Oat milk vs cow milk: what's the difference
Oat "milk" is a plant-based drink made from oats and water, not animal milk. The two are similar in calories but differ greatly in protein, fat and composition.
| 🌱 Oat milk | 🥛 Cow's milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Oats and water | Cow's milk |
| How it's made | Oats are ground and mixed with warm water; enzymes and heat turn the slurry into a base, which is separated from the solids, homogenized and pasteurized or sterilized | Cooled, clarified, standardized and pasteurized |
| Calories (per cup) | About 120 kcal (unsweetened) | About 149 kcal (whole) |
| Protein and fat | About 40% of the protein, 63% of the fat and 10% of the saturated fat of cow's milk | More protein and saturated fat |
| Carbohydrates and fibre | About 1.5 times more carbohydrates and roughly half the sugars; about 2 g of fibre | No fibre; the main sugar is lactose |
| Vitamins and minerals | Unfortified, it is lower in calcium, iron and vitamin A, so these are often added | A natural source of calcium |
| History | Developed by Swedish scientist Rickard Öste at Lund University in the 1990s | Drunk for thousands of years |
Which to choose
Oat drink works well in coffee, for people with a cow milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance, and for those who avoid animal products. If you need protein, choose cow's milk or fortified drinks and read the label.
Sources
Themes
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