OAT MILKS — CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated March 2025

MAKING YOU THE EXPERT

You can easily be your own expert when looking at the ingredients in the products you eat and drink every day. Just ask yourself: “What is in a homemade version of this item?” Any ingredient in a commercial item which is not in the homemade recipe is an ingredient which is Not In Kitchen™ >> there’s no absolute need for it to be included in the manufactured item.

OAT MILKS >> HOMEMADE RECIPES: To easily asses which commercial packaged Oat Milks are Closest To Homemade®, we start with a quick look at what’s in homemade Oat Milk so we have a means of comparison when we look at the manufactured Oat Milks.

Homemade Oat Milk is simple >> it’s just Oats, Water and possibly Salt.

THE MOST POPULAR OAT MILKS ARE NOT CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: Here’s a look at what’s in some of the leading U.S. brands of Oat Milks >> multiple ingredients which are Not In Kitchen in Hood-owned Planet Oat, Campbell’s-owned Pacific Foods and Oatly. (Sources for ingredients: Brand Web sites 3/25) They all contain added Phosphate and Vitamin(s) functioning as preservatives >> just like Vitamins protect our bodies from oxidation, they are performing the same function when added to our foods + beverages >> they are helping to preserve the product.

Tocopherols — contained in Oatly Oat Milk — are an FDA-recognized Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2025)

In its natural state, Rapeseed is extremely high in Erucic Acid >> too high for human consumption. The Rapeseed Oil in the *Oatly* product has been genetically modified to be lower in this harmful-to-humans-at-high-levels acid.

DANONE-OWNED SILK OAT MILKS ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE™: The two Silk Oat Milks below have multiple ingredients which are Not In Kitchen when making homemade Oat Milk including Dipotassium Phosphate, Gellan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate, Sunflower Oil, Vitamin Fortification, Natural Flavor and Locust Bean Gum. (Source: Danone Silk Web site 3/25)

Ascorbic Acid — included in these Silk Oat Milks — is an FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2025)

Here are some other commercial Oat Milks with ingredients Not In Kitchen when making homemade Oat Milk >> Simple Truth contains High Oleic Sunflower Oil and other ingredients Not In Kitchen, Happy Planet has multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen including Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Gums and Vitamin Fortification/Preservation, and Oatsome with Organic Sunflower Oil and added Calcium and Vitamins. (Sources: Brand Web sites 3/25)

Seen below, VANILLA OAT MILK COMPARISON: Hood-owned Planet Oat Vanilla Oatmilk vs. Chobani Vanilla Oat Milk. (Sources: Hood Planet Oat Web site 3/25; Chobani Web site 3/25)

VANILLA OAT MILK COMPARISON: Closest To Homemade MALK vs. Whole Foods 365. (Sources: MALK Web site 3/35; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 3/35)

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE UNSWEETENED OAT MILKS: Following are some Oat Milks which are Closest To Homemade with no Sweeteners, Gums, Stabilizers, Vitamins, Preservatives, Emulsifiers, Oils, Flavors or Colors. These include Three Trees Organic Oil-free Oat; Forager Project Organic and certified Kosher Oat Milk; Organic and certified Kosher and Glyphosate Residue Free MALK; Elmhurst Milked Oats; Willa’s Original Organic Oat Milk, and Califia Farms Original Organic Oatmilk. (Sources: Brand Web sites 3/25)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

Seen below, LOCAL NEW YORK CITY NUTHATCH: Nuthatch Oat Milks are all Closest To Homemade® made with Organic New York State Oats and a variety of delicious flavor options created with excellent ingredients.