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Best oat milks: These 14 alt dairy options come dietician-approved
Including Aldi's own-brand option
If you're wondering about the best oat milks, there's a chance you're thinking about making the switch to a plant-based milk alternative. If you're intrigued by other plant-based dairy milk alternatives as well as the best oat milk options, check out the brands top-rated by dieticians here.
With so many options out there, it can be a little daunting to know choices to make. So how do you determine the best oat milk from all the options on the market?
Oat milk has become a fast fan-favourite as a dairy alternative thanks to its creamy taste which makes it taste similar to cow’s milk. Brits spent a hefty £146 million on oat milk in 2020, up from £74 million in 2019 and grabbing the top spot as Britain’s preferred plant milk alternative over almond. (Which is good news from a sustainability POV - learn more here.)
And it doesn’t seem like swapping to plant-based alternatives will be a passing craze either with a recent market forecast report by Grand View Research, predicting that the global oat milk market, valued at $2.23 billion in 2020, will reach $6.45 billion by 2028. Pretty impressive, right?
Best oat milks: Is oat milk healthy?
In short, yes. The best oat milks are healthy. We checked in with Azmina Govindji RD, award-winning dietitian and author of Vegan Savvy: The Expert's Guide to Nutrition on a Plant-based Diet, to get the low down on Britain’s favourite plant milk.
'If you’re looking purely at nutrition, some oat drinks typically have less calcium, lower levels of iodine and lower quality protein than dairy milk,' explains Azmina.
'However, they can often be higher in vit D and B12, due to fortification – you also get some fibre due to the oats.'
When researching her book, Vegan Savvy: The Expert's Guide to Nutrition on a Plant-based Diet, Azmina found that most leading brands fortify their oat milks with calcium, vitamin D, vitamin b12 and iodine to bring them on par with the vitamins in normal cow’s milk.
Best oat milks: Is oat milk the healthiest milk?
However, there are also many oat milk brands which don't fortify their cartons with the nutrients needed to match dairy milk's nutritional profile.
And it's important when choosing among the best oat milks that you ensure your choice of oat milk does have these added vitamins and minerals.
'This is really important as my findings showed that these nutrients can be lacking in a plant-based diet,' she explains.
It’s also important to weigh in the protein content when choosing your plant milks, Azmina says, especially if you’re sticking to a vegan diet.
'Dairy milk has about 3.5% protein, so you want to choose an alternative that offers “like for like” in terms of nutrition,' she suggests.
'Soya and pea-based drinks have 3 to 3.5% protein. Oat-based drinks in my Vegan Savvy survey provided between 0.5 and 1% protein; coconut drinks were between 0.1% and 1.2%; and almond and rice drinks were also low in protein,' she explains.
Best oat milks: Which is the best oat milk to buy?
When working out the best oat milks for you, you have to decide on what you’re looking for. For example, is it important to find a high protein milk to help your muscles recover after training?
Or are you following a vegan diet and therefore the best oat milks for you are ones supplemented with added vitamins and calcium?
Azmina recommends always checking the label to compare the %RI (reference intake) on the nutritional label.
'Make sure the brand is fortified with vitamin D, calcium, iodine and B12,' she advises as these nutrients are important for the healthy functioning of our bodies.
'I tend to think it's worth paying a little more for fortification with micronutrients, but you may well find cheaper own brand alternatives. Also, go for low sugar versions,' Azmina adds.
So, now we know what to look for, WH has done the legwork for you to help you find the best oat milks on the market.
You don’t need to spend ages scrolling Asda, Sainsbury's and Waitrose aimlessly trying to find the best oat milks thanks to this oat-standing list
14 best oat milks to buy now, according to a dietician
Best oat milks: Minor Figures Organic oat milk
If you love your specialty coffees, then this one is for you. Minor Figures is a super creamy oat milk brand with one eye on flavour and one eye on sustainability.
The milk is great for foaming, without curdling in tea or having an overpowering taste. You can also subscribe to oat milk deliveries so you never have to suffer through a hot drink without your trusty oat milk again.
However, some Minor Figures oat milk products aren’t fortified with vitamins so make sure you check the label to choose between the best oat milks for you.
Best oat milks: Planet Organic unsweetened oat milk
Planet Organic keep things simple with their 16% oat milk which has a slight sweetness to it, despite there being no added sugar.
It’s slightly higher in protein than some other brands - a win if you eat a vegan diet or are weight training.
Planet Organic also uses gluten-free oats so its a brilliant choice for those with gluten intolerances.
