Can you boil almond milk?

In this brief directory, we are going to answer the question “can you boil almond milk?” by providing answers related to heating almond milk, techniques for heating it, and tips that can help you cook with almond milk effectively. 

Can you boil almond milk?

Yes, you can boil almond milk but almond milk should not be boiled. The proteins present in almond milk, when subjected to high temperatures, precipitate [1]. 

Moreover, excess heat can alter the taste of milk, and destroy heat-sensitive nutrients like vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids [2]. Almond milk should be simmered instead of making it boil. 

What happens if you boil almond milk?

If you boil almond milk, the proteins present denature and gel. In other words, proteins change their structure and come together to form a gel that you will see in the form of a precipitate or a thin film formed on top of your almond milk. 

One research was carried out to analyze the heating of almond milk and it was found that heating almond milk over 85 °C can form gels [1]. 

The formation of gels changes the texture of milk and it may or may not be desirable based on how you plan to use the almond milk. 

Boiling almond milk can also favor the degradation of fat. The almond milk beverage contains a high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, which are very susceptible to oxidation that results in off-flavors [2].

What is the shelf life of almond milk?

As a general rule, it is recommended to store almond milk for a maximum of 4-5 days under 4°C, regardless it was homemade prepared, previously heated, or not. 

A study showed that freshly homemade prepared almond milk stored at 4 °C lasted for 8 days without growing molds, but after only 4 days, a significant increase in bacteria count was observed [3].

The shelf life of sealed shelf-stable almond milk (those found in tetra-pack-like type in supermarkets) last for up to 12 months, as described by manufacturers. But after opening, the shelf life drops to about 5 days. 

You should not store almond milk out of refrigeration for more than one hour because almond milk can easily spoil. 

Can you cook with almond milk?

You can cook with almond milk as long as you do not expose it to too long and intense heating times. This will intensify the negative changes in fat and proteins, having an adverse impact on your recipe. 

While some milk proteins can resist up to 100 °C before gelling [3], one research [1] observed that it is possible to heat almond milk only up to 75°C for 30 minutes without any extensive protein denaturation. 

This having said, almond milk is an effective replacement for bovine/ cow’s milk.

Food lovers love to experiment with different recipes and sometimes trial and error can help you understand the exact measurements suitable for your recipe that uses almond milk instead of bovine milk. Use it without any hesitation. 

How do you cook with almond milk?

Cooking with almond milk is very similar to that of bovine milk. However, care should be taken with temperature to not favor undesirable outcomes with proteins.  Do not heat it above 80 °C.

For this reason, one good tip to heat almond milk is to use double boiler heating. For this, add water to a pan and place another pan full of almond milk on top of it. By setting it to medium heat, you can ensure that it is gently heated. 

If you plan to use direct heating in a pan, make sure that the heat is low. Stop supplying heat when you notice that it is steaming.  If you have a thermometer, you can also try controlling the temperature.

You can also use a microwave to heat it. Ensure that you heat it at intervals. Remove it after every 30 seconds and stir it so that protein aggregation can be avoided. Always carry this out in microwave-safe bowls.

Which non-dairy milk is best for cooking?

Considering sensory aspects, almond milk is best for cooking purposes because of its neutral flavor. The taste of almonds is barely present in the milk and if any recipes do not have almonds in them, this can be used easily. 

However, it is important to emphasize that almond milk has quite different chemical and nutritional characteristics from cow, which may impact significantly the final result in terms of taste and texture.

For example, a recent study showed that plant-based beverages did not produce satisfactory foams to replace milk in the production of freddo cappuccino beverages [4].

This occurred because the type and content of proteins (responsible for foam formation) in almond milk are quite different from that of cow milk. 

However, plant-based beverages could replace cow milk in cappuccino beverages for foam purposes. Moreover, the authors had an excellent sensory evaluation of beverages prepared with oat or coconut milk, but not with soymilk [4].  

Thus, it is highly advisable to make tests in your recipe until you find a better way to replace the milk. For example, you can start by replacing cow milk in a 1:1 ratio (e.g. 50 ml of cow milk is replaced by 50 ml of almond milk).

You can also test including additional ingredients in your recipe, such as gums, starch, and extra fat sources in order to compensate for eventual benefits in taste and texture lost due to removing milk.

Why use almond milk instead of cow’s milk?

Replacing cow milk with almond milk is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant. Therefore certain food products that do not cater to them could be made available if cow’s milk is replaced with almond milk. 

Animal welfare is also another concern due to the increase in demand for dairy and animal products. The inhumane practices on animals are causing people to switch to plant-based food products. 

Almond milk lacks several essential amino acids and vitamins compared to cow milk, but nowadays, food scientists are looking for ways to overcome this disadvantage, by, for example fortifying almond milk with vitamins [2].  

Tips on using almond milk in recipes

Follow a few of these tips so that the recipes you make using almond milk are a success. 

• Avoid using almond milk in recipes that have acidic foods in them. A low pH environment can cause the milk proteins to coagulate. 

• Do not use sweetened almond milk if it is not a sweet dish. 

• Add cornstarch for recipes that require thickness. This will ensure that your food has the perfect texture. 

• Sometimes the best outcome is when you make it yourself. Making almond milk at home is not hard. Almond milk made at home will have a rich taste. 

If you are someone who desires a preservative-free food product, this is a good option but this can also result in a shorter shelf life so consume it as soon as you can. 

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you boil almond milk?” by providing answers related to heating almond milk, techniques for heating it, and tips that can help you cook with almond milk effectively.

If you have any comments or questions please let us know.

Citations

1. Devnani B, Ong L, Kentish S, Gras S. Heat induced denaturation, aggregation and gelation of almond proteins in skim and full fat almond milk. Food Chemistry. 2020;325:126901.
2. Silva ARA, Silva MMN, Ribeiro BD. Health issues and technological aspects of plant-based alternative milk. Food Research International. 2020;131:108972.
3. B Jemaa, Gamra E, Falleh, Jisouri R, Beji, RK. Plant-Based Milk Alternative: Nutritional Profiling, Physical Characterization and Sensorial Assessment. 2021; 4(2): 108 – 120.
4. Qian F, Sun J, Cao D, Tuo Y, Jiang S, Mu G. Experimental and Modelling Study of the Denaturation of Milk Protein by Heat Treatment. Korean J Food Sci Anim Resour. 2017;37(1):44-51.
5. Zakidou P, Varka E-M, Paraskevopoulou A. Foaming properties and sensory=acceptance of plant-based beverages as alternatives in the preparation of cappuccino style beverages. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. 2022;30:100623.