Can You Froth Oat Milk?

The mention of milk used to simply mean dairy milk that came from cows, goats, or sheep.

But now, it includes a plethora of different types of milk coming from various sources, such as almonds, cashews, soy, coconut, rice, and oats!

With so many options available for vegans as well as individuals who are lactose intolerant, we are seeing a huge shift from dairy milk to dairy-free healthier alternatives.

Out of the lot, oat milk is one of the most popular in terms of taste and texture and is a great substitute for dairy milk for a variety of beverages such as teas and coffees. 

However, when it comes to making drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes that require a foamy layer on top, the burning question among many coffee aficionados is whether you can froth oat milk or not.

So, can you froth oat milk? Yes, you can easily froth oat milk due to its thickness and creaminess using a variety of different techniques, although it requires a longer frothing time as compared to dairy milk.

Read on to find out what oat milk is, what makes it froth, the several ways you can froth it for your favorite cup of coffee, and how to use it!

What Is Oat Milk?

Oat milk is all the rage these days with many people switching to this plant-based beverage and almost all coffee shops adding it to their menus.

Oat milk is made by putting oats in water and blending the mixture to create a smooth liquid, which is then strained to leave the creamy pulp behind.

While dairy milk contains more carbohydrates and fats making it thicker, richer, creamier, and heavier on the stomach, oat milk is lower in calories, making it a better choice for those looking for a healthier alternative.

Store-bought oat milk is clear and can range from grey to tan, depending on how it has been processed. However, if you’ve ever made oat milk at home, you will notice a layer of residue at the bottom that comes from the leftover oat grains.

To get rid of the deposit and make the milk smoother, it is always recommended to use a fine sieve or cheesecloth to strain it.

As compared to other plant-based milk such as soy milk, rice milk, and coconut milk, oat milk has a thicker and creamier texture that is very similar to that of dairy milk.

The consistency varies according to the manufacturer and how the milk has been processed, with some brands having thinner oat milk. 

If you are making oat milk at home, you can adjust its consistency by changing the water to oats ratio in the mixture.

When it comes to its taste, it has a familiar flavor to cow milk, but it’s the oat-y aftertaste that gives it away. It is also naturally sweeter than dairy milk and works great in both sweet and savory recipes.

How To Froth Oat Milk

Since oat milk is made using oats and water, and it doesn’t contain the same elements as dairy milk, it is a little harder to froth as compared to full cream cow milk.

While you can froth oat milk, it may be a bit difficult to get the same amount of froth that cow milk can get to.

Therefore, the best solution is to get oat milk that is made specifically made for frothing. It is available in several stores in the country and is often referred to as the barista version of oat milk.

However, if you do not wish to buy a special kind of oat milk and wish to use the regular kind to make your favorite frothed drink, you absolutely can. 

If you’ve ever frothed dairy milk, frothing oat milk should be a breeze. All it requires is the right technique and a little bit of patience.

Here are a few simple ways you can froth oat milk:

Use A Steam Wand

If you have an espresso machine, you can use its steam wand to froth oat milk. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to froth oat milk like professional baristas:

• Grab your frothing pitcher and fill 1/3 of it with oat milk. Similar to dairy milk, oat milk increases in size when frothed; therefore, it is best to leave ample space inside the pitcher.
• Make sure the steaming wand is clean and there is no water or milk residue inside it.
• Next, submerge the tip of the steam wand into the oat milk and turn on the steam valve.
• Make sure to keep the wand closer to the surface to incorporate more air, after which you can submerge it deeper into the pitcher.
• Keep moving the pitcher upwards when the milk starts to increase in volume, making sure the wand is adequately dipped to aid aeration.
• Use a thermometer to make sure the temperature doesn’t exceed 140°F.
• Once the oat milk reaches 140°F, submerge the steam wand to stop frothing the milk and turn off the steam valve.
• Make sure to instantly pour the frothed oat milk over your coffee as the foam may settle on top of the pitcher, letting you pour only the milk and no foam.

Use A Handheld Milk Frother

If you want to froth oat milk and don’t have an espresso machine at home, don’t worry, you can simply use a handheld milk frother. 

A handheld milk frother is a fairly affordable tool that allows you to easily froth any type of milk in seconds, including oat milk. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to froth oat milk using one:

• Start with heating the oat milk to scalding or 150°F using a thermometer.
• Pour the milk into a tall container to prevent it from spilling and splattering.
• Hold the container at an angle, submerge the frother into the milk, and turn it on.
• Move the frother up and down until you see bubbles forming in the milk.
• Continue doing this for 20 seconds to 1 minute, depending on the amount of foam you want.

Use A French Press

If you have a French press for making coffee, you can use it to make frothed oat milk as well. Though it is not as quick and easy as using a handheld frother, it works really well. 

