Whether you’re allergic to dairy or have made a conscious choice to cut out dairy from your diet soy milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk. You can drink it in your tea, pour it on your breakfast cereals, and can even use it for home baking.
With so many brands out there with various different price tags, it can be hard to discern which soy milk to go for. In this post, we take a look at some of the best tasting soy milk options around as well as discussing some of the lesser-known facts about this dairy-free alternative.
Our Top Picks for Soy Milk 2022
Best Vanilla Soy Milk: Soy Dream Enriched Vanilla Organic Soymilk (Pack of 6)
A delicious dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk that has a hint of vanilla for a dash of added sweetness. Perfect for your morning cup of tea.
Best Organic Soy Milk: 365 Everyday Value, Organic Soy Milk, Original Flavor, 32 fl oz
An affordable organic option that provides great flavor and a refreshing taste. This sweetened soy milk will see you reaching for another glass.
Best Soy Milk for Coffee: Silk Dairy-Free Soy Creamer Vegan, 16 oz
A gorgeously smooth dairy-free alternative to cream to make the perfect coffee. This soy creamer adds a hint of luxury to your morning routine.
Best Soy Milk for Frothing: Pacific Natural Foods Barista Series Soy Blenders, Plain, 32 Ounce Containers (3 Pack)
For all those baristas out there this is one for you. This soy milk is perfect for frothing and makes delicious cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites.
Best Soy Milk Yogurt: Silk Dairy Free Yogurt Alternative, Vanilla, 5.3 oz
Introducing another soy product to the mix – soy yogurt! This tasty vanilla yogurt from Silk makes for a speedy, healthy, dairy-free breakfast item.
Why drink soy milk?
As the name suggests, soy milk is made out of soybeans with filtered water added to the mixture. Being a plant-based alternative to dairy milk, it contains zero cholesterol and is also low in saturated fat. There are also other health benefits to swapping over to soy milk as the soy bean is a good source of protein, has a mixture of vitamins and minerals for you to absorb and also contain fiber.
If you’re wondering when the best time to drink soy milk is, you will soon find it is suitable any time of day whether it be for your breakfast or after-dinner coffee. To ensure you’re opting for the healthiest option, go for best unsweetened soy milk rather than that with added sugar or sweeteners.
What are the health benefits of soy?
There are numerous health benefits to drinking soy milk as stated above. For many, ditching cow’s milk raises concerns about maintaining the right amount of protein in their diet. However, it may come as a surprise that soy milk actually contains just as much protein as cow’s milk. Plus, there are fewer calories in soy milk in comparison to cow’s milk and it contains minimal saturated fat.
There has been research into specific health benefits of drinking soy milk, including:
1. It can reduce the risk of certain cancers and chronic diseases: while much more research is needed, some preliminary studies have found links with higher soy consumption and reduced risk to certain cancers. This includes a small reduction in the risk of gastrointestinal cancers.
2. It may increase fertility: increased soy intake has also being linked with a positive effect on fertility. One 2022study found that soy food intake may reduce the effects of exposure to BPA for women who are undergoing IVF.
Be sure to be careful of your soy intake if you have problems with your thyroid as increased soy intake has been linked to a reduction in the absorption of thyroid medication.
Can babies drink soy milk?
If you follow a plant-based dairy-free diet then you’re likely to want to follow suit for your children too. Or it may be that your baby is allergic to dairy and you want to find an alternative for them. If you’re looking for the best soy milk for baby or best soy milk brand for toddlers it’s important to bear in mind that children under the age of 1 should not consume soy products.
There is the option of soya formula if you’re concerned that your baby is allergic to dairy, however, you should consult your doctor before giving this to your baby and only use if recommended by your health advisor.
What is the best brand of soy milk?
When you’re looking for the best tasting soy milk it can be overwhelming due to the huge number of different brands out there. It can feel like there is a new brand on the supermarket shelf every week. To give a brief answer this growingly complex question some of our favorites include Silk, Eden Foods, Soy Dream, Provamel, and So Good.
How to make soy milk
If you fancy making your own version soy milk can be made manually, but it is a whole lot easier with the best soy milk maker. However, if you don’t have one of these useful machines then check out our easy to make soy milk recipe and instructions below.
Ingredients for Soy Milk
- 80g of yellow soybeans
- 1 liter of water
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Method for making Soy Milk
- Soak your soybeans for 12 hours in water, then drain them and remove their skins.
- Add the soybeans and 750 ml of your water to a blender and blitz until you have a smooth mixture.
- Put the mixture through a cheesecloth or muslin to drain the mixture of any excess bits to ensure a smooth consistency.
- Add the soy bean mixture and water to a pan adding the remaining 250 ml of water that’s left. Allow this to come to a boil and remove any foam that emerges on the top. Reduce the heat to medium and allow to simmer for 20 minutes (stir every now and then).
- At this point, you can add the vanilla extract or leave out if you prefer a natural flavor.
- Once the soy milk has cooled add it to a sealed container and keep in the fridge (it will last for around 5 days).
If you want to make bigger quantities then adjust the recipe accordingly!
Is soy milk an environmentally-friendly choice?
Soy is one of the most widely grown crops in the world. This is because it is a key food product for the animals that we eat or use the produce from. Whenever we eat beef, chicken, fish, eggs or any dairy products it is likely that the animal that produced the food item has consumed soy in their diet. Due to the demand for soy, the growth of this crop has been linked to destructive deforestation which disturbs much-needed resources depended upon by minority groups as well as precious ecosystems.
