Almond milk is an excellent protein-rich beverage that acts as a substitute for soy or dairy milk. There are numerous health benefits of almond milk, especially for individuals who cannot drink cow’s milk. Homemade almond milk is a much better alternative than mass-produced variations because it contains less sugar and more nutrients.
However, it would help if you had a blender or juicer to make homemade almond milk. Most people prefer using a juicer because they strain while creating milk. In this case best juicer under $100 can be a perfect choice for individual who prefer juicer over blender. You, therefore, get better quality almond milk when using a juicer than a blender. Today, I will walk you through how to make almond milk in a juicer.
Before we begin, ensure that you carefully study almond milk benefits and side effects. Learning almond milk nutrition label and almond nutrition facts can help you have a better understanding of your favorite beverage. Well, let us get started preparing almond milk in a juicer.
Step 1: Place a cup of unsalted almonds in a bowl
Plain, unsalted raw almonds are commonly referred to as ‘sweet almonds.’ Ensure that you place about 170 grams of pure almonds in a large bowl. Since there are different types of almonds out there, you must get high-quality almonds with no added preservatives or spices.
Step 2: Pour three cups of water
Pour three cups of cold water into your almond bowl. Ensure that your bowl is large enough to contain all the almonds. Using cold water will produce better results than warm water. However, understand that all the almonds need to be submerged inside the bowl.
Step 3: Soak overnight
Note that unsoaked almonds may break your juicer. You have probably spent a fortune on your juicer, and the last thing you’d want is to damage it. Leave your almonds to soak in the large bowl for appropriately 12 hours.
The soaking process is an effective way of softening the almonds. Soft almonds will juice easily, and you won’t have to worry about breaking your juicer. Note that the soaking process should take a minimum of 8 hours before you can start juicing.
Step 4: Rinse the almonds
Pour all the water from the bowl and rinse your almonds thoroughly. Repeat the rinsing process until the water runs clear. Most of the time, you will need to rinse your almonds thrice for the water to run clear. However, the good news is that the rinsing process only takes a couple of minutes to complete.
Step 5: Setup the Juicer
If your juicer has several blade attachments, insert the one designed for small food pieces. You should equally ensure that the waste and juice receptacles are securely attached. Doing this will help reduce the mess during the juicing process.
Note that juicers come in different variations. In case you don’t have any blade attachments, you can use your juicer with the current settings. However, endure that the almonds are adequately soaked in such situations.
Step 6: The juicing process
Turn on your juicer and carefully pour a ladle full of water and almonds into the top. Slowly add almonds and water into your juicer until the receptacle is full. Understand that your milk needs to be frothy.
However, note that you can strain the almond milk using cheesecloth if your juicer doesn’t extract the pulp. Place your cheesecloth over a large jar or bowl and slowly pour the extracted juice through it. Note that all the pulp will collect right on top of your cheesecloth.
Step 7: Flavor the almond milk
Understand that this is an optional step. The basic concept of this step is to make the plain almond milk slightly sweet. However, if you enjoy your almond milk plain, you don’t need to follow this step. The sweetening process is especially important to people who like store-brand almond milk.
You can sweeten the almond milk using agave nectar, honey, Marple syrup, and cane sugar. Stir the sweetener you prefer in, starting with one teaspoon and continue adding until it tastes right. Some people mix different sweeteners to get a better taste.
You can add one teaspoon of vanilla extract when creating the famous vanilla almond milk. If you prefer chocolate almond milk, add a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Note that you can make whatever flavor you like when it comes to almond milk.
Step 8: Pour in a glass canning jar and store
Pour all your almond milk in a glass canning jar and place it in your refrigerator immediately. Your almond juice should be good for 2-3 days when properly refrigerated. Ensure that you firmly cover your almond milk jars.
Top three Benefits of almond milk
1. It is nutritious
Yes, almond milk is less nutritious compared to cow milk. Note that almond milk is rich in minerals and vitamins. You can, therefore, get a better alternative to cow milk. The good news is that you can add calcium, vitamin D, and protein to get a similar nutrient composition as cow milk.
However, almond milk cannot be treated as a milk substitute for infants. This is because it lacks in several nutrients that are key to development at this stage.
2. Low calories
Almond milk calories are low; this means you can drink a lot of almond milk and not suffer from weight gain. Commercial almond milk producers add water to reduce the fat level significantly.
3. It is dairy-free
Note that almond milk doesn’t contain any animal products. It is, therefore, an excellent option for individuals who follow a vegan diet. In case you are lactose intolerant, almond milk is a great choice. You can get to enjoy a glass of milk without any worries.
Conclusion
Making almond juice using a juicer is simple and straightforward. Use our comprehensive guide to start enjoying all the benefits of almond milk. Ensure that you get high-quality almonds that are free from any additives during the preparation stage. However, note that you will need to add a few nutrients to your almond milk if you want to substitute this product with milk.