The 11 Best Dairy-Free Milk To Keep In Your Home

Milk is used in everything from your morning coffee to your evening dessert. However, an increasing number of people are lactose intolerant or simply don't consume dairy. This anti-lactose crowd has helped fuel an explosion of non-dairy milk options. But with so many dairy-free milks, it’s hard to know which ones are worth bringing into your home.

Oat, coconut, soy, and almond milk are among the most popular non-dairy milk options. Soy is considered the healthiest but there are allergy concerns, while oat is neutral in flavor and is ideal for coffee. Almond milk is tasty but not as environmentally sustainable as others. Other great dairy-free milks include cashew, rice, and hazelnut milk. To try a unique plant-based milk, consider pistachio, hemp, or macadamia nut milk.

Whether you are lactose intolerant, newly vegan, or are simply trying to reduce your dairy consumption, knowing your non-dairy milk options is important. There are tons of plant-based milks out there, each with its own unique taste. If you want to learn more about which dairy-free milk is best to keep in your home, ensure you read our comprehensive list of options below. 

11 Delicious And Nutritious Non-Dairy Milks For Your Kitchen 

1. Oat Milk

Once only found in specialty stores and high-end restaurants, oat milk has quickly become the go-to milk for many non-dairy consumers. Grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops alike carry this dairy-free option.

Its popularity is likely due to its neutral taste, and ability to be creamy and non-offensive. This makes it an amazing milk to have with freshly brewed coffee, and also perfect when added to your morning cereal. Its rise in availability also means this once niche milk is now just as affordable and available as any other popular milk. 

2. Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is popular worldwide, not only as dairy-free milk but it’s also found in thousands of cooking recipes. From Thai curry to Caribbean coconut bread, this milk is cherished in many tropical cultures.

There are two main types of coconut milk — the kind you buy in a can, and the kind you buy in a refrigerated carton. Canned coconut milk is great for cooking, and it’s shelf stable. This makes it ideal for those looking to stock up on pantry essentials, but keep in mind this milk has a high fat content. 

Coconut milk found in a carton is much healthier and is made for everyday use in things like cereal and coffee. However, some brands of coconut milk don’t always blend well into coffee, so choose wisely.

3. Almond Milk

Almond milk has soared in popularity over the last decade, and now you can find it in just about everything from yogurt to dairy-free iced cream. Its popularity means you can find this dairy-free milk just about anywhere, making it a go-to milk for those in rural areas with fewer options.

This milk also has one of the longest shelf lives of non-dairy milk. This makes it great for those who use milk infrequently. There are even shelf-stable versions of almond milk that last months in your corner pantry. 

The only downside of this milk is that, being made of tree nuts, it can cause some allergies, and it is less environmentally sustainable than other options on this list.

4. Rice Milk

Rice milk has been around for ages, and was a go-to milk for many with lots of food allergies before all the modern and trendy dairy-free options became available. This milk is often found in a shelf-stable version, which is great for those with limited fridge space. It also means you can buy it online easily.

Rice milk is sometimes thinner than creamy options like oat or cashew milk, but it tastes great and has health benefits that include improving bone density. 

5. Hazelnut Milk

If you are looking for creamy and decadent non-dairy milk for your coffee or morning granola, look no further than hazelnut milk. Being a tree tree nut, this milk isn’t ideal for those with nut allergies, but it’s a great gluten-free milk.

It has a unique flavor, which translates beautifully when added to coffee, cereal, and oatmeal. While not available in all grocery stores, it is commonly found in a shelf-stable version, and it is one of the tastiest non-refrigerated milks you can buy.

6. Cashew Milk

Cashew milk is another dairy-free milk that has made a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. It is often sold by the same big non-dairy milk companies that also manufacture almond milk.

It is a great almond milk alternative, and it is usually similarly priced. Cashew milk tends to be a bit creamier than almond milk, but it doesn't always mix into coffee as well, and it has a more distinct taste than oat or almond milk. If you love cashews, then you should keep this milk in your fridge at home.

7. Soy Milk

Soy milk was the go-to milk for lactose intolerant and vegan milk drinkers for decades until the other competitors on this list became more popular. Soy is still very popular, and it is often still considered the healthiest of the mainstream non-dairy options due to its low calories, sugar content, and vitamins. 

It is problematic for those with gluten allergies, as soy products contain soy gluten. It is also said to have possible hormonal effects. Otherwise, it’s still a solid non-dairy milk choice.

8. Flax Seed Milk

If you are switching to non-dairy milk to be healthier and lower your cholesterol, then consider flaxseed milk. This milk, often called linseed milk, is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and has fiber and protein to boot.

This makes it one of the most nutritious non-dairy milks out there and can help combat high cholesterol and other health issues. It isn’t as popular as other choices on this list, and in turn, it tends to cost more than some others.

9. Pistachio Milk

If you are looking to switch up your boring non-dairy milk routine and want to try something unique, look for pistachio milk. Pistachios are one of the most luxurious and tasty tree nuts you can find, and the milk is just as decadent.

This milk is becoming more popular, as it has a rich pistachio flavor. It tends to have more flavor than other nut milks, so much so that it’s great to use when making pistachio desserts. Every pistachio lover should have this non-dairy milk in the fridge.

10. Macadamia Nut Milk

If you want to start your day off with a taste of the tropics, look no further than macadamia nut milk. In addition to its distinct flavor that many people love, it is also loaded with nutrients. It has calcium and magnesium, and it even has antioxidants, making it a healthy option.

This is another nut milk, so it has the same downsides as the others on this list (less environmentally sustainable, not suitable for those with nut allergies), but it’s a great non-mainstream non-dairy milk worth trying.

11. Hemp Milk

Hemp is an ingredient that you can find in just about everything these days. Don’t be fooled by its name — this is not a THC-infused milk. Instead, it uses the hemp plant to make milk that is both tasty and loaded with health benefits.

One serving can have three grams (or more) of protein, and it’s another great source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Wrapping Up Non-Dairy Milks You Should Store In Your Home

If you are looking to branch out into the world of non-dairy milk, you should know you have tons of options. Some of the most popular dairy-free milks worth trying include almond, oat, coconut, and soy milk. If you are trying non-dairy milk to lower your cholesterol, consider hemp or flax seed milk. To try something fun and decadent, consider hazelnut, pistachio, or macadamia nut milk.

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