Rice Milk

Milk is something that we all know has an extremely important place in our daily diet. It gives us the essential calcium that is required for the body's growth and maintenance. But if you thought that cow's milk was the only healthy option for a daily intake of milk, think again. Rice milk is quite a popular option and many people have begun to consume this milk all over the world. In this Buzzle article, we'll tell you about rice milk, how it is made, and what are its health benefits.

How to Make Rice Milk

As the name very obviously suggests, rice milk is milk that is obtained from rice. It is obtained by processing rice. For this process, the most preferred rice is brown rice. Brown rice is made to undergo some severe processing, after which the final product is rice milk and the chaff is separated. In order to make rice milk, the brown rice is crushed and milk is extracted. Let us see what exactly this process is.

• The rice is collected in a container and made to go through a mill stream.
• In this mill stream, the rice is pressed thoroughly in order to extract the milk from the grains. This process is called diffusion.
• After the milk is extracted, it is either packaged or sweetened.
• If it needs to be sweetened, there are three options that are available and used by most rice milk manufacturers. The first one is to simply add sugarcane syrup. The second is any other form of sugar. The third option is using a natural process to convert some carbohydrates into sugar, preferably glucose, and mixing this with the milk.
• After the milk is sweetened, it needs to be packed. For this, again there are two most widely used methods. Some manufacturers use paper cartons, which are very similar to the standard milk cartons that are available in the market. These packs of rice milk need to be refrigerated before being consumed.
• The other method of packaging this milk is using other forms of sterile containers that need not be refrigerated before consumption.

Benefits of Rice Milk

Let us now see some of the most common facts about rice milk nutrition and other uses of it. The points given below will show you how this milk is a very good and healthy substitute for cow's milk.

• First and foremost, since rice milk is extracted directly from the grains of rice, it is lactose free milk as opposed to cow's milk. This helps all those who need are lactose intolerant. So, if you are one of them, then you know that you can consume rice milk without worrying.
• Secondly, rice milk happens to contain a higher level of carbohydrates than cow's milk. So you're sure to have a higher level of energy after drinking it.
• Also, the level of cholesterol in rice milk is as good as nil. This makes it very healthy, especially for people with heart conditions.
• Generally, rice milk does not have a high protein count and hence, niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, iron and Vitamin D are often added to it, to make it healthier for consumption.
• It is also very low in fat content, so all weight conscious people can drink it with no worries.
• Powdered rice milk is also used as a substitute for milk powder. It is also used to make dairy creamers and as a substitute for cow's milk in making ice creams.
• If you're a vegan or a pure vegetarian, then rice milk is the best option for you.
• Remember, rice milk shelf life after opening the container is 1 to 2 weeks.

Rice Milk Recipe

Given below is the most basic recipe for rice milk. Use it to make your own cup of rice milk at home. You'll need

• Water ~ 4 cups (warm)
• Brown Cooked Rice (warm) ~ 1 cup
• Vanilla ~ 1 tsp

Here's how you make it.

• Use a blender to blend the rice, water and vanilla until they form a smooth, milk-like liquid.
• Let this liquid set in the blender for at least half an hour.
• Then, remove the liquid slowly, leaving all the solid materials deposited at the bottom of the blender.
• Let it cool down for a while and then consume it. Refrigeration for sometime works best for taste.

There are no such rice milk dangers known. However, be careful that the chemicals and preservatives used in the rice milk that you buy are safe. Hence, it's always better to make it at home. For children, it is better to stick to natural cow's milk rather than rice milk. So, decide and drink what suits your needs best.