14 of the Best Oat Milk Products

Oat milk is popping up at coffee shops and grocery stores alike, quickly becoming one of the trendiest plant-based milks. 

In its simplest form, it’s made by soaking oats, blending them with water, and straining out the oats. Many companies add ingredients like sweeteners, oils, thickeners, and stabilizers to alter the product’s taste, texture, and shelf life. These are often necessary to create an appealing product.

This article reviews several of our favorite oat milk products.

A quick look at the 14 best oat milk products

• Best overall: Oatly Original Oatmilk
• Best budget: Silk Oatmilk
• Best gluten-free: Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk
• Best organic: Oatsome Oat Milk Original, Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar
• Best for drinking: Planet Oat Original, Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oatmilk
• Best for coffee: Califia Farms Oat Milk Barista Blend, Minor Figures Barista Oat Milk
• Best for cooking and baking: Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats, Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oatmilk
• Best flavored: Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats, Planet Oat Vanilla
• Best blended: Mooala Coconut Oatmilk

How we chose the best oat milk products

We evaluated oat milk products based on the following criteria:

• Ingredient quality: We selected oat milk products that are minimally processed, containing few — if any — unnecessary ingredients, like sweeteners. Although some of the products listed below contain additives, there are several less processed options as well. Additionally, there are some organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free options, in addition to those made from conventionally-grown oats.
• Taste and texture: We read reviews to see if the taste and texture of the oat milk were satisfactory to most customers.
• Integrity: All of the oat milk products on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Read more about our vetting process.

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Comparison of the best oat milk products

Healthline’s picks for the best oat milk products

Best overall

Oatly Original Oatmilk

• Price: $
• Ingredients: water, oats, rapeseed oil, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, dicalcium phosphate, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin D2, vitamin B12
• Other flavors: chocolate
• Best for: drinking

The Swedish company Oatly, considered the original oat milk manufacturer, has become increasingly popular in the United States.

Its thick, creamy texture, slight sweetness, and versatility for baking and drinking alike make it the best overall option on the market.

Its Original Oatmilk product owes its rich consistency to non-GMO, expeller-pressed rapeseed oil, also known as canola oil in the United States (1).

As it’s less processed than most seed oils, this type of rapeseed oil likely retains more of its beneficial nutrients, including vitamin E and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (2, 3).

The vitamin B12 content is particularly notable, as this essential vitamin is sometimes lacking in vegan and vegetarian diets (5).

While Oatly doesn’t add sugar to its products, oat milk contains small amounts of natural sugars from oat starches that are broken down during the manufacturing process (6).

This is true for many other oat milk products on this list.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Oatly Original Oatmilk provides (4):

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Carbs: 16 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 7 grams
• Calcium: 20% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin B12: 50% of the DV
• Vitamin D: 25% of the DV

Best budget option

Silk Oatmilk, Original

• Price: $
• Ingredients: oat milk, sunflower oil, vitamin and mineral blend, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, gellan gum, locust bean gum, ascorbic acid, natural flavor
• Other flavors: vanilla, extra creamy
• Best for: cooking

Its balanced flavor isn’t overly sweet, and its smooth texture resembles that of soy milk. Thus, it’s great for drinking on its own, as well as for using in cooking and baking.

As you can see, a single serving packs all of your daily vitamin B12 needs. What’s more, its ratio of calcium and vitamin D is similar to what’s found in fortified dairy milk (8).

While Silk Oatmilk harbors more ingredients and additives than many other products on this list, it’s still one of the best options for the price.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Silk Original Oatmilk offers (7):

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 18 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 7 grams
• Calcium: 35% of the DV
• Vitamin B12: 100% of the DV
• Vitamin D: 20% of the DV

Best gluten-free

Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk

• Price: $$
• Ingredients: oats, water, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, dicalcium phosphate, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin D2, vitamin B12
• Other flavors: N/A
• Best paired with: cereal

While several oat milk companies claim to be gluten-free, Oatly is currently the only major brand in the United States that’s been certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

What’s more, their low fat oat milk has a relatively short ingredient list that’s free of added gums and thickeners. Unlike other Oatly products, it doesn’t contain added oils.

Unlike Oatly Original Oatmilk, this low fat option is thinner and closer in consistency to low fat dairy milk.

