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What is soy milk?
Soy milk is a plant-based, non-dairy beverage often consumed as an alternative to cow’s milk. It’s made from soybeans and is therefore vegan.

Why might you drink soy milk instead of dairy milk?
There are many reasons why you might switch to soy milk in your coffee, smoothie, or cereal. You might not like the taste of cow’s milk, or you may prefer soy milk over other non-dairy alternatives. You might also be trying to avoid dairy for various reasons, whether it’s for health, weight loss, or dietary preferences.
Soy milk recipe
To make this homemade soy milk, you only need 2 simple ingredients, and it’s ready in just under 20 minutes.
Ingredients for soy milk
Here is what you’ll need to make soy milk:
- ½ cup dried soybeans (80 g)
- 4 cups water (1 l)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or a piece of vanilla bean (optional)
Instructions
Making homemade soy milk is super simple and can be broken down into 7 steps:
- 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.
- Blend the soybeans with 3 cups of water (750 ml) until well blended and almost smooth.
- Strain the blended mixture using a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, napkin, or fine-mesh strainer.
- Pour the mixture into a pot or saucepan and add 1 cup of water (250 ml). Bring to a boil, stir, and skim off the foam.
- Cook over medium heat, occasionally stirring, for about 20 minutes.
- Let the soy milk cool down. You can add other ingredients such as vanilla extract or dates. Blend the mixture if necessary.
Additional tips
- Store the soy milk in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Use yellow soybeans, as they are the best kind for making soy milk.
- Adjust the water amount depending on how thick you like your soy milk.
- Feel free to add any sweetener to your soy milk.
- You can also add other ingredients such as cocoa powder or ground cinnamon to give it a different taste.
How long does homemade soy milk last?
If you store soy milk in an airtight container in the fridge, it can last for up to 5 days, depending on the container you’re using.

To be sure, check the milk before drinking it. If it looks and smells good, it should be safe to consume.
Can you freeze soy milk?
You can freeze soy milk. However, after freezing, soy milk often loses its texture and some of its flavor. Yet, freezing doesn’t affect its safety or nutritional value. Typically, you can store soy milk in the freezer for up to 5 months without worry.
As it changes texture when thawed, it’s better to use frozen soy milk for cooking rather than for drinking.