However, when frothing oat milk, you have to be a little careful about not overwhipping it since the foam can deflate when overwhipped.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use a French press to froth oat milk:

• Start with heating the oat milk to scalding or 150°F using a thermometer.
• It works best for a minimum of 1 cup of milk, so it may make frothed oat milk for more than one drink depending on the recipe.
• Add the scalding hot oat milk to the French press, pumping it using quick and short plunges until you see foamy bubbles starting to form.
• For oat milk, pump only about 25 times since overwhipping might cause the foam to deflate.
• Pour the frothed oat milk into a pitcher and tap it on the counter to break down large bubbles.

Use A Whisk

For times when you don’t have any special tools and don’t want to invest in any either, you can use a whisk to froth your oat milk.

Although it is one of the simplest methods, it ismore time-consuming and the results aren’t as frothy and foamy as with the other methods.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to froth oat milk using a whisk:

• Start with heating the oat milk to 150°F using a thermometer.
• Pour the milk into a large bowl to avoid making a mess.
• Next, vigorously whisk the oat milk until you see foamy bubbles starting to form.
• Continue doing this for a few minutes, stopping once you have enough foam.
• Pour the frothed oat milk into a pitcher and tap it on the counter to break down large bubbles.

Use A Blender

Using a blender is another incredibly simple way to froth oat milk that gives you great results in a minimum amount of time.

You may also use a food processor using the same method, which may actually be a better option since it allows you to introduce more air into the milk.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use a blender to froth oat milk:

• Simply pour the oat milk into a blender, making sure there is enough room in it to build the froth.
• Set in on high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes.
• Once you have enough froth, pour the oat milk into a microwave-safe bowl and heat it.

Use An Electric Mixer

With this method, you can use either an electric hand mixer or an electric stand mixer, whichever one you have and prefer. If you have whisk attachments with your mixer, you’ll be able to froth the oat milk much faster.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use an electric mixer to froth oat milk:

• Pour the oat milk into a large bowl. Go for a microwave-safe bowl since it would make it easier to heat the milk later.
• Mix the milk using the electric mixer at high speed until you see bubbles starting to form.
• Once you have enough foam, heat the frothed oat milk by putting the microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Use A Jar

A basic method that requires no fancy kitchen tools or appliances, this one uses only a jar, which most people already have in their kitchens.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to froth oat milk using a jar:

• Start by finding the right sized jar for frothing your oat milk. Make sure there is around 2/3 of empty room inside the jar for the milk to froth in.
• Pour the oat milk into the jar and tightly close the lid.
• Shake the jar by hand for a few minutes, depending on how much froth you want.
• Make sure not to use a lot of oat milk at a time since you want the jar to be light enough to allow you to shake it for an extended period of time.
• Once you see adequate froth on top of the milk, pour it into a microwave-safe bowl to heat it.

How To Use Frothed Oat Milk

You can use frothed oat milk in just about anything you would use frothed dairy milk in. Depending on your preference, you can use frothed oat milk for lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, macchiatos, chai lattes, and more!

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to froth oat milk, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

What is the difference between frothing and steaming?

Frothing and steaming are similar to some extent with both providing texture to the milk. The difference is in the amount of air incorporated into it.

Frothed milk has more volume and froth, and has larger, stiffer bubbles. Steamed milk, on the other hand, is heated and lightly aerated, producing small amounts of microfoam.

What type of oats should you use to make oat milk?

There are several types of oats available in the market: raw oats, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, and quick oats.

To make the creamiest and most flavorful oat milk, we recommend using rolled oats. Steel-cut oats are too unprocessed and less creamy, while quick oats are too finely processed, making the oat milk slimy.

Why does oat milk turn slimy?

At times when you make oat milk at home, you may end up with a final product that is slimy and not as appealing, and there can be many reasons for that happening.

Over-blending the water and oats mixture can make the oat milk slimy in texture, which is why you must not exceed the 30 to 45-second mark.

Soaking the oats in the water may also make them more prone to losing their creamy texture and turning slimy. It is best to simply put the water and oats in a blender and blend right away.

Another factor may be the excess starch in the oat milk, which is why you must strain it twice using a fine sieve or clean cloth.

How long does oat milk last?

Once the homemade oat milk is ready, transfer it into an airtight jar and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

You may notice that it may start to separate in the fridge due to the absence of any stabilizers or emulsifiers. This is completely normal. Simply shake the jar before using it to mix the ingredients.

The store-bought variety, once opened, lasts for around 7-10 days in the fridge. The time may vary depending on the brand and the amount of preservatives present.

Can you freeze oat milk?

Yes, you can freeze oat milk for up to 3 months in the freezer. However, since it settles in the freezing process, it can turn a little grainy when defrosted.

Most people do not prefer using defrosted oat milk for their tea or coffee, although once heated, the graininess isn’t noticeable and it is great for cooking purposes.

You can either place the entire carton of the oat milk into the freezer, pour it in a freezer-safe bottle leaving at least one inch of space for it to expand, or freeze it in an ice cube tray.

Up Next: Almond Bark Vs White Chocolate – What’s The Difference?