This guide to vegan milk will help you go dairy free

When trying to go vegan, dairy products can be some of the trickiest things to replace.

In particular, finding a cow’s milk alternative that works can mean a lot of trial and error. After all, we use it in so many things. On our breakfast cereals, in tea or coffee, and for smoothies.

Luckily, there are a whole range of vegan milks available, but which one is the best? We’ve put together this guide for you, so read on to learn all about where each milk comes from, and what they taste best in.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is one of our favourite types of dairy-free milk due to its versatility. You can get both sweetened and unsweetened varieties, but we tend to stick to unsweetened as it’s lower in calories and it can be used in savoury dishes.

It does have a slightly nutty flavour, but we find that this really adds to the taste, particularly in a vegan latte. Almond milk can be made at home by grinding almonds and adding water. You can even buy almond vegan milk powder, which is great for use in curries.

Facts About Almond Milk

• High in calcium
• Low in fibre and protein
• Unsweetened, it’s low in calories

What to Use Almond Milk For

• Cereal
• Vegan milkshakes
• Tea/coffee
• Savoury dishes (if unsweetened)
• Baking

Best Brand of Almond Milk

It’s hard to beat Alpro. They’ve been around for years, their products are widely available in supermarkets, and their roasted almond milk tastes great.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is made from steel-cut oats and water – that’s it.

As you might expect, it has a malty flavour that you’re either going to love or hate. It has a rich, creamy consistency, and unlike some other plant-based milks, heats really well without curdling. Many people think that it’s the best vegan milk for coffee.

It’s also naturally sweet and good for baking, has no saturated fat, and is full of protein and fibre.

Facts About Oat Milk

• High in protein
• High in fibre
• Sweet, malty taste
• No saturated fat

What to Use Oat Milk For

• Hot coffee
• Baking
• Cereal

Best Brand of Oat Milk

Oatly has led the oat milk charge here. This Swedish company definitely knows what it’s doing – oat milk is something of an institution in Sweden.

Soya Milk

Soya milk was probably the first of the vegan milk alternatives to gain real popularity. It can be used to replace cow’s milk in any recipe, and it doesn’t taste strong.

It’s made by soaking and grinding soybeans before filtering. It has a creamy texture which makes it good for vegan baking, if that’s something you want to try.

Many brands do come sweetened however, which means that it isn’t always the healthiest. This dairy-free milk can curdle, so be careful using this vegan milk for tea!

Facts About Soya Milk

• High in protein
• Contains 9 essential amino acids
• Good source of calcium and iron
• Can curdle in hot water

What to Use Soya Milk For

• Creamy coffees
• Baking
• Cereal

Best Brand of Soya Milk

We think Tesco’s own brand unsweetened soya milk is just as good as any of the others and has a reasonable price tag.

Rice Milk

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, rice milk is the perfect choice. This is one of the vegan milks that you might even just drink by the glass as it’s naturally sweet.

To make rice milk you need to press the rice through a mill. It’s very low calorie and works well in cereal. It is quite thin, so some people won’t like it in their tea or coffee. You do get used to it after a while however.

Unfortunately, it’s not so good for cooking as you’ll probably need a creamier plant milk.

Facts About Rice Milk

• Low in calories
• Naturally sweet
• High in carbohydrate
• Low in protein

What to Use Rice Milk For

• Cereal
• On its own
• Some drinks

Best Brand of Rice Milk

Rice Dream is a popular choice for rice milk for a reason. It’s sweet and tasty and fortified with calcium and vitamins.

Coconut Milk

You probably already use coconut milk in some recipes. It’s a staple for things like curries. and because of how rich it is, it makes a great vegan milk substitute for desserts.

To get coconut milk, the fleshy part of the coconut is finely grated and mixed with water. It does have a strong flavour, so it isn’t one for your cereal unless you really like it.

It’s also important to remember that there are a lot of different varieties and some are thicker than others. It is high calorie as well, so best used in moderation.

Facts About Coconut Milk

• Rich and creamy
• High in fat and calories
• Contains some protein and vitamins

What to Use Coconut Milk For

• Curries
• Savoury dishes
• Desserts
• Vegan smoothies
• Thin version for tea/coffee

Best Brand of Coconut Milk

VitaCoco is our choice for an all-round coconut milk. This is the type that you would use in your coffee or smoothies, as it’s not really thick enough for cooking.

There you have it, five amazing vegan dairy-free milk alternatives for you to try.

There’s something here for everyone, and for any substitution that you might need. Most are relatively simple to make as well, so you could always try giving it a go yourself!

Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!