During a cost of living crisis, small proactive changes are saving money on everyday essentials. Salter's Plant M!lk Maker claims to reduce the cost of oat milk to just 3p a litre. That's an astonishing saving on a daily ingredient for cereal, coffee, sauce, pudding and quite simply a refreshing drink straight from the fridge.
Additionally, this thrifty appliance is planet positive too. Kitchen brand, Salter, has committed to a 'Buy me and plant a tree' sustainability campaign, which promises to plant a tree for every Plant M!lk Maker sold.
Plant milk makers are a fairly new product to come to the UK market. Salter's Plant M!lk Maker claims to make fresh and natural plant milk whilst cutting down on the energy, cost and waste of plastic cartons. Prepare dairy-free drinks at home in three steps: 1. Add water 2. Add ingredients 3. Blend.
Intrigued by the possibilities of making homemade nut milk and transforming the leftover pulp into sustainable snacks, A Modern Kitchen tests the Plant M!lk Maker from Salter and explores zero-waste cooking. Perfect for vegans, plant-based friends or those who like to switch their diet up, the Salter Plant M!lk would make an ideal gift.
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Pros
- Makes a huge quantity of milk from a small amount of ingredients
- Value for money
- Can be used for smoothies and pesto too - get creative and explore the possibilities
- Easy to use
Cons
- Metal filter container detached while in use
- A little heavy
Salter Plant M!lk Maker: Summary
I'm all for embracing healthy living and this simple jug and blender produces nutrient-rich plant-based drinks up to 1.6 litres per batch. Holy cow! This vegan milk machine can blend oats, soya, coconut, almond and more with an easy-to-use one-touch button. The transparent jug, made from Tritan BPA-free plastic, allows you to watch clear water turn magically to white in just one minute. Choose between the Plant Milk or Blend mode cycles depending on whether you're making milk, smoothies, shakes or even, pesto. Transform leftover pulp to create tasty and zero-waste snacks like healthy granola bars, crispy crackers, energy bites and brownies.
Save significantly on the cost of buying milk as the average cost to make a litre of oat milk is £0.03 and it’s only £0.46 to make 1 litre almond milk. Inside the large transparent jug, a metal filter basket contains the nut pulp and particles, resulting in a super smooth and creamy non-dairy milk. It's made fresh so you get all the benefits of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, this leftover pulp can be transformed into zero-waste snacks like healthy granola bars, crackers, energy bites and brownies. Great for creative cooks who want to make the most out of all their ingredients and push the possibilities of their appliance.
Price
Salter Plant M!lk Maker's RRP is £64.99 putting it in the mid-price position among UK-sold plant milk makers. At the budget end of the market, there's the Chef'n Nut Milk Maker with an RRP of £19.99. Essentially this comprises of a carafe and filter and you need a separate blender in order to make nut milk. At the top end in the UK market is the Nutramilk Nut Milk Machine, with an RRP of £499. In addition to blending plant-based milk, the Nutramilk can make nut butter and has a whopping two-litre capacity. Additionally, it doesn't require you to soak nuts before blending. The US market has had plant-based milk makers around a bit longer, with products such as the Chef Wave Vegan Milk Maker ($250) and Almond Cow ($245).
The features and range of recipes you can make with the Salter Plant M!lk Maker justify its price. If you're an avid vegan cook or get through a lot of plant-based milk, it's going to earn its cost back in around 45 uses. With a three-year guarantee, it's a long-lasting investment.
Key Features
Salter Plant M!lk Maker components include a jug with a minimum water level of 1,300ml and maximum 1,600ml; a lid with integrated blender; metal filter container; plastic container; detachable power cable; recipe and instruction booklets. Both the metal filter container and plastic container have measuring guides to indicate the fill level.
Special features: One touch control, plant milk mode, blend mode, self-cleaning, recipe booklet included, three year guarantee
Rating: 4/5
Testing the Salter Plant M!lk Maker
I'll be evaluating the taste and whether the plant-based milk passes the curdle test in hot drinks. Also, I'll be trying out fresh plant milk on my favourite cereals, making a homemade oak milk latte and some air fryer granola with the leftover pulp - and finally - I'll be re-energising with a smoothie.
