Have you seen all of the milk substitutes that are available these days? Never have there been so many options when it comes to non-dairy milk. A trip to your local natural food market or even a conventional grocery store will reveal a bewildering array of milk alternatives ranging from soy milk to hemp milk.

One type of alternative milk that’s growing in popularity is rice milk. Many people prefer its slightly sweet taste and thinner texture to that of soy milk and it can be particularly tasty when substituted for dairy milk in dessert recipes. While most natural food stores and some conventional grocery stores carry rice milk in cardboard cartons, it’s easy to make your own rice milk at home. By making your own rice milk, you can enjoy the freshest, healthiest milk while saving money at the same time. Rice milk is so inexpensive to make you’ll hesitate to ever pay grocery store prices again. Here’s how to make your own rice milk quickly and easily.

Cook the rice.

Place four cups of water and a third of a cup of brown rice to a large saucepan. Add a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt. Bring the mixture to a full boil. Turn down the heat and allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for thirty minutes. (place a lid over the pan).

Blend the mixture.

Once the rice and water mixture has cooled to room temperature, pour it into a blender. Add a half teaspoon of vanilla. Turn the blender on high and blend until smooth.

Strain

Allow the blended mixture to stand for twenty minutes, then use a piece of cheesecloth to strain the milk several times.

Refrigerate and enjoy!

Place your freshly made rice milk into a glass container and chill before drinking.

If you like your rice milk a bit thicker, add more rice on your next batch. If you’d prefer a thinner texture, you can use less water or dilute it down after it’s made. It may take a little experimentation to achieve the perfect consistency for your taste. You can also add the sweetener of your choice before putting the milk in the blender if you prefer a sweeter taste. Another way to get a sweeter taste is to use white rice, but the milk won’t be as healthy. You can even add cocoa powder to make chocolate milk. Have fun experimenting and saving money!