Soy milk is a great alternative to cow's milk. It's delicious, affordable, easy to make, and only requires 2 ingredients: water and soybeans.
Soy milk is a delicious and healthy alternative to dairy milk. It is packed with nutrients and health benefits and this homemade recipe is way better than any beverage you can find at the grocery store.
It is dairy and lactose-free, so it is perfect for you if you have lactose intolerance. Besides, it only requires 2 simple ingredients! You actually need to blend the soy beans with water and then strain them using a nut milk bag.
How to make soy milk - Step by step
- Soak the soybeans in water overnight.
- Drain the soybeans and remove the outer skins. Then add them to a powerful blender and blend them with 3 cups or 750 ml of water until well blended and almost smooth (photo 1).
- Strain the blended mixture using a nut milk bag, a cheesecloth, a napkin or a fine mesh strainer (photo 2).
- Pour the mixture into a pot or a saucepan and add 1 cup or 250 ml of water (photo 3).
- Bring to a boil, stir and skim foam (photo 4).
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes (photo 5).
- Let the soy milk cool and enjoy it (photo 6).
Pro tips
- Use yellow soybeans, it's the best kind of soybeans to make this milk. They're a great source of protein. Soy protein is one of the best vegetable ones!
- Add more or less water depending on how thick you like your milk. However, it naturally tends to be thicker than other milk alternatives.
- Feel free to add any sweeter you want or don't add any sweetener at all. Add it gently until the milk tastes good.
- Some recipes call for a tiny amount of salt, but I prefer my milk salt-free.
- Feel free to add other ingredients like cocoa powder or ground cinnamon.
- Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3-5 days.
- Before you drink it you need to cook the milk, as soy is a legume and can't be eaten raw.
- You can use your soy milk to prepare recipes like vegan chocolate cake, vegan carrot cake, or vegan cheesecake, or have it with your cereal in the morning.
What is soy milk?
Soy milk is a type of plant milk. It is 100% plant-based and it doesn't contain cholesterol at all. I love to use it for baking because it has a thicker texture than other types of plant milk.
Is soy milk good for you?
Yes, it is! Unless you can't consume soy or it feels heavy in your stomach, this kind of plant milk is perfectly fine for consumption, as it has been in Asia for centuries. Just remember - if the milk has been in the fridge for some time and it smells bad, don't drink it.
Soy milk vs almond milk
Soy milk and almond milk are two different kinds of plant milk. I usually alternate between them and use them for different things; I use the first one for cooking and baking recipes, whereas I prefer to add almond milk to my coffee and smoothies.
Looking for more plant milk recipes?
Did you make this soy milk recipe?
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Soy Milk
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried soybeans
- 4 cups water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or a piece of vanilla bean, optional
- 4 dates, optional
Instructions
- Soak the soybeans in water overnight (ideally 12 hours or longer).
- Drain the soybeans and remove the outer skins. Removing the outer skins is optional, but your milk will have a better texture if you do.
- Add them to a powerful blender and blend them with 3 cups of water (750 ml) until well blended and almost smooth.
- Strain the blended mixture using a nut milk bag, a cheesecloth, a napkin or a fine mesh strainer.
- Pour the mixture into a pot or a saucepan and add 1 cup of water (250 ml). Bring to a boil, stir and skim foam.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes.
- Let cool the soy milk. You can add other ingredients such as vanilla extract or dates. Blend the mixture if necessary.
- Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3-5 days.
Notes
- Use yellow soybeans, it's the best kind of soybeans to make soy milk.
- Add more or less water depending on how thick you like your milk.
- Feel free to add any sweetener you want or don't add any at all. Add it gently until the milk tastes good.
- Some recipes call for a tiny amount of salt, but I prefer my milk salt-free.
- Feel free to add other ingredients like cocoa powder or ground cinnamon.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in May of 2014, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in January of 2022.
Mary White says
This is a question, not a comment!
Commercial soy milk has vitamin B12 added. Is there a way of doing this with home made?
