat up milk. It’s extremely creamy and I make it like a latte.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Great suggestions, Robin - thanks for sharing!

[@bhavnasoni711]

I m been using westsoy milk for quite some time, it's very good, make also yogurt it comes out as thick as Greek yogurt. And also make coffee too.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BrianBotts]

Can't wait to try the pumpkin/hemp seed recipe!

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Hope you like it!

[@ritasewell1108]

What if the hemp and pumpkin were soaked overnight in water before blending

[@jmknudsen5357]

I invested in Tattooed Chef because I wanted to support a plant based business.

[@alechiaevans9117]

Peaches and cream has been around for a long time here in the Michiana area. It is sweet and tender, juicy, good sized ears.

[@Scor-ah]

Love this , I dabble in making plant milks at home all the time...but Joi makes a pretty good nut paste that you put in the blender and turn into milk in seconds. They have Cshew, Almond and now hazelnut...mmmmm

[@spanishDoll1]

Sounds good

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

We've heard of JOI! Great tip thank you!

[@melissameyer6726]

I was purchasing Planet Oat milk in the refrigerated section until I discovered that the shelf stable plant milks don't have all those added ingredients. So now I purchase the WestSoy and occasionally the Planet Oat.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Sounds like a smart switch!

[@Angie-hr9lz]

I had never heard about this enzymatic process that breaks down the oat starch into simple sugars. This is disheartening and it just shows why we try to avoid processed products as much as possible. Sadly, you just can't trust manufacturers trying to sell you a product.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

So sad! We were all dumbfounded when we learned about it!! But it explains why the sugar content in some oat milks is so high despite having no sugars listed in their ingredients!!! So sneaky!

[@Golfr2020]

Oat Milk for me. A no brainer

[@dizziemisslizzie4040]

I'm partial to cashew and oat milks

[@jameslawless2000]

Stopped drinking unsweetened almond milk recently due to the absurdly high calcium content. Any recommendations for unsweetened plant-based milks without calcium fortification?

[@sowmindful1501]

I know it’s not your style to talk Politics on here, but I love hearing about places to live that are more Whole Food Plant Based friendly. I feel so lost and like I’ll never get to find my home, but I’m hopeful that I’ll find that place. The only leads I have are Austin, TX, but then I’d be surrounded by the rest of Texas, and then there’s Cali, but I have no idea where to start with that state.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Cleveland rocks! (this team member is based there) =)

[@paullemay3218]

My latest granola recipe is beet banana date paste. Really tasty and really red. ❤️🇨🇦

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Sounds amazing!

[@paullemay3218]

@@Engine2PlantStrong another tasty recipe is adding beet juice to part of the cooking liquid when making quinoa. Once again. Really tasty and really red. 💚🇨🇦

[@debbikozak9263]

How does the pumpkin hemp seed milk fit in to Dr. McDougal’s Maximum Weight Loss program? Is there a lot of fat in this milk?

[@alechiaevans9117]

What about pesticides and herbicides ? In the process of growing these plants.

[@gregnixon1296]

The best one is the one that you like best.

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Haha - that's very true!

[@sparkleinco2035]

when do we get the news about the milks on the table'

[@tomihaili8756]

Unsweetened soy milk from Alpro. they use soy grown in EU.

[@tinasmith7699]

We grow peaches and cream every year!

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

Amazing! I think we have an audience of potential customers for you. hahaha!

[@frompizzaaddicttovegan]

Thoughts on macadamia nut milk? I don’t recall seeing that one talked about

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

The same rules apply - always read the label and be sure to look for any added ingredients. We avoid any any sugars and, of course, oil.

[@AL-fu3bd]

Doctor Esselstyn said that fluoridated water will disrupt nitric oxide conversion. How can you be sure that the milks you tested today don’t have fluoridated water?

[@carrieboera2815]

I use JOI which stands for Just zine Ingredient. Also Simply Almond I don’t see these on your display .

[@Scor-ah]

one of my favorites too

[@sowmindful1501]

The “natural flavors” in Simply Almond make me a little suspicious.

[@Camelliavintage]

Anyone have a recommended brand of plant milk that works well for savory/creamy sauces? So many taste too sweet for soups and sauces.

[@shamp1245]

Coconut and cashew with nutritional yeast if you want the cheese taste

[@loric.5887]

What are you thoughts on the plant based oat and almond brand MALK? Do you prefer organic almonds or oats in your almond or oat milk?

[@Engine2PlantStrong]

We don't have opinions about that brand - we are just very careful about reading labels. Almond or oat milk are both great - and organic is preferred, but we are most concerned about sugar and oil.

[@loric.5887]

@@Engine2PlantStrong Thank you!

[@gretchenlang7741]

@@Engine2PlantStrong That brand is organic and no added oils or sweeteners, also local to Austin. I'd think that it something y'all would definitely support and recommend. It's a very clean product.

[@CrazyCarmenMirada]

Recipes not in description!

[@leslieewing9088]

My doctor wants me to take a calcium supplement, since I do not consume dairy products. Consequently, I look for plant-based milk that has calcium added. I consume lots of leafy greens, as well.

[@tinacoleman2263]

What is wrong with the pea protein powders or pea milk?

[@leslieewing9088]

@@tinacoleman2263 I like the pea-based milk, but I have trouble finding it.

[@michelemoran3267]

Humans actually don't need lots of protein.(dr McDougall) only plants, seeds, beans.....

[@ReVeloBagsNbikes]

Trader Joe's has a soymilk with just 2 ingredients (soybeans and water) and its cheaper than Edensoy and Westsoy.

[@maxinef6654]

Is it organic?

[@Holbodden]

OK I'll

[@patzik3268]

It’s my understanding that they use the enzymes for oat milk so it’s not slimy.

[@CrazyCarmenMirada]

So what is the brand name of the cashew milk/almond milk? You never said!

[@lindaripp5902]

I made the milk… It was OK, but honestly… I’ve made better. Still, I think you for sharing your recipe.

[@awofadeju1]

I’ve heard that soy milk isn’t particularly healthy for men to consume regularly because the soy converts to estrogen in the body. This can result in high(er) estrogen levels and hormone imbalance with testosterone, the primary androgen hormone.

[@buzzborchardt2723]

Eden foods is the only soy milk that sources all their organic beans from the US. West soy gets it from everywhere

[@lisengel2498]

I must admit that untill now I just prefer organic not sweetened soyamilk. It tastes very pure, fresh and “milklike” not of everything else

[@wayofthenamekian]

Anybody a Macadamia Milk fan?

[@alechiaevans9117]

Did you talk about genetically modified sweet corn. Should we be concerned?

[@sparkleinco2035]

awfully long intro