So you finally found the best cow’s milk alternative to mix in your morning coffee—almond milk. It’s low in calories, dairy-free, and rich in vitamin D. It’s ALMOST perfect, really. But why just almost?
It might not be suitable for hot dishes and drinks because heating it up may not be the best idea. Or is it?
So can you heat up almond milk? Yes, you can heat almond milk, but you do need to monitor its temperature. Read this article to discover the deeper answer!
Here is other information you can also learn from this article:
Are you excited to make delicious coffees using almond milk in the morning? If so, let’s get this party started!
What is Almond Milk?
Almond milk is a non-dairy substitute derived from almonds and water. It’s composed of just two primary ingredients: almonds and water.
To prepare this, the almonds and water are blended together. The resulting mixture is then strained to separate the liquid from the solids. Another way almond milk is produced is to simply mix almond butter with water.
Almond milk has the same texture and appearance as regular milk. The only difference is that it has a nutty and naturally sweet aftertaste.
Since it doesn’t contain any dairy, this is a great milk alternative for people on a vegan diet or those with lactose intolerance and dairy allergies. This milk substitute is also recommended for people on a diet because it’s low in calories and offers plenty of health benefits. (*)
Warning: If you are prone to kidney stones, drinking almond milk regularly is not advised because it contains high amounts of calcium oxalate, which can increase your risk of developing kidney stones. (*)
How to Use Almond Milk?
Almond milk can be used in many ways, just like regular milk. You can use it in a lot of ways, including the following:
- Pour it over your cereal.
- Stir it into the coffee.
- Mix into smoothies.
- Use it to make a pudding, overnight oats, or ice cream.
- Incorporate it in baked recipes in place of milk.
- Add it to sauces, dips, salad dressings, and soups.
Can You Heat Up Almond Milk?
Yes, you can heat almond milk. However, you do need to monitor its temperature.
Almond milk must be heated slowly at low temperatures. This is because exposing it to high temperatures will destroy the milk’s nutrients. It may also cause the nutty particles to burn, which will give the milk a slightly bitter taste.
Did you know?
The best heating temperature for almond milk is between 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 to 65 degrees Celsius.
Can you boil almond milk? Yes, you can boil almond milk. However, it might produce slight changes to the milk’s taste, especially when it’s mixed with coffee.
And since you can’t subject the milk to high temperatures, the best move you can make is to boil the almond milk using low and gentle heat and allow it to slow boil.
Pro Tip: Make sure to stir it from time to time to prevent it from burning.
Won’t almond milk curdle when it’s heated? No, it won’t.
Won’t heating almond milk destroy its nutritional content? Same with other types of milk, the almond milk nutrients will get destroyed when you heat it at high temperatures for a prolonged period (more than 15 minutes). That’s why you should only heat it at low temperatures.
What are the Ways to Heat Almond Milk?
To heat almond milk, you have two options: using a microwave or heating it on the stove. Here are the steps and some handy tips for each method:
Heating Almond Milk in the Microwave
Is it okay to heat almond milk in the microwave? Yes, it is! Microwaving almond milk is the most efficient and convenient way of heating almond milk. Here are the steps you need to take to do that:
Step 1. Pour the milk into a microwaveable container.
To prevent any unwanted accidents, make sure that you’ll be transferring the milk to a microwaveable container.
The good news is you have plenty of options for this. We highly recommend using either ceramic or glass dishes, but a plastic container will do too. You just need to make sure that it’s labeled microwave safe.
Step 2. Cover the container with a loose lid.
We don’t recommend putting the container’s lid on as it will prevent the milk from heating evenly or will cause it to be too hot. However, you still need to cover the container to avoid the milk from splattering inside the microwave.
We recommend covering the container with a loose lid like microwave-safe wax paper or paper towel.
Step 3. Microwave the milk.
Microwave the milk at 15-second intervals, stirring the milk in between to prevent it from burning.
Heating Almond Milk in Stove
Of course, If you prefer the traditional approach, you can heat almond milk on the stove. There are two options for this method: using a double boiler or without a double boiler. Here are the differences between the two:
1. Double Boiler Method
To set this up, pour water into a pot and then place a heat conducive bowl or container over it. Next, pour the milk into a bowl, then set your stove to medium-low heat.
Let it heat for around 10 minutes, continuously stirring it all throughout.
This option is a bit more complicated to setup, but it can help prevent the milk from burning.
2. Without Double Boiler Method
This method means you’ll pour the milk directly into the pot. It’s a much simpler setup. However, there’s an increased risk that the milk will get burned with this method.
Bonus: The Coffee Hacks to Prevent Almond Milk from Curdling
If you love using almond milk in your coffee, one of the issues you’ll often deal with is curdling. This isn’t due to the hot temperature like most people think. Instead, it’s brought about by the acidic substances in the coffee that causes the curdling of proteins in almond milk.
Good news: you can prevent curdling! Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Mix coffee and almond milk when both drinks are already almost at the same temperature.
- Opt for coffees with low acidity. You won’t have many choices, but there are already a few products like these on the market.
When the coffee has low amounts of acidic substances, the chances that the almond milk will curdle when you mix it in your coffee will be reduced.
- Pour a small amount of the coffee into almond milk and mix. Stir it a bit. If it doesn’t curdle, you can add the entire coffee into the almond milk.
These are just simple hacks and will decrease the chances that the milk will curdle. But heads up, these won’t fully guarantee that you will always have curdle-free coffee.
FAQS
Final Words
There’s no doubt that almond milk is one of the best milk alternatives for making coffees—even the baristas agree!
But can you heat up almond milk? Luckily, you can! In fact, there are two ways how you can heat up almond milk—using the stove and via the microwave.
To ensure that you can preserve the quality of almond milk while heating it, make sure to heat it only at a low temperature and only for a short period—less than 15 minutes.
Now that you already know everything about heating up almond milk, you can enjoy great-tasting dairy-free coffee anytime, all the time! We hope you enjoy your morning coffees!
