How Do You Thicken Almond Milk?
There are mainly two methods of thickening almond milk. These two methods can be applied based on what you want to use the almond milk for. Below are the two methods and to what use they are best suited:-
Table of Contents
First Method For Thickening Almond Milk
This method is best for almond milk that you want to use as a substitute for cow milk in your beverages. Follow these simple steps for this method:-
(i) Divide your almond milk into two either into two equal parts or with a 1 to 3 ratio.
(ii) Put either half of the almond milk or 2/3rd of it in a saucepan.
(iii) Place the saucepan on the stove at high heat and stir continuously.
(iv) Remove from heat just when the milk is about to come to a boil. This process is known as scalding milk.
(v) Add the scalded milk into the other part that wasn’t heated and allow it to cool before using it. Your leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge.
Note that the level of thickness you get would depend on the ratio of the scalded almond milk that is added to one that was not scalded.
If you do not want to have to scald your almond milk, you can increase the quantity of nuts to water. For example instead of using one cup of nuts to 2 of water, you can use a 1:1 ratio; just ensure that you have a high powered blender.
You can still use your regular ratio ( 1 cup of nuts to 2 of water). Blend the almond nuts very smooth and use without sieving out the chaff. That gives you more nutritional goodness if you can stand the pulp/chaff. Note that a high powered blender would produce less chaff and you may have to blend for a longer period.
Second Method
This second method involves the addition of either rice flour or cornstarch. Almond milk that is thickened with this method is best used for custards, cooked puddings, sauces and the likes.
Here are the simple steps to follow in this method:-
(i) Put the desired quantity of almond milk into a sauce pan and place the saucepan on low heat.
(ii) Measure out the cornstarch or rice flour in a ratio of 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 to the quantity of milk. This means for example that if you have 2 or 3 cups of almond milk, you would need 1 cup of rice flour or cornstarch. Also bear in mind that the ratio you use would determine the thickness you’ll get.
(iii) Sprinkle the flour or starch gradually into the almond milk in the saucepan over low heat. Ensure that you stir vigorously and consistently as you add the flour/starch.
(iv) Remove from heat once your almond milk is thickened.
(v) You can add it to whatever you want to use it for immediately or allow it to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for later use.
Also note that it is best to add whatever flavoring to want to your almond milk in the process of thickening it.
Conclusion
These methods are for folks that must absolutely prepare their almond milk so as to be sure of the process and all that goes into it. We are sure that the question ‘how do you thicken almond milk? has been adequately answered.
But for those who do not care, you can just go ahead and buy your almond milk from the store since those one have already been thickened. One thing that you have to bear in mind however is that so many people have argued about the substance that is used to thicken store bought almond milk.
Although this substance known as Carrageenan has not been categorically ascertained to be harmful, some people are still wary of it. But unless you have serious health conditions that warrant that you be extra careful, you really do not have anything to be concerned about.
You can study more about Carrageenan on this site
Check out these articles for more tips and hacks and also recipes
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- How To Stack A Cake
- How To Use A Bundt Pan
- Icing Sugar — The Foundation For Cake Decoration
How Do You Thicken Almond Milk? – FAQs
Is It OK To Boil Almond Milk?
While it is ok to heat almond milk, it is not ok to allow it to come to a boil. The reason for this is that the milk would burn and that would change the taste of the milk.
You can use a double boiler to heat up the almond milk or use a microwave.
When you use a double boiler to heat almond milk, it allows the milk to heat gradually and as such you are able to put off the heat before the almond milk actually comes to a boil.
When using microwave on the other hand, ensure that you microwave the almond milk at 30 seconds interval.
Can I Substitute Almond Milk For Heavy Cream?
Almond milk can be used to substitute for heavy cream in some recipes.
The recipes that can use almond milk as substitute for heavy cream as those that would not be impacted by the lack of fat in almond milk. One of such recipe is chocolate glaze.
Since the purpose of heavy cream in a chocolate glaze is essentially to change the texture of the chocolate, then any liquid would do. But note that the taste and appearance of the glaze would be slightly different.
The appearance of chocolate glaze made with store bought almond milk would be very close to that made with heavy cream. Homemade almond milk however would not allow the chocolate glaze to be 100% smooth.
In addition to that, there would be a slightly nutty taste to your chocolate glaze.