What was the product tested for?
When I lived in London I was a Wholefoods Supermarket devotee. Times have changed, and buying ingredients by weight is now a cost-saving exercise rather than a novel thing to do. There's a zero-waste shop near me that is packed with customers, reusing jam jars and ice cream tubs to buy spices, grains and oils for pennies.
In an effort to reduce the amount of packaged goods I buy, I was keen to try out Salter's Plant M!lk Maker. In my household, plant milk has been a regular purchase and we've tried most brands. In fact, it's been a long-standing purchase as our parents bought milk alternatives (soya) too. I remember it becoming a regular purchase for my mum when I was in my late teens. I remember the soya milk would curdle in tea and coffee. But it was lovely on cereal and the malted taste seemed to be enhanced by the different flavour profile of soya milk.
I really began to embrace plant milk in my early thirties when I lived in London. There was a proliferation of plant-based products and I got into the whole-food, dairy-free and gluten-free lifestyle. It cost a small fortune, but I enjoyed the creativity of concocting meals with a different set of rules and ingredients. Now, I'm definitely more money conscious and actually a lot more concerned with the amount of packaging and plastic waste we accumulate. So, I'm hoping this plant milk maker will help me to cut some of the heavy cartons and cost from the weekly shop.
What were the results?
As I've been testing Salter’s Plant M!lk Maker, I have been so impressed with the ease, speed, quantity and freshness of the milk. Let's face it, none of us have got time to be straining nut pulp through muslin, so I was delighted that the entire process takes just a couple of minutes.
Unboxing
Salter has done a beautiful design job of getting information about the product on the six sides of the packaging. It's visual and easy to take in. The appliance arrived well packaged in recycled paper pulp moulds. It's a large jug. The lid has a blender attached - like a large stick blender. There's a power cord, metal basket with very fine holes, a plastic container and the large jug itself. Plus, there's a handy recipe booklet and a quick start guide. The metal basket locks onto the inside of the lid - covering the blending blade. I can pick it up empty with one hand - but it is heavy.
Performance
Making almond milk and air fryer granola
On first use, as directed, I gave the jug a wipe with a damp cloth. I visited a zero waste shop earlier that day and bought £3.52 of ingredients: Almonds, dates, cinnamon and sultanas. The aim was to make almond milk and then some flapjacks and air fryer granola from the pulp. The base recipe for almond milk is 50g almonds (recommended they are soaked for 12 hours for smoother milk). Two pitted dates and a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. This is in the recipe book that comes with the appliance.
I filled the jug to the minimum water level of 1,300ml and put my almonds and dates in the metal basket and fixed it onto the lid. Wow, it was extraordinarily fast. Just three brisk blends creates 1,300ml of almond milk in about a minute.
It whirred into life at the press of a button and it was intuitively easy (says I, who tends to bypass instructions).
I had wondered what the plastic bowl was for, but its use became clear as I took the lid off - it's the perfect size and shape to rest the blender and lid in there.
On first taste - I was incredibly impressed. This was a huge quantity of fresh almond milk - made in a minute - that tasted clean, fresh and delicious. Genuinely, a game-changer IMO.
The almond pulp could be used like breadcrumbs as a binding agent in burgers or crumble toppings, but I decided to make some flapjacks and granola. The almond pulp alone tasted very dry and grainy. I added oats, crunchy peanut butter, golden syrup, orange zest, cinnamon and sultanas. When everything was mixed and in a baking tin, it was nicely toasted after 15 minutes and smelt delicious.
The next day I had to stir the almond milk as it had split - thicker sediment had settled with a lighter liquid on top. I poured some milk into my morning coffee - it had a wonderful creamy taste and didn't curdle. My traybake flapjack was a bit crumbly, but it made a wholesome teatime snack. In fact, I popped some of it in the air fryer and toasted it for ten minutes, producing a wonderful, nutty topping for a healthy dessert with Skyr and fresh fruit.
