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Best Nut Milk Bags

Updated September 2021
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Eco Peaceful Organic Cotton Nut Milk Bag
Eco Peaceful
Organic Cotton Nut Milk Bag
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Most Eco-friendly
Bottom Line

Natural materials come together to construct a sturdy and efficient nut milk bag that you'll feel safe using.

Pros

Fabric, stitches, and drawstring are all made from organic materials. Large bag is ideal for big batches of milk. Bag is easy to wipe clean and can be thrown in with regular laundry. Bag is durable with quality stitching. Tightly woven fabric filters out even the smallest pulp. Arrives in compostable packaging.

Cons

The drawstring is thin and sometimes hard to get a hold of.

Best Bang for the Buck
The Raw Food World Fine Mesh Nut Milk Bag
The Raw Food World
Fine Mesh Nut Milk Bag
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Best for Small Batches
Bottom Line

An affordable way to make your own nut milk. Ideal for 1 to 2 people.

Pros

The bag is an ideal size for small, personal-use batches of milk. Bag is well constructed with quality seams. The fine mesh fabric produces smooth, creamy nut and seed milks. Strains milk quickly and efficiently. Comes in at a wallet-friendly price point.

Cons

Bag opening is narrow, making pouring liquid into the bag a little tedious.

P&F Natural Hemp Nut Milk Bag
P&F
Natural Hemp Nut Milk Bag
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

The large opening of this bag makes the entire nut milk-making process a little less messy.

Pros

Bag is made from natural hemp and organic cotton threads. 12 x 13-inch bag easily fits around the mouth of most blenders, making for an easy, mess-free pour. The double-stitched bags are durable and built to last multiple washes. The large bag is ideal for making bulk batches of milk.

Cons

Extra-large bag is not ideal for smaller batches of milk.

Alcyone Essentials GoNuts Nut Milk Bag, 2 Pack
Alcyone Essentials
GoNuts Nut Milk Bag, 2 Pack
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Bonus E-recipe Book
Bottom Line

An inexpensive choice considering you get 2 bags for the price; however, they come with some concerns about their longevity.

Pros

A pack of 2 nut milk bags that are made of BPA-free nylon in a practical size. Bottoms are rounded and fit fairly large portions. Affordably priced, plus you get access to a free recipe e-book to get you started.

Cons

Pulp and other small pieces get stuck in the seams, which tend to come apart after several uses.

Ellie's Best Bigger Better Nut Milk Bag
Ellie's Best
Bigger Better Nut Milk Bag
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Best for Large Households
Bottom Line

Large nut milk bag is the best way to make large quantities of milk for the whole family.

Pros

Bags are available in packs of 1, 3, or 5. The fine nylon mesh easily filters out the pulp, leaving you with smooth, creamy milk. Bag is sturdy and can withstand plenty of stretching and pulling. The large bag is ideal for making nut milk for the whole family.

Cons

Drawstring doesn't draw the bag completely closed.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
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Buying guide for best nut milk bags

Non-dairy alternatives to milk are found in nearly every grocery store these days, from soy milk to almond milk to coconut milk. While it’s convenient to buy plant-based milk in a carton, there are advantages to making nut milk at home. Homemade nut milk is less expensive and doesn’t contain additives like carrageenan that are in store-bought milks. Plus, they taste fresher and better than store-bought varieties.

However, you can’t whip up nut milk without using a nut milk bag. This mesh bag is specifically designed to act as a strainer to keep nut chunks and pulp out of your final product. Nut milk bags are washable and reusable, so only a one-time purchase is necessary.

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All nut milk bags worth their salt come with a drawstring to keep the contents inside as you squeeze the bag to extract the milk.

Why make nut milk?

Whether almonds, cashews, or coconuts are your thing, you may be wondering why you should make your own nut milk when you could just buy it at the grocery store. Here’s a list of why many health nuts (pardon the pun!) and gastronomes prefer making their own nut milk.

