How to Make Oat Milk at Home, Because It’s Creamier and Cheaper Than Store-Bought

Remember that time you tried to make your own almond milk? It’ll be easy and just think of all the money I’ll save, you thought to yourself (smugly). But as it turned out, it was neither of those things, and you swore you’d never attempt making your own dairy-free milk again. Well, it’s time to reconsider. Not only does mildly sweet and wonderfully creamy oat milk not require hours of soaking, but it's also ecologically conscious and cheap to make. Don’t believe us? Here’s how to make oat milk at home.

What you’ll need:
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
Pinch of kosher salt
A blender (preferably high-speed)
A fine-mesh strainer

You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or maple syrup or a couple of dates if you want to amp up the sweetness, but that’s totally optional.

Step 1: Soak the oats in 4 cups water for approximately 20 minutes. This step is *technically* optional but it does provide a smoother end product.

Step 2: Rinse and drain the oats, then add them to the blender with 4 cups fresh water, the salt and the sweetener, if using. Puree on high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds (the mixture doesn't have to be 100 percent pulverized, but it should be pretty smooth).

Step 3: Strain the oat milk by pouring it through a fine-mesh strainer (line it with cheesecloth for an even smoother end result) and into a pitcher or bowl. You may need to do this more than once to get it extra-smooth. Store the oat milk in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to five days, and shake before using, as the oats may settle from the liquid.

You can use homemade oat milk the same way you would the regular stuff—in smoothies, coffee and baked goods, on top of cereal or, you know, with a stack of cookies. Keep in mind that it might not be as, well, milky, as the store-bought stuff, which usually contains added fats to give it a smooth, emulsified texture. But it’s just as rich and creamy, and you can adjust the ratio of oats to water if you want to make the texture even more indulgent.

You already know that oat milk is cheaper to make than any nut milk, but it has the added benefit of being cheaper than store-bought oat milk too. A half-gallon of Oatly Original Oat Milk (our go-to) is $5 at online retailers. But a 42-ounce container of old-fashioned oats (which contains about 15 cups of oats) is less than $3, and that’s enough to make almost 4 gallons of homemade oat milk. Need we say more?