Is it okay to buy almond milk v. making it?

[ladykd]

What are the pros and cons and what are some good brands of almond milk in stores? I am in school and have very little time to make almond milk and would like some more info on the subject. I purchased some almond breeze from dimond company and it taste great. I don't miss the milk at all in my cereal; however, I noticed it has a fair amount of sodium in it.

[Revvell]

I'll make a bet it's been heated which means it's not raw therefore killing many of the nutrients and enzymes. It is sooooo easy to make raw almond milk. Suggestion: while at school soak 1 C. of raw, organic almonds. When you get home, rinse them; put in a blender with 3-4 C. of pure water. Strain and store. If you want some sweetener you can always add some agave or stevia. Done. That will last 3-4 days in your fridge (unless you drink it by then.) :) No salt needed btw.

fyi ~ What is or is not "o.k." depends on your desire for YOUR level of raw. If it's packaged, bottled, canned it is highly unlikely it will be raw.

Revvell

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, as you probably know, storebought almond milks aren't raw. If you choose to drink it, that's your choice to do so, though. But it's of course healthier to make it yourself...but the store brands are better than dairy milk. So, if you can, I advise making it yourself...it's really not all that time consuming...a few minutes or so to whip it up and it can last for 2-4 days in most cases. It'll be better for you overall especially if your goal is to be raw.

[ladykd]

Thanks for the info ladies. I think I will try my hand at making a batch.

[Rawkinlocs]

Here's how I make mine:

1 c. nuts (I use a combo of almonds and cashews - soak the almonds overnight...cashews don't need it)
1 date or a couple of squirts of agave nectar
few dashes of sea salt
1 capful of vanilla which is probably like 1/4 tsp.
about 5 cups of water (use more if you like your milk thin like rice or skim milk...use less if you want it heavier more like whole milk)

Blend...strain with a nut milk bag or you can get a paint strainer bag from Home Depot or Lowe's for like $1-$2 depending on the size (they have 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes that I've seen so far) and the pulp, you can dehydrate to dry it out, grind and store for use in cookie, cracker, bread, pie crust, etc. recipes if you don't want to waste it!

Now, of course you COULD just blend soaked almonds in water and add nothing to it...but I like mine flavorful as opposed to straight nut milk and my kids like it too...they use it in cereal. Add some carob or raw cacao powder for chocolate milk...blend in the blender 'til warm or warm on stovetop just until your finger can rest in it and you've got "hot chocolate"! You may need to add a bit more sweetener to this as well as the cold version.

Freeze nut milk in ice trays, pop them out into a ziploc and store in the freezer and use in ice cream or shakes.

[mysticalend]

Just to add to this recipe:

1 C. almonds (soaked and rinsed)
3 C. water

I find it easier to chop the almonds in the blender first, then add the water gradually. 3 Cups water is a good ratio, 1-2 Cups makes the flavor more intense. After draining through a mesh bag, pour the milk back into the blender, add the following ingredients and blend until smooth. I find this method faster, since the almond and water mixture filter easier than it would if the dates/agave/vanilla were added in the initial mixture.

1/4 C. raw agave nectar (or 5 pitted dates)
Beans of 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. vanilla extract)
1/8 tsp. sea salt

Chill and serve.

To make the chocolate version, replace the vanilla bean with 2 Tablespoons of raw carob powder.

[mysticalend]

Or try this one:

Banana Walnut Milk

1 Cup Walnuts (soaked overnight)
3 Cups filtered water

Place the walnuts in the blender and "pulse" until chopped. Add water 1 cup at a time while blending on "liquify". Strain mixture through a mesh bag/cheese cloth, rinse the blender, and pour filtered mixture back into the blender. Add:

1 Banana
1 Vanilla Bean (or 1 tsp. Vanilla extract)
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1/4 Cup raw agave nectar

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Some people like to strain this a second time, but it isn't necessary. It can be enjoyed both ways.

[fikustree]

another really easy way is to take raw almond butter- or any nut butter- and blend a couple tablespoons with a couple cups of water, you can add vanilla and salt to, it is so easy

[rgoldsmith16]

I just bought that today! And was having similar worries!!! Tastes great! But I do realize it is not a raw food plus it contain sugar.
I mostly bought it for my boyfriend who still wants to eat macaroni and cheese!
Renee` :o

[Shmoopie]

Freeze nut milk in ice trays, pop them out into a ziploc and store in the freezer and use in ice cream or shakes.

THIS idea I LOVE! Thanks for that, Rawkinlocs!

So, using the frozen almond milk for ice cream, would you just put the cubes in the blender then? In other words, it couldn't go through the juicer like the frozen bananas, right?

[Shmoopie]

PS - I've yet to make/try the almond milk, but reading these recipes, I have a feeling I'll end up completely hooked lol

Man, I need some almonds :p