5 Minute Homemade Cashew Milk Recipe (no strain!) | Vanilla And Bean (2024)

FAQs

Do I have to strain nut milk? ›

If you do soak your nuts, drain and rinse them well before blending. Straining: for the smoothest texture we recommend straining all milks except for cashew milk, pumpkin seed milk, and hemp milk. However, if you don't mind some extra fiber in your milk, straining is not necessary.

Depending on where you buy your cashews, making your own milk will definitely be cheaper than buying storebought cashew milk, and cheaper, or at least on par with, the cheapest non-dairy milk brands.

If you plan on cooking with the milk (say, using it to simmer whole grains, or don't mind a little pulpy sediment, just shake and proceed. If you prefer your milk to be smooth, strain it through a medium or fine-mesh sieve. For the silkiest milk, use a nut bag to catch the extra-fine bits.

Homemade cashew milk lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. Though I think it's best consumed within the first 2-3 days. You can halve this recipe if you don't think you'll use it all up. You can also make a full batch and pour any extra into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze for future use.

Strain the almonds through a nut milk bag, fine cheesecloth, or a thin cloth. My favorite nut milk bag alternative is my handkerchief. It's a super fine weave but it will still let you strain liquid through it.

You can use a flour sack towel, pillowcase, bandana, scrap of fabric, clean cloth diaper, cloth napkin, or jelly bag to strain foods or contain little bundles of herbs. Choose something you don't care about because the food you're straining can permanently stain the fabric.

The Bottom Line. Made from whole cashews and water, cashew milk is lactose-free and loaded with heart-healthy unsaturated fats, protein, and several vitamins and minerals. Drinking this type of milk may boost heart health, improve blood sugar control, promote eye health, and more.

Overall, almond milk and cashew milk are remarkably similar in their nutrition profile since they're both made from nuts and water. The main differences will be between different brands and how much (if any) calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 they add to their products.

For manufacturers, the choice is between the goals of the end product and the target market it is serving. Fortunately, both almond and cashew milk varieties provide a similar nutritional punch and supplement healthy, balanced diets.

Soaking roasted nuts brings out their bitterness, and because they're drier to begin with, they yield a gritty milk. (Soaking nuts also won't remove any flavors, so unless you want Thai chili- or salt & vinegar-flavored almond milk, use unseasoned almonds.)

Why do you soak almonds before making almond milk? ›

Overnight soaking allows the almonds to absorb water, soften up, become more digestible as well as seep & remove harder/ negative 'enzymes' & bitterness into the water, which can easily be eliminated.

As with all food, properly storing almond milk is the key to maximizing its shelf life. Homemade almond milk stored in the refrigerator will last about five days. Almond milk bought from the refrigerated section of your market will last in your fridge for about seven to 10 days.

The cashews might not completely break down if you don't use a high-speed blender and this could result in a gritty texture. You can try soaking the cashews longer for 12 hours or more. If you want to spice it up a little, add a pinch of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg or cardamom to the recipe.

Simple: you can freeze it. Nut milks, especially homemade versions, can be frozen successfully.

Similarly, UHT milk is heated at ultra-high temperatures to maintain its quality and freshness. Homemade cashew milk, however, often doesn't undergo this process and thus can go bad within three days.

We recommend straining twice to remove any of that excess starch which can also lend to a slimy texture. We recommend straining with a towel or clean t-shirt as nut milk bags and fine mesh strainers let too much pulp through.

The Nutr uses stainless steel blades to grind up your ingredients in under five minutes, and the glass lid allows you to see it all happen. Once the cycle finishes, you can use it as is, or strain any pulp with the included strainer.

The Best Way to Store Almond Milk

That controlled temperature will help keep it fresh. Oh and if you find that your milk has separated (a common occurrence with the fresh stuff), that doesn't mean it's gone bad — just shake it up and it will be good to sip. If it's still chunky after shaking, then it's time to toss it.

Strain homemade almond milk

A lot of instructions for homemade nut milks suggest straining the blended almonds and water through layers of cheesecloth or nylon-mesh nut bags, but if you don't want to invest in a washable piece such as those, grab your trusty coffee filters!