Best oat milks: Aldi Acti Leaf UHT oat drink
One of the main issues with oat milk is the cost but Aldi has got us in oat heaven with its low budget oat drink that comes with added B12, B2, vitamin D and calcium.
Why is it in our list of the best oat milks? It has a clean, natural flavour which foams well for coffees.
While it lands slightly on the thinner side compared to other brands, its still a good, tasty alternative.
Best oat milks: Alpro Oat No Sugars
A strong contender for the best oat milks - and all plant-based milks - is Alpro. And their no sugars oat drink is no exception.
It’s got a soft, sweet taste despite having no sugars or sweeteners.
While it does have added calcium and vitamins B2, B12, and D to help keep you feeling your best, it’s on the lower side for protein content.
Best oat milks: MOMA Barista Unsweetened Oat Drink
It’s the thick, creamy taste which lands MOMA’s Barista Oat drink on our list of the best oat milks.
As a barista-style option, it froths well for coffee while its thickness makes it a versatile option for cereal and smoothies.
Made using whole grain oats, this oat milk is a great source of fibre and is fortified with lots of extra vitamins too.
Best oat milks: Oatly Oat Drink Barista Edition
No best oat milks list is complete without this guy. Oatly really is the queen of creating frothy plant-based milk.
If you’re serious about getting the perfect coffee at home (these coffee machines will help you in your mission) you’ll want to opt for this one.
With natural sweetness, high fibre, a delicious taste as well as added vitamins, there’s lots to love.
Best oat milks: Provamel Organic Oat Drink
This oat milk has a sweet, mild taste to it and isn’t oily like some oat milks can be, making it a good option for drinks, cereals, and cooking with.
While it froths pretty well, it isn’t one of the best oat milks in this regard so if you’re a fan of specialty coffees then perhaps this isn’t the one for you.
Best oat milks: Jord Nordic Oat Drink
With a 4.7 star rating on Amazon, you can expect Jord Nordic’s oaty contender to have a spot on our best oat milks list.
This oat milk is creamy, with a slight sweetness to it, and a great consistency for a plant-based option making it great for adding to anything, from porridge and granola, to your teas and coffee.
Best oat milks: Mighty Milkology Whole Dairy Free
If you’re looking for one of the more sustainable brands of best oat milks out there then Mighty Milkology is a good one to turn to.
The brand as a whole has an Eco Impact A Label rating as it focuses on using less water, land, and reducing emissions when producing its products.
The milk itself has added pea protein and a similar fat percentage to dairy products so it’s a pretty good replacement for the real thing.
Best oat milks: Provitamil Oat Drink
This oat drink is one of our best oat milks because it is packed full of goodness thanks to added calcium, and vitamins D and B, mixed with the creamy oat milk.
As many of us are deficient in vitamin D, this is a great way of getting a little extra nutrition every day.
Plus, it’s creamy consistency makes it perfect for hot drinks, cooking, or just for pouring over cereal. Truly, one of the best oat milks.
Best oat milks: Rude Health Barista Oat
Keeping it simple, Rude Health’s oat drink is made up of 13 per cent gluten-free oats, water, sunflower oil, and a pinch of sea salt to balance out the natural sweetness of the oats.
Other than tasting really pure and natural, this oat milk froths well and has a Goldilocks consistency – not too thin, but not too thick either.
Best oat milks: Califia Farms Original Oat Barista Blend
While this one is designed as a barista oat milk option, don’t pass up the opportunity of having it purely on its own.
It has a sweet, moreish taste where you can really taste the creamy base from the oats.
Importantly, it has great reviews for its frothing and steaming abilities so its a good option for latte and cappuccino lovers.
Best oat milks: Glebe Farm Pure Oaty Organic Barista Blend
One of the smaller brands on the market is Glebe Farm, an independent family-run business which is the only farm in the UK growing and processing gluten-free oats to make its plant milk.
PureOaty is designed to be perfect for barista quality coffee but its simple, creamy oat blend makes it great for smoothies or enjoying with cereal too.
Best oat milks: Oato Fresh Oat Drink
Another great option for a more sustainable oat milk is Oato which comes from the milkman – sign up to receive your fresh oat drink by 8pm and get next day delivery.
Made in Lancashire, it uses 100 per cent British oats, has lots of added vitamins, and is delivered in a reusable glass bottle. Simply enjoy your creamy oat milk, rinse the bottle, and return the bottle to be refilled.
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