Can you bake with soy milk? (5 Considerations)
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, can you bake with soy milk? We will discuss the reasons soy milk makes the best option for baking and the types of soy milk to choose. We will discuss how baking with dairy milk differs from soy milk.
Can you bake with soy milk?
You can bake with soy milk. If you choose to bake with soy milk, your baked goods might not taste the same as it does with dairy milk. If you omit eggs as well, it might be harder for you to bake and make cakes or biscuits that are just as good.
To bake cake or muffins using soy milk, try to use unsweetened and unflavored soy milk as it gives it a good texture. Also, opt for regular soy milk rather than the light version.
If you follow a vegan diet or are lactose-intolerant, substituting plant-based milk could work with a few tweaks and modifications.
For baking, soy milk makes for a good substitute, however for some recipes that star milk as the ingredient such as pudding, cream soups, and cream pies, it is not a good idea to use soy milk.
What makes soy milk the best substitute for baking?
Soy milk is the best substitute for dairy when it comes to baking. The primary way in which plant-based milk tends to differ from cow milk is in terms of fat content.
Due to a lower fat content, it can be hard to bake with plant-based milk. However, the best plant-based milk to choose from is soy milk because it has the highest protein content among all plant-based milk.
proteins are a crucial aspect of baking as they contribute to the texture and shape of baked goods. Cakes and bread need to have a firm and defined structure, hence using soy milk is the best option.
The proteins in soy milk cause it to have a brown color that resembles baked goods made with cow milk. Proteins have an important role in the maillard reaction that causes browning which plays an important role in the aesthetics of baked goods.
In addition to the texture and color changes that soy milk has to offer to baked goods, it also has a pleasant effect on the taste. Soy milk is bland and tasteless, hence does not empower the taste or impact it negatively. The flavor of soy milk goes unnoticeable in cakes, muffins, and bread.
A good way to improve on the baked goods made with soy milk is to add vanilla, which contributes a positive taste and aroma.
How are baked goods with soy milk different?
As plant-based milk has a different constituent; ie lesser fat, and added calcium, it has different properties. Cakes and pie fillings made with soy milk are not as rich and are inferior in terms of taste and texture. However, it still produces a satisfactory result among other plant-based milk.
How to make buttermilk with soy milk?
If you need to make non-dairy buttermilk with soy milk you can do so just as you would with cow milk. To make buttermilk using any plant-based milk such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, add one teaspoon of white vinegar to one-third cup of milk.
To let the milk curdle, let it sit for 30 to 35 minutes at room temperature. You will need to move the vinegar to allow the curdling to occur effectively.
As plant-based kinds of milk have a higher water content, the change in curdling will not be as consistent and might take longer. You will see an apparent difference in texture due to the chemical difference in plant-based milk from the dairy.
What are some tips to make baking with soy milk effective?
If you use sweetened soy milk, skip or accommodate the additional sugar accordingly. You do not want your desserts to be overly sweet which not only ruins the experience but has a negative impact on health too.
Soy milk is made by boiling soybeans. The beans are soaked in water overnight and then grinded with a fresh batch of water. After the mixture is blended uniformly then it is put to boil.
You can make soy milk at home that is free of preservatives and additives, hence healthier. You need white soybeans, a blender, and a milk bag, Instead of a nut-milk bag. You can also flavor the soy milk.
Other FAQs about Baking that you may be interested in.
Can you freeze shepherd’s pie before baking?
What is the difference between convection bake and regular bake?
Can you bake with soy milk? (5 Considerations)
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question, can you bake with soy milk? We discussed the reasons soy milk makes the best option for baking and the types of soy milk to choose. We discussed how baking with dairy milk differs from soy milk.