Homemade oat milk
I used soaked organic jumbo oats - which resembled porridge - having swelled up to a Pyrex dishful. I drained the oats in a sieve over the sink. Then, I spooned a portion into the metal container along with two dates for sweetness. The lid went on simply. The resulting milk was refreshing and surprisingly cool. A thick froth formed on top of a creamy coloured milk. The two dates had contributed to the colour. It tasted incredibly creamy but not as sweet as shop bought milk. I tasted the froth on top and it was sensationally creamy, albeit you've got to love oats as this milk is oaty through and through.
I looked forward to making an oat milk latte with my porridge breakfast and flapjack elevenses the next day. Inside the metal basket there was a small amount of wet oatmeal and interestingly, the dates hadn't fully blended.
Making a smoothie with the Blend function
Now we're really going into uncharted territory by using the blend function. Salter's Plant M!lk Maker is such a new appliance there's not a lot about it online. But I was assured by the recipe booklet that I could make anything from smoothies to pesto with this. I was a bit worried anything too savoury might taint the taste of sweet milk, so I tried a blueberry and banana smoothie for starters.
This was flying blind because I didn't know if I should put the banana and frozen blueberries in the metal filter basket or if everything went into the jug to get blended that way. I took a punt on the latter. Selecting the Blend function produced a steady, consistent two-minute blend that I could see was breaking down the frozen blueberries and banana before my eyes. It smelt yummy too, as the ripe banana released its aroma.
It confirmed the possibilities with this appliance are endless. The smoothie tasted rich, creamy and refreshing. I'm consistently surprised how cold the milk is. Be aware however, it did not totally chop the banana up - just like the dates, the blender does not handle chunks very well. Frozen berries worked a treat though. If you're an experimental cook, you'll love exploring the capabilities of this milk maker. Also, it made a huge quantity: Over one litre of smoothie. This is fantastic if you've got a growing family and you want to give them a wholesome and nourishing drink.
Usability
Salter Plant M!lk Maker is ridiculously easy to use and blends homemade milk in around a minute. Unlike a dodgy blender from the 1970s, you don't have to hold the lid down. The appliance is sturdy and the lid is heavy enough to hold firmly in place. As with any cookery, these things can be a bit messy so make sure you have kitchen towels and damp cloths to hand. Because the power cord is detachable you could use this appliance on any kitchen countertop or table.
It's so easy to use. Press the power button and 1:00 pops up on the display. Use the Mode button to switch between 'Plant Milk' and 'Blend' functions - denoted by an icon that lights up green when selected. Three pulses over the course of a minute produces a batch of milk - it really is magical to watch. Yes, it's a bit noisy but no more than any other small appliance.
The metal filter detaches with ease and inside the pulp is very finely mashed. I washed the metal basket and blade clean under the tap, taking care not to submerge the lid as it contains electrical components. It's best to rinse immediately after use otherwise the pulp and residue can cake onto the jug, containers and blade.
Also, for best results soak the ingredients overnight. Then, blend in the filter basket to make your own chai, milkshakes and lattes with hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews and other nuts and seeds. I tried oat milk with soaked and unsoaked oats (more on that shortly) and the milk was creamier and silkier as a result of being soaked.
Build
I do feel that anyone who has trouble lifting or gripping may struggle to get the lid off and detach the metal filter container - the lid contains the electric motor which makes up the heavier weight. Additionally, the jug can get rather heavy when it's at full capacity. That being said, the jug has a good steady pouring lip and the additional plastic container is very well balanced for resting the lid.
The inside of the metal filter basket has 1/2 cup and 1 cup guidelines. I had to jiggle to get the basket full of nuts to lock on the lid. Please do double-check that you've locked it tight; I had an absolute disaster with a batch of oat milk where the metal filter detached during blending. I rescued the batch of milk by sieving it, but I made a mess. Take extra care to make sure the metal basket locks into place. There is an icon and arrow to indicate this on the metal basket.
