Can I use my juicer to make nut milk?

Making nut milk at home is a great way to control the ingredients and create a tasty, nourishing beverage. While you can buy pre-made nut milks at the grocery store, making it yourself allows you to customize the flavors and thickness to your liking. Many people wonder if they can use their juicer to make homemade nut milk. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using a juicer versus a blender to make nut milk.

How Nut Milk is Made

The basic process for making nut milk is:

1. Soak nuts (almonds, cashews, etc.) in water overnight to soften.
2. Drain and rinse the nuts.
3. Blend the nuts with water (and any other flavorings like dates, vanilla, etc) in a high-powered blender until smooth.
4. Strain the blended mixture through a nut milk bag, cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to separate the milk from the pulp.
5. Store the finished nut milk in the refrigerator for up to one week.

This method extracts the creamy nut emulsion while removing any gritty fiber particles, resulting in a smooth, creamy homemade nut milk.

Can a Juicer Make Nut Milk?

While juicers are great for extracting juice from fruits and vegetables, they are not the ideal appliance for making most nut milks. Here’s why:

• Juicers separate juice through centrifugal force or pressing/squeezing. They are designed to extract watery juice, not thick creamy emulsions like nut milk.
• Most juicers have small openings and blades that are not conducive to processing nuts. Pieces could get stuck and damage the juicer.
• Juicers do not have the power and speed necessary to fully grind nuts into a smooth milk.
• You would still need to strain the nut mixture from a juicer to achieve a smooth texture.

For these reasons, a high-powered blender is a much better appliance for making homemade nut milks. Blenders are designed to fully pulverize nuts and blend creamy liquid emulsions.

Types of Juicers

There are two main types of juicers – centrifugal and masticating. Here’s a brief overview of each type:

Centrifugal Juicers

• Use a rapidly rotating blade and a perforated basket.
• Faster juicing but produces heat which oxidizes nutrients.
• Best for juicing fruits and veggies with high water content.
• Not ideal for nuts/nut milk due to small openings.

Masticating Juicers

• Use a slow crushing/pressing action via auger.
• Slower juicing keeps nutrients intact.
• Can juice leafy greens, wheatgrass, nuts.
• May be able to make a very thin nut milk.

A masticating juicer may have more success with nut milks than a centrifugal model, but the consistency still won’t be as creamy and smooth as using a blender.

Can Specific Juicers Make Nut Milk?

While most juicers aren’t ideal for making nut milk, there are a few models designed specifically for the task:

Tribest Dynapro MDP702

• Dual-stage masticating juicer.
• Has an attachment for making nut milk.
• Works best with soaked cashews and almonds.
• Can make a creamy nut milk but slower process.

Omega VSJ843 Vertical Slow Juicer

• Masticating vertical juicer.
• Can make nut milks with soaked nuts.
• Has a fine screen for separation.
• Yields a smooth nut milk.

Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer

• Advanced masticating 3″ wide chute.
• Makes smooth nut milk from soaked nuts.
• High yield with less foam.
• Efficient and easy to clean.

While these specialty juicers may provide a decent nut milk, for best results a high speed blender still can’t be beat. But these models show that some juicers are improving in their ability to handle nuts and create creamy nut milk.

Pros and Cons of Juicers vs. Blenders for Nut Milk

Here is a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of using a juicer vs. blender to make nut milks:

Appliance	Pros	Cons
Juicer	May yield a smoother milk from some models No need to strain pulp Faster processing time	Not designed for thick liquids Can’t fully grind nuts Lower yields May oxidize nutrients
Blender	Designed to pulverize nuts fully Makes smoother, richer milk Retains nutrients Customize milk thickness	Need to strain pulp Slightly longer process Can overblend to undesired texture

Tips for Making Nut Milk with a Blender

If you decide to use a blender to make your nut milk, here are some tips for getting the best results:

• Always soak nuts first to soften – 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain and rinse nuts well before blending.
• Use a high-powered blender like Vitamix, Blendtec, etc.
• Blend 1 cup nuts with 3-4 cups water.
• Blend for 1-2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides.
• Strain in nut milk bag or through cheesecloth.
• Squeeze bag or cloth to get all the liquid out.
• Refrigerate for up to one week.
• Shake or stir before drinking – separation is natural.
• Add dates, vanilla, cinnamon or other flavors to taste.

Making your own nut milk is easy with a good blender and some practice. The ability to control the thickness and flavors makes it worth the small effort!

Nut Milk Variations

Homemade nut milks are endlessly customizable. Try out different combinations of nuts, flavors and textures:

Nut and Seed Milks

• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Hazelnut milk
• Walnut milk
• Pistachio milk
• Pecan milk
• Sunflower seed milk
• Pumpkin seed milk

Flavorings

• Dates – sweetness
• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa powder
• Maple syrup
• Extracts like almond or vanilla
• Pinches of spices like nutmeg, ginger, cardamom

Texture

• Thin, milk-like consistency
• Thick, creamy consistency
• Completely smooth
• A bit grainy

The possibilities are endless for customizing nut milks to your preferences. Keep experimenting with new ingredient combinations and textures.

Storing and Using Homemade Nut Milk

Properly storing your homemade nut milk is important for safety and preserving maximum freshness:

• Refrigeration: Store in airtight container in fridge for 5-7 days.
• Freezing: Freeze in batches up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge before using.
• Separation: Shake or stir before using – separation is natural.
• Use: Shake/stir well before adding to smoothies, coffee, baked goods, etc.
• Coconut milk: Only keeps 2-3 days refrigerated due to higher fat content.

Be sure to use clean equipment and properly store any nut milk to prevent spoilage or foodborne illness.

Conclusion

While juicers aren’t usually the best appliances for making nut milk, blenders are ideal for making homemade nut milks. High-powered blenders fully pulverize nuts and blend the creamy emulsion in minutes. Blending allows you to easily strain out pulp and customize milk thickness and flavors. With some simple tips, making your own nut milk at home with a blender opens up endless possibilities for adjusting tastes and nutrition.