Is It Cheaper To Make Oat Milk Or Buy It?

Homemade oat milk is a delicious, creamy alternative to cow’s milk made from oat groats (the hulled kernels of oats) that have been blended with water. While oat milk can be purchased at most grocery stores, there are some benefits to making it at home, like saving money, customizing the flavor to your liking, and using fresher and better ingredients.

However, making oat milk at home does have some drawbacks, like being more time-consuming and lacking the refined texture and added nutrition of store-bought oat milk. 

Making oat milk at home will cost you about $0.45, while buying a carton at the store will run around $5.00. So it is much cheaper to make it at home than buy it at the store. 

But what are you giving up?

If you’re considering making oat milk at home, weigh the pros and cons below to decide if it’s right for you.

How Much Does Store-Bought Oat Milk Cost?

A carton (52 oz) of oat milk costs $4.00 – $6.00 on Amazon, depending on the brand and flavor. Your local grocery store prices may differ slightly, but this is a good benchmark. 

How Much Does Homemade Oat Milk Cost?

Fifty-two ounces (one carton) of homemade oat milk will cost you about $0.45, making it one of the least expensive, DIY dairy-free milk options!

Pros of Homemade Oat Milk

• Cheaper – Homemade oat milk will save you money compared to buying any brand at the store. 
• Eco-Friendly – Homemade oat milk will use much less packaging and processing, significantly reducing the product’s carbon footprint. 
• Easy To Make – Making oat milk is straightforward. Essentially you are blending two ingredients, adding any desired flavoring, and then straining the liquid to make oat milk. 
• Pure Ingredients – You know exactly what was used in making your homemade oat milk, unlike store-bought with the added sugar, oils, preservatives, and emulsifiers. 

Cons of Homemade Oat Milk

• Less Nutritional Value – Compared to store-bought oat milk, which has added vitamins and minerals, homemade oat milk has much less nutritional value. 
• Less Froth Ability – Store-bought oat milk (especially the barista editions) is specially formulated with added oils and emulsifiers to froth like cow’s milk. Homemade oat milk will still froth and heat up nicely for a dairy-free milk, but the store-bought varieties will give you more Instagram-able latte art. 
• Can Be Slimy – The biggest complaint about homemade oat milk is that it can turn out a bit slimy. There are a few reasons this happens:
  1. If the oat milk gets a little heated from the blender friction. 
  2. If the oats get over soaked before blending. 
  3. If too much of the pulp is forced through the strainer. 

How Do You Make Oat Milk At Home? 

Oat milk is made by blending oatmeal with water and then straining it through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag to remove any sediment. While this may sound like more work than just opening a carton, the process is quite simple and only takes a few minutes. Plus, it’s an opportunity to customize your oat milk according to your preferences. 

For example, you can control the thickness of the milk by adding more or less water when blending the oats. You can also add sweeteners such as honey or agave nectar to taste. And if you want to add a bit more flavor, you can stir in vanilla extract or cinnamon before blending. 

What Ingredients Do You Need To Make Oat Milk?

Here are all of the ingredients and equipment you will need:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats (or quick-cooking oats)
• 3 cups cold water
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• Flavoring of choice (optional)

Equipment:

• Blender
• Cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or t-shirt (the t-shirt actually works well)
• Large bowl
• Storage container with a lid for the refrigerator or empty ice cube trays if freezing (important facts about freezing oat milk here).

Instructions:

1. Blend the oats, water, salt, and your flavoring of choice in a blender (NOT a food processor) for 30 seconds.
2. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer (like a cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or clean t-shirt) into a large bowl. 
3. Add more flavoring to taste
4. Chill and enjoy! (You can also drink this oat milk right away) 

Note: Store your homemade oat milk in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freezer for 2-6 months.

Tips For Homemade Oat Milk

• Use uncooked, rolled oats for best results.
• Don’t soak your oats beforehand; soaking can add to the sliminess. 
• Don’t over blend either, this can also make the oat milk slimy.
• Add ice cubes to the blender (make sure to account for the additional water). This will keep the oat milk from heating up in the blender, which can affect the consistency and taste. 
• Don’t squeeze the cheesecloth/nut milk bag too much while straining. This forces more of the oat bits through and can contribute to a slimy texture. 
• After you strain your oat milk, save the oat pulp! There are tons of ways to use this fiber-rich blend that you don’t want to miss out on. 

Flavor Variations To Try

• Pure Maple Syrup
• Honey
• Vanilla Extract
• Cacao Powder
• Brown Syrup 
• Cinnamon 
• Agave Nectar 

Is Homemade Oat Milk Healthier Than Store-bought?

The short answer is: it depends on your priorities. If you make oat milk at home, you can choose the finest ingredients (the cleanest water and the most organic rolled oats) and rest easy, knowing there was minimal processing, which is excellent. 

However, homemade oat milk is not fortified with the added nutrients that most brands add into their oat milk, like Calcium, B2, B12, and protein, unless you choose to do that. But your cost will be higher and the time commitment much longer.  

The Verdict

Homemade oat milk is cheaper than store-bought, but it depends on your priorities to know which choice is right for you. If you’re looking for the cleanest ingredients with minimal waste and processing, homemade oat milk sounds like the perfect option. If you are looking for a quick fix of that oaty goodness with all its extra nutrients added, you may just want to be able to pull a carton out of your refrigerator. 

Homemade oat milk is easy and affordable, but you may find the quality, texture, and nutrition better in store-bought oat milk.