I ask because I rely on my purchased milk to help me get enough of that elusive vitamin!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Mary! I haven't tried it myself but I think it is not possible 🙂
Adam says
You can get liquid B12 drops that you could add. But TBH if you just want to make sure your diet isn't deficient in any odds and ends you might as well just take a multivitamin; it's cheaper (the supermarket stuff is just as good as the fancy brands) and it'll contain a wider range of micronutrients.
Of course, if you think you might have a particular medical condition (rather than just needing to top up your diet for those vitamins that a vegan diet is lower in) then see a doctor, don't take advice from random idiots on the Internet like me 😉
Margaret C Pritchett says
Do I need to cook the soy milk if I am going to use it to make tofu?
Thank you
Iosune Robles says
Hi Margaret! I haven't tried to make tofu but I think you need to cook the soy milk 🙂
Evelyn says
Looks great. Does it matter if you don't peel the soybeans after soaking?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Evelyn! Feel free not to peel the soybeans after soaking 🙂
carolyn says
I used the pulp as an add in for my dog's food!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for the tip 🙂
cazzie says
This recipe worked really well. I did not skim the foam whilst it was cooking and it seemed to dissipate on its own during the cooking process. I found the easiest way to remove the skins from the beans was to put them in a metal flour sieve and shake gently from side to side then drop the beans back into water and the skins floated. Thank you again for another amazing recipe.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Cazzie! Thanks for your tip 🙂
Jacqueline says
My soy milk is boiling and it's looking great. Thanks for the easy to follow recipe. I can't wait to try it!
Iosune Robles says
Hope you like it Jacqueline 🙂
Mary Annette RITA Roy says
Great site. Can I leave the pulp in the soymilk when I make it? I don't understand why we wouldn't want the fiber. Would it make it go bad?.
Iosune Robles says
Thanks! It's just because of the consistency 🙂
Nanette says
I made this and it's great! I didn't skim the foam. I thought I would have to shake it before using, but the next morning when i got it out of the fridge, the foam had all dissolved into the milk. I do have a question. Is there anything you can do with the "sludge" left over after straining? It looks sort of cheese-like. I wonder if you could make cheese out of it.
nanette says
Oops, i see this question has already been answered sorry!
Iosune Robles says
Don't worry! Have a nice day ☺️
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Feel free to use the leftover in your vegan burgers, meatballs, nuggets or even in cookies, balls or smoothies ☺️
Maurice says
What is the amount of soybeans? I can’t seem to find it
Iosune Robles says
½ cup dried soybeans (80 g) 🙂
Teo says
Wow thanks alot I actually made it and it was tasty.
Iosune Robles says
So glad you liked it, Teo 🙂 Have a nice day!
Sophie Standing says
Great milk.
Is there anything i can do with the left over soya pulp?
Add to cake or bread mix perhaps?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sophie! Feel free to add it to your cakes or breads! It's also delicious in smoothies, soups, or energy balls 🙂
Anita Cole says
Pro Tip - buy a soy making machine on ebay - you can find for 100 aud and buy borasilicate glass bottles from a laboratory supply store -about 13 aud for a 1 litre bottle - so easy to pour the hot milk straight into the bottle ( just remember they are hot) - I have two bottles and I make soy milk once a week - one after the other less cleaning up . I actually add cream to my soy milk for coffee because I am more interested in taste and less packaging and transport and keto then being vegan - but thats me . I even planted some of the beans this week because apparently one plant will yield enough soy beans for a litre of milk so why not see if I can grow enough for 2 litres a week ( 104 plants to grow in a year) , Don't forget to use the okara in cakes. I never bother with removing the skins the machine grinds them up - you can make other stuff in the soy milk machine as well
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your suggestion! Have a nice day 🙂
Christina Robinson says
The most important tip from my experience is to use a larger pot than you think you need and DO NOT walk away or even turn away from the pot until you turn the heat down to simmer. Otherwise, it overflows so fast and messy stove top cleanup will follow.
Iosune Robles says
Thank for the tip 🙂