Milk substitutes: The best alternatives to cow's milk

There is now a large selection of milk that is produced on a purely plant-based basis. The most common milk substitutes are soy and almond milk. But there are many more delicious varieties.

Wer auf Kuhmilch verzichten möchte, findet mittlerweile zahlreiche Milchalternativen in den Supermärkten.© adobestock
If you want to avoid cow's milk, you can now find numerous milk alternatives in supermarkets.

Soy milk

Look out for organic quality here, there are also genetically modified soybeans.

Production: The beans are first soaked for a while. The big advantage: soy milk is high in protein and low in fat.

Caution: Soy milk has no calcium and no vitamin B12, although this is sometimes artificially added by the manufacturer.

Calories: 54 kcal per 100 ml

Rice milk

Sugar and flavorings are often added after filtering.

Production: Cooked rice is pureed, mixed with water and sieved very finely. It is sweetened to taste.

Use: Rice milk is low in protein and therefore not suitable for frothing coffee. But tastes great in muesli.

Calories: 47 kcal per 100 ml

Walnut milk

It has a very nutty aroma and is particularly refreshing in summer.

How to make it: Easy to make yourself with water, nuts, vanilla sugar and honey. It contains a lot of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, which have a positive effect on blood lipid levels.

Taste: Very intense. It is therefore a good idea to sweeten it with a little honey.

Calories: 68 kcal per 100 ml

Almond milk

Ideal for allergy sufferers: Unlike cereal milk, it is gluten-free.

Production: The almonds are first roasted and then ground. The flour is mixed with water and sweetener. Many nutrients are lost during filtering.

Use: Almond milk is ideal for baking and, of course, for drinking. However, it quickly becomes flaky in coffee.

Calories: 24 kcal per 100 ml

Hazelnut milk

Its fat content is similar to that of cow's milk, but without cholesterol.

Production: You can even make it yourself: Soak hazelnuts in water overnight, puree and pour through a cloth. Dry the remaining mass and use as flour.

Healthy: It contains B vitamins, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Tastes nutty and is therefore somewhat reminiscent of Nutella.

Calories: 51 kcal per 100 ml

Oat milk

It is not suitable for hot drinks, but is great for baking.

Production: Oat grains are not used as such, but oat flakes, which are soaked or boiled down. The mixture is then sieved.

Content: Many nutrients and proteins are missing. However, oat milk lowers cholesterol levels. Many children like it very much.

Calories: 45 kcal per 100 ml