  • Taste: Homemade anything tastes better than processed food, and nut milk is no exception. Connoisseurs of nut milks find homemade blends creamier and more delicious than the ones that come out of a carton or jug.
  • No preservatives: When you pick a nut milk off the shelf, it contains preservatives to keep it shelf stable and consistent in texture. Carrageenan is a common additive derived from seaweed; it’s used to thicken and preserve food products, including nut milks. There is some evidence that carrageenan may damage the gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation.
  • Control over ingredients: Besides preservatives, many nut milks contain unwanted sugars and sweeteners. When you make your own nut milk, you have full control over what’s going in the blend, which is especially desirable for people with serious food allergies.   
  • Lower cost: Although labor intensive, making your own nut milk can be less expensive than the store-bought variety. Basic nut milk recipes only require nuts and water, and many people buy their nuts in bulk to save money.
  • Eco-friendly: Making your own nut milk with a reusable nut milk bag is better for the environment because it cuts down on landfill waste. After all, you’re not tossing store-bought cartons and containers into the garbage.
  • More nutrient dense: Proponents of DIY almond milk point out that many of the commercial brands contain a low percentage of actual nuts (between 2% and 5%). When making your own milk, you can tweak the ratio of nuts to water for a more nutrient-dense liquid.

Key considerations

Size

Nut milk bags come in a variety of sizes. A small size is usually around 6 x 9 inches; a medium size is approximately 9 x 12 inches; and a large size is 12 x 12 inches or larger. Select a large size if you tend to make bigger batches of milk; choose a smaller size if you’ll be whipping up smaller batches. Mini bags (approximately 3 x 5 inches) can also serve as reusable tea strainers.

Material

Nut milk bags often are advertised as “cheesecloth” material. This simply means that they have a fine mesh weave that allows for liquid to strain out. Consumers have a choice between nylon, cotton, and hemp nut milk bags.

  • Nylon bags are commonly favored for food-straining purposes and are very durable. They are stretch resistant, so they won’t lose their shape over multiple uses. They are also resistant to picking up odors and stains and are generally machine washable.
  • Cotton bags are an even more eco-friendly purchase, as cotton is a natural fiber. Many cotton nut milk bags are made of organic and unbleached cotton, so they are chemical free to boot! Cotton bags tend to use cotton threads for their seams, which aren’t as durable as nylon threads. Still, this material will last through many uses, it’s washable, and it’s au naturel for users who want to cut down on plastic consumption.
  • Hemp bags are also made from natural fibers, but the material is typically stronger than cotton. Hemp bags that use linen threads for the lining are stronger than cotton threads (though not as strong as nylon). Hemp is a durable fabric that is thought to carry antimicrobial properties that help prevent mold and bacteria growth in the bag. This material can be washed and reused.  

Quantity

You can buy nut milk bags individually or in cost-efficient packs of two, three, or four. Packs may contain a variety of bag sizes. Multiple quantities can be a good idea if you’re straining different substances.

Features

Organic: When selecting a natural material for a nut milk bag, you may prefer organic cotton or hemp. The reason: these natural materials have not been processed with agrochemicals that could potentially leach into the milk. To take things a step further, look for non-GMO materials that haven’t been dyed, bleached, or processed with chemicals.

Machine washable: After going through the laborious process of making nut milk, the last thing you want to do is clean up. Select machine washable bags that can be tossed into your next load of laundry for ultimate convenience.

Reinforced seams: One of the biggest complaints about nut milk bags is that they fall apart. Nut milk bags must hold weight and volume, and they must withstand a significant amount of pressure from squeezing. Select a bag with reinforced seams; two or three rows of stitching with heavy-duty thread is ideal.

Rounded edges: This simple design feature allows the milk to flow quicker and easier from the bottom of the bag.

Nut milk bag prices

Nut milk bags cost between $2.50 and $15 per bag.

The least-expensive models start at $3 to $5 apiece or less. These are typically nylon nut milk bags, though you can find bags made from natural, unbleached, or organic fibers in this price range when buying in a pack. 

Mid-range options cost between $6 and $10 for a bag. These are generally made from organic materials or nylon with superior mesh.

High-end nut milk bags cost upwards of $10 per bag and usually have large dimensions and high-quality materials and stitching.

Tips

  • Before using your nut milk bag for the first time, sanitize it. You can do this by boiling the bag in water for 15 minutes and letting it air dry. This is also a good practice to do from time to time to keep mold and bacteria at bay.
  • While nut milk bags are most popular for making almond milk, you can make milk from whole cashews and shredded coconut using these products. The internet is rife with recipes and directions on how to do so.