Merriam-Webster officially added “oat milk” to their dictionary this month. Our definition is “something tasty made from ground oat and water, usually fortified and used as a milk substitute.” The arbiter of the language describes it as “a liquid made from ground oats and water.”
It is a dairy-free drink available for years in coffee shops and restaurants, including popular chains. It has also been turned into an ice cream alternative and caused shortages two years after it came to New York City in 2016.
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What Does The Classification As An Official Dictionary Word Mean?
Oatly first received its oat milk patent in 1994, more than three decades after it was founded under a different name. The product was not widely available then. Coffee shops began selling the product in 2017 when it came to the U.S.
In an interview with USA TODAY, Oatly president Mike Messersmith describes it as a significant milestone.
Messersmith said, “I think it’s a great validation of our journey and path.”
Dairy Milk Feels Very Similar To Oat Milk
Dietitian Gena Hamshaw tells USA TODAY that oat milk has the right consistency, something different non-dairy glasses of milk lack.
She said, “A nice thing about oat milk is that it has a neutral flavor and a creamy texture, which is very similar to whole milk, and I believe it outperforms the other milk in that sense.
It must be excellent and comparable enough to factor into people’s routines.
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How Healthy Is Oat Milk?
Cow’s milk is an excellent alternative in general. Gorin said, “I eat it in my household and recommend it to my clients.”
Oat milk is an excellent option if you have lactose intolerance or cannot digest dairy. However, it does not contain the most amount of protein on the market.
Using Oat Milk As A Cooking Ingredient
The best use of oat milk is in coffee before we get to cooking.
Hamshaw said, “It’s so much better in coffee than anything else, like when I first went vegan. Soy milk was essentially like the only option that existed.”
Oat milk is also used in Hamshaw’s cereal, granola, and oatmeal. But it doesn’t stop at breakfast. You can also cook with oat milk in other ways, especially the unflavored kind.