Cleaning
Make sure to rinse the appliance immediately after use - and clean thoroughly in soapy water once a week if using it daily. Do not submerge the lid in water as it contains an electrical motor. One real faff with the claggy oats was cleaning the metal basket, jug and blade. The porridge smeared the jug and the very fine holes in the metal basket still retained little bits of oats. I don't have a dishwasher so it means I had to wash more thoroughly by hand.
How does the Salter Plant M!lk Maker compare with rival products?
In terms of functionality, Salter's Plant M!lk Maker blows the Chef'n Nut Milk Maker out of the water. This is mainly because it is a nut milk maker and blender combined. You'd be paying several hundreds of pounds more for an added nut butter maker in the Nutramilk Nut Milk Machine. But this appliance gives you massive scope to experiment with whole foods and get huge quantities out of small amounts of ingredients. A batch of milk, that's over one litre, cost me pennies, literally. All for two minutes work - from getting the ingredients out of the cupboard, pouring in the water, to blending the milk. Some advice: I recommend soaking nuts and oats for a thicker milk, and be sure not to overfill the basket - 40g really is enough.
Our Verdict: Salter Plant M!lk Maker
Oat milk is all the rage in high street coffee shops at the moment, and barista-style oat milks are readily available at supermarkets. But it's far cheaper to make your own. In fact, of all the plant-based milks, oat milk is significantly cheaper.
Additionally, with the Salter Plant M!lk Maker in your life, you'll find it changes your entire way of snacking. I found that I needed to embrace my freezer as the quantity of plant-based treats we produced from just one milk-making session was more than we could eat. Because there are no preservatives, traybakes, energy bars, balls and biscuits go stale and mouldy quickly so it's best to freeze them in batches. Then, you can take a treat or two and give them a blitz in your air fryer for a hot oaty bite whenever it takes your fancy.
The Salter Plant M!lk Maker is an appliance that can be milked for all its worth - and it's not a tough nut to crack.
Full Product Specifications
Capacity: 1.6L
Dimensions: 23.5 x 16.4 x 29cm
Material: Aluminium, BPA Free Trident Plastic
Automatic or manual: Automatic
Type of drinks: Plant-based milks, milkshakes, smoothies
Power supply: Mains
Special features: One touch control, plant milk mode, blend mode, self cleaning, recipe booklet included, three year guarantee
FAQs
Are Plant Milk Makers Worth It?
Yes, with the right appliance, you can make huge quantities of fresh nut milks for pennies. Homemade plant-based milk is a lot healthier too. Supermarket plant milks contain thickeners, sugars and preservatives whereas homemade plant milks are raw foods that retain their enzyme content as the product has not been heated or treated. You'll notice that homemade plant milk separates so it will need shaking before use.
There are labour-intensive methods of making plant milks, using a blender and a long straining process. But an appliance like the Salter Plant M!lk Maker takes all the hassle out of the process and gives you fresh homemade milk in just two minutes.
Can I Froth Homemade Oat Milk?
Homemade oat milk is essentially only made from water and oats, so it won't froth like a specially formulated shop bought barista oat milk, which contains stabilisers. Dairy milk contains natural fats that make it foam when it's frothed with a milk frother, shaken or whisked. You can however achieve a lovely creamy latte by warming your homemade oat milk and whisking it to raise a gentle foam.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Oat Milk?
Healthline.com weighs up the benefits and downsides of oat milk compared to dairy. Oat milk lacks the full nutritional benefit of whole oats, but it is super cheap to make. Dairy milk is a better source of calcium. But it's safe to say that oats themselves are a superfood and one of the most nutritionally dense foods. Some of the health benefits we can get from oats include:
• Reducing the risk of heart disease
• Fibre to aid digestion
• Antioxidents
• Weight loss
• Lowering blood sugar
• Nutritious
• Good source of carbs and fibre
• High quality protein
So get making those zero-waste snacks from leftover oatmeal!
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in kitchen appliances. When she's not testing coffee machines, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.