One cup (240 mL) provides (9):

• Calories: 91
• Fat: 1 gram
• Saturated fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Carbs: 16 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 7 grams
• Calcium: 20–25% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 20–25% of the DV
• Vitamin A: 20–25% of the DV
• Vitamin B12: 50% of the DV
• Vitamin D: 20–25% of the DV

Best organic

While all types of oats are nutritious, whole grain foods, some people are concerned about chemical pesticides and fertilizers used on conventional oat crops (10, 11).

Levels of chemical residues on oats regularly test below the safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Still, organic oats are less likely to contain high levels of these residues (12, 13). 

Oatsome Oat Milk Original

• Price: $$$
• Ingredients: oat milk, sunflower oil, sea salt, calcium carbonate, riboflavin, vitamin D, vitamin B12
• Other flavors: chocolate
• Best for: drinking

Oatsome Oat Milk Original is not only organic but also free of gums, thickeners, and stabilizers.

While lauded for its creamy texture, it’s one of the more expensive options on the market.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides (14):

• Calories: 130
• Fat: 4 grams
• Saturated fat: 1 gram
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 21 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 13 grams
• Vitamin B12: 40% of the DV
• Vitamin D: 10% of the DV
• Calcium: 20% of the DV
• Potassium: 2% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 40% of the DV

Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar

• Price: $
• Ingredients: water, oats, oat bran, gellan gum, sea salt, tricalcium phosphate, vitamin D2
• Other flavors: vanilla
• Best for: baking

Pacific Foods is a respected food company that uses as many locally sourced and organic ingredients as possible.

Their organic, reduced sugar oat original plant-based beverage is certified organic and non-GMO. Additionally, it has a minimal ingredient list that’s free of added sugars.

This organic oat beverage also has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that’s a bit thinner than other oat milk options. As a result, it’s best enjoyed on its own as a beverage or used in cooking and baking.

While one of the lowest sugar options, some reviewers find the beverage to have a slightly gritty texture.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides (15):

• Calories: 130
• Fat: 2.5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 4 grams
• Carbs: 23 grams
• Fiber: less than 1 gram
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Vitamin D: 10% of the DV
• Iron: 4% of the DV
• Calcium: 10% of the DV
• Potassium: 2% of the DV

Best for drinking

The best oat milk for drinking is creamy — but not too thick — and isn’t overly sweet.

Planet Oat Original

• Price: $$$
• Ingredients: oat milk, calcium carbonate, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, gellan gum, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2, riboflavin, vitamin B12
• Other flavors: vanilla, dark chocolate, extra creamy, unsweetened, unsweetened vanilla
• Best for: drinking

If you like the consistency of 2% milk, Planet Oat Original is a great choice because it’s free of added oils and quite low in natural sugars.

Like Oatly, Planet Oat uses a stabilizer called dipotassium phosphate that the Food and Drug Administration deems safe (17).

However, frequent intake of foods containing this additive may harm kidney health, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease (18).

While small amounts of dipotassium phosphate shouldn’t be concerning, you may want to choose a different oat milk if you have kidney disease.

A single cup (240 mL) offers (16):

• Calories: 90
• Fat: 1.5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 19 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams
• Vitamin D: 20% of the DV
• Calcium: 25% of the DV
• Iron: 2% of the DV
• Potassium: 8% of the DV
• Vitamin A: 20% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 10% of the DV
• Vitamin B12: 10% of the DV

Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oatmilk

• Price: $
• Ingredients: oat milk, sunflower oil, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin D2
• Other flavors: vanilla, protein, vanilla protein
• Best for: drinking

Califia Farms Extra Creamy Oatmilk isn’t overly sweet and strikes the right balance between smooth and creamy.

Although this oat milk is free of gums and stabilizers, it’s higher in fat than many other products.

This fat comes from sunflower oil, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids (20).

Research suggests that diets high in omega-6s but low in omega-3s may increase chronic inflammation in your body. Over time, this may raise your risk of chronic ailments like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes (21, 22).

If you choose this oat milk, you may want to limit your intake of other vegetable oils high in omega-6s, such as soybean, safflower, cottonseed, and corn oil (23).

Just 1 cup (240 mL) contains (19):

• Calories: 110
• Fat: 6 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 12 grams
• Fiber: less than 1 gram
• Sugar: 4 grams
• Vitamin D: 20% of the DV
• Iron: 2% of the DV
• Vitamin A: 20% of the DV
• Calcium: 20% of the DV
• Potassium: 6% of the DV
• Vitamin E: 10% of the DV

Best for coffee

Many oat milk brands offer barista blends designed to steam and froth for drinks like lattés and cappuccinos. 

