What is Rice Milk?

Rice milk is a grain-based milk popular among vegans as a nondairy substitute. It is made from milled brown or white rice blended with water. The least allergenic among nondairy milks, it is a safe option for anyone allergic or intolerant to dairy, gluten, soy, or nuts. Rice milk is delicious on its own, in baked goods and desserts, or served with cereal and oatmeal.

What is Rice Milk?

Rice milk is a light, refreshing beverage that is low in fat and cholesterol. It is the least likely of all dairy milk alternatives to trigger allergies. Milled brown or white rice is blended with water until it transforms into a liquid. During the process, carbohydrates become sugar imparting it with natural sweetness.  

While rice milk is cholesterol and lactose free, it does not contain significant amounts of calcium or protein. However, many commercial brands fortify their milk with calcium, vitamins, and minerals. As with other nondairy milks, it often contains thickeners to improve texture and taste, as well as sweetener. 

Rice milk is best used in baking and dessert recipes. It generally requires a binding or stabilizing agent such as eggs, flour, or xanthan gum to get the consistency required for nondairy sauces. 

How to Use Rice Milk 

Rice milk is great to drink on its own and its mild taste makes it ideal for baked goods, smoothies, and oatmeal. Some people prefer rice milk to other plant milks, but it isn’t ideal for adding to tea and coffee as it will curdle.  

Taste

Rice milk has a mild taste and is naturally sweet because the carbohydrates in the rice are converted into sugars during processing. Added sugars like brown rice syrup or cane sugar and other natural and artificial flavorings are sometimes added. 

Recipes

Rice milk can be used as a substitute in recipes that call for dairy milk. It is an ideal alternative in baked goods, smoothies, and desserts. However, rice milk is thinner than cow's milk, so it won't give you the creamy texture expected of savory sauces. Here are some recipes to get you started: 

• Dairy Free French Toast
• Maple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa
• Vegan Rice Pudding

Where to Buy 

Rice milk can be found at grocery stores and health food stores in the refrigerated section near the dairy products; shelf-stable boxes are located on the same aisle as breakfast cereals. They are also sold on online retailers. Rice milk is typically packaged in 32-ounce boxes. Read the labels and choose a brand that is fortified with calcium, vitamins and minerals. Pay attention to additives, especially ingredients like brown rice syrup and maltodextrin—these are extra sweeteners which you may want to avoid.   

You can also make rice milk at home by soaking milled rice, blending with water, and straining to make a beverage. However, homemade rice milk will not be as nutritious as fortified store-bought varieties. 

Storage

Rice milk bought refrigerated should always be kept in the refrigerator. Unopened shelf-stable boxes can be left at room temperature, but refrigerate immediately upon opening. Consume opened boxes of rice milk within eight to 10 days. 

Varieties

Rice milk comes in flavors like vanilla and horchata. Even though the mildly sweet taste of rice milk is naturally occurring, some brands add sweetener to their flavored varieties. Rice milk is also typically available as non-GMO or certified organic products. The brand Rice Dream has an unsweetened version that is made using a special process that doesn’t generate a significant amount of sugars.