For this reason, we recommend that the soy milk you purchase is responsibly sourced. This means that you should look out for soy milk that has been produced organically, using non-GMO soybeans.
Best Soy Milk 2022(Our favorites!)
We’re sure your mouth is watering and you’re ready to get onto finding the perfectly flavored soy milk for you. Read on to find out about our top picks.
#1 Best Vanilla Soy Milk: Soy Dream Enriched Vanilla Organic Soymilk
If you like the idea of soy milk but are concerned about the flavor then why not go for a batch that has a touch of vanilla. This vanilla enriched soy milk from Soy Dream has just that, it is made with 100% organic soybeans with an added natural vanilla flavor which is perfect if you want something that is not super sweet but lacks the earthy edge of the natural soy flavor.
Rich in calcium and full of vitamins this soy milk is not only delicious it is also healthy too. Use it on your breakfast cereal or in a fresh cup of coffee and enjoy a dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk. Plus, Soy Dream make all of their products out of non-GMO soy protein which means that it is also an environmentally-friendly choice. Stock up on this bulk buy of 6 cartons and ensure your cupboards are stocked up for the whole family.
#Soy #Non-GMO #Vanilla #Delicious #Healthy #Eco #Vegan
#2 Best Organic Soy Milk: 365 Everyday Value, Organic Soy Milk, Original Flavor, 32 fl oz
It can be expensive to buy organic. However, if you’re conscious of eating and drinking responsibly on a budget you may be interested in the 365 Everyday Value range. This delicious original flavor soy milk is a bargain at under $2 and you can rest assured that it is 100% organic and made from non-GMO soybeans that are grown in the USA.
This is a sweetened soy milk so has a hint of sweetness that comes from the addition of organic cane sugar. Perfect for use with coffee, tea, breakfast cereals, and even baking. Full of calcium and a great source of vitamin B2, D2 and B12 make this a healthy addition to your diet. For a great tasting high-quality soy milk that also won’t break the bank check out this excellent product from 365 Everyday Value.
#Organic #Soy_Milk #Sweetened #Coffee #Breakfast #Non_Dairy
#3 Best Soy Milk for Coffee: Silk Dairy-Free Soy Creamer Vegan, 16 oz
That first cup of coffee in the morning is what gets most of us out of bed and through the door ready to face the day. So you want to get it right. Going dairy-free certainly does not mean you have to lose the rich creaminess of a milky coffee as you can still get this delicious effect using soy. Step in the Silk Soy Creamer. This fantastically delicious vegan alternative to cow’s milk has a creamy consistency which gives you a smooth coffee which a tasty hint of vanilla.
With just 30 g calories per serving this creamer is a lot less fattening than traditional dairy cream meaning that it is a little easier on the waistband too. Add this to your basket and look forward to guilt-free creamy coffee that sets your morning off to a delicious start.
#Dairy_Free #Creamer #Coffee #Smooth #Vanilla #Silk #Soy #Vegan
#4 Best Soy Milk for Frothing: Pacific Natural Foods Barista Series Soy Blenders, Plain
When switching to soy milk it can be hard to find a milk that froths as well as the dairy kind. Thankfully Pacific Natural Foods have created a soy milk that is specifically designed to create consistent and smooth frothy foam. With this soy milk, it is perfectly easy to create a delicious cappuccino or latte with your best frother for soy milk in hand. You can even try your hand at a flat white with this fantastic dairy-free alternative.
It is normally very easy to overheat soy mill which gives it a nasty burnt taste. However, with this Barista Series Soy Milk it can handle the higher heat of steaming meaning you get the delicious frothy coffee you’re after every time. This great value 3 pack means that you can stock up your cupboards so that you’ve got the mornings sorted for a while.
#Frothing #Barista #Frothy_Coffee #Soy_Milk #Latte #Cappuccino #Dairy_Free
#5 Best Soy Milk Yogurt: Silk Dairy Free Yogurt Alternative, Vanilla, 5.3 oz
If you love a refreshing yogurt for breakfast then look no further than this delicious vanilla soy yogurt from Silk. This gorgeously silky dairy-free alternative is a great option when avoiding the cow’s milk options that dominate the supermarket shelves. Crafted in the US, this soy yogurt has a hint of vanilla which gives it a good flavor but is not overly sweet – perfect over your breakfast cereals or on its own.
In addition to being super tasty, this yogurt is also relatively low in calories for a yogurt. Containing just 90 calories this makes for a good start to the day in you’re counting the calories. Treat yourself to several of these delicious yogurts and ensure you have a wholesome breakfast or tasty dessert to hand whenever you need to grab and go.
#Soy #Yogurt #Silk #Healthy_breakfast_ideas #Low_Calorie #Vegan
Conclusion
Cutting out or reducing dairy in your diet doesn’t mean that you have to forgo a regularly used food item such as milk. Soy milk is a tasty and healthy alternative which can be used for all sorts of purposes. Adding a dash to your morning cup of tea of coffee, pouring over your cereal or even adding it to a dairy-free cake recipe means soy milk can deliver all of the obligations of cow’s milk.
Make sure you look out for organic and non-GMO soy milk if you can to ensure that you’re opting for the option that is kindest to the environment. Also, if you’re wanting to stay super healthy go for unsweetened soy milk.