These products are often creamier than regular oat milk to provide a gourmet, coffee-shop quality. 

Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend

• Price: $$
• Ingredients: oat milk, sunflower oil, dipotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, tricalcium phosphate, sea salt
• Other flavors: N/A
• Best for: coffee

While Califia Farms’ unsweetened product isn’t the best for coffee, its Barista Blend gets great reviews for its frothing ability and sweet, oat flavor.

Notably, it’s also free of gums.

One cup (240 mL) contains (24):

• Calories: 130
• Fat: 7 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 14 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 3 grams
• Calcium: 15% of the DV
• Potassium: 8% of the DV

Minor Figures Barista Oat Milk

• Price: $$
• Ingredients: water, oats, sunflower oil, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, salt
• Other flavors: N/A
• Best paired with: coffee

Created by baristas in London, Minor Figures Barista Oat Milk is designed to be great for foaming or steaming.

It works well for your morning latté but can also be used in baking and even poured over cereal, as its texture isn’t overly thick.

Additionally, it’s free of gums and thickeners.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) offers (25):

• Calories: 116
• Fat: 5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 23 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 11 grams

Best for cooking and baking

While most oat milk can be used for cooking and baking, some products are better than others due to their thickness and flavor. 

Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats

• Price: $$
• Ingredients: filtered water, oats, salt
• Other flavors: sweetened, chocolate
• Best for: cooking

Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats is a low sugar, mild oat milk that’s made with just filtered water, oats, and salt.

It’s not ideal for drinking or adding to coffee since it’s thinner than other oat milk products. Keep in mind that some consumers mention a slight gritty texture.

Still, it’s one of the best options if you’re used to baking or cooking with skim or low fat dairy milk.

Only 1 cup (240 mL) contains (26):

• Calories: 100
• Fat: 2 grams
• Saturated fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Carbs: 17 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Calcium: 2% of the DV
• Iron: 6% of the DV
• Potassium: 2% of the DV

Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk

• Price: $
• Ingredients: water, oats, rapeseed oil, sea salt, nutrient extract blend, vitamin D2, calcium carbonate, gellan gum, tricalcium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate
• Other flavors: vanilla, original
• Best for: baking

Chobani’s Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk has a consistency much closer to whole milk.

Its slightly sweet taste and thick, creamy texture add a rich mouthfeel and flavor to baked goods. It can also help thicken soups.

While it contains a small number of additives, it uses organic oats and doesn’t have artificial flavors or preservatives.

One cup (240 mL) provides (27):

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 9 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 11 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 8 grams

Best flavored

Flavored varieties like chocolate or vanilla oat milk can make nice treats or desserts, though you should keep in mind that they’re often high in sugar. 

These flavored options are lower in sugar than many of their competitors.

Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats

• Price: $$
• Ingredients: filtered water, whole grain oats, cane sugar, cocoa, natural flavors, salt
• Other flavors: unsweetened, sweetened
• Best for: drinking

Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats is your best bet if you’re looking for plant-based chocolate milk.

One serving offers just 4 grams of sugar from natural cane sugar.

Elmhurst’s chocolate product doesn’t contain any added gums, thickeners, or stabilizers. Instead, it’s made from just six basic ingredients — water, oats, cane sugar, cocoa powder, natural flavors, and salt.

Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides (28):

• Calories: 110
• Fat: 2 grams
• Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Carbs: 19 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams
• Calcium: 2% of the DV
• Iron: 6% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV

Planet Oat Vanilla

• Price: $$$
• Ingredients: oat milk, calcium carbonate, dipotassium phosphate, sea salt, natural vanilla flavor with other natural flavors, gellan gum, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2, riboflavin, vitamin B12
• Other flavors: original, extra creamy, dark chocolate, unsweetened, unsweetened vanilla
• Best for: desserts

Plant Oats Vanilla has a distinct vanilla flavor without any added sugars — just naturally occurring oat sugar.

Keep in mind that this product has a few additives, such as gellan gum and dipotassium phosphate.

One cup (240 mL) contains: (29)

• Calories: 90
• Fat: 1.5 grams
• Saturated fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 19 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams
• Vitamin D: 20% of the DV
• Calcium: 25% of the DV
• Iron: 2% of the DV
• Potassium: 8% of the DV
• Vitamin A: 20% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 10% of the DV
• Vitamin B12: 10% of the DV

Best blended

Mooala Organic Coconut Oatmilk

• Price: $
• Ingredients: oat milk, coconut cream, inulin, calcium carbonate, sea salt, gellan gum, cinnamon
• Other flavors: N/A
• Best for: drinking

Mooala is a Texas-based company with a line of dairy-free milk alternatives, including their Coconut Oatmilk.

Its consistency is similar to 2% milk, and its hint of coconut differentiates it from most products on the market. It’s also one of the only sugar-free options available.

Moreover, the product doesn’t need any added oils to make it rich and smooth because it contains coconut cream.

Organic oats, organic cinnamon, sea salt, calcium carbonate, and gellan gum are also on the ingredient list.

One cup (240 mL) provides (30):

• Calories: 50
• Fat: 3.5 grams
• Saturated fat: 3 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 5 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams
• Calcium: 25% of the DV
• Iron: 2% of the DV

How to choose a healthy oat milk

When looking for a healthy oat milk product, it’s important to take a look at the ingredient list. 

Ideally, opt for a product with a short ingredient list that’s low in both added sugar and additives like thickeners, stabilizers, gums, and artificial flavorings and colors. 

Keep in mind that many oat milk products contain natural sugars because oats’ starches are broken down by enzymes during the manufacturing process (31). 

Finally, if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, only choose products that are certified gluten-free. While oats are naturally gluten-free, there’s still a risk of cross-contamination with other grains (32, 33). 

Benefits and downsides of oat milk

Oat milk is a plant-based milk alternative that has a rich, creamy, slightly sweet taste.

Unlike most other milk alternatives, it’s nut-free — so it’s appropriate for people with nut allergies.

Unsweetened oat milk can also be a healthy source of naturally occurring carbs, which provide your body with a quick source of energy.

Additionally, oat milk is often fortified with vitamin D, calcium, and other nutrients.

However, many oat milk products are highly processed and may contain gums, stabilizers, and thickeners. Be sure to read ingredients lists if you want to avoid products with lots of additives. However, be aware that some additives are there to fortify the oat milk with important vitamins and minerals.

Cow’s milk vs. oat milk

Oat milk is a suitable alternative to cow’s milk in nearly any recipe, or to drink, add to coffee, or pour over cereal.

However, it does have some key nutritional differences. This is because typical dairy milk comes from cows, while oat milk is a plant-based substitute made from oats.

As such, oat milk tends to be lower in protein and fat than cow’s milk (35, 36). It also tends to be higher in carbohydrates.

While oat milk contains natural sugars, it doesn’t contain lactose like cow’s milk does.

Additionally, cow’s milk naturally contains calcium, while oat milk does not. Still, some oat milk products are fortified with calcium and other nutrients, like vitamin D. Cow’s milk is also typically fortified with vitamin D.

Here’s how 1/2 cup (100 grams) of plain, unsweetened oat milk compares to the same amount of 2% cow’s milk (35, 36):

Frequently asked questions about oat milk

Does oat milk have added sugar?

Only sweetened oat milk has added sugar. The sugars that naturally occur in oat milk are not considered added sugars because they come from the oats themselves.

How is oat milk made? 

Oat milk is made by blending water with oats, then straining out the oat solids. You can do this at home. However, most manufacturers add oils, stabilizers, and sometimes sweeteners to improve the taste and texture of the final product.

Which is better, almond or oat milk?

That depends on your preferences and dietary needs. Both almond and oat milk have a distinctive taste. Almond milk is lower in carbs, while oat milk is naturally higher in carbs. Almond milk tends to be thinner and less creamy than oat milk. However, they can both be used in similar ways as a milk alternative.

Neither almond nor oat milk contains much protein naturally. However, some brands contain added protein, calcium, and vitamin D to make them more nutritionally similar to cow’s milk.

The bottom line

Oat milk is a popular plant-based beverage that’s enjoyed for its slightly sweet, oat flavor and creamy consistency. 

While numerous options abound, the healthiest ones tend to be low in sugar and additives.

It’s also surprisingly easy and inexpensive to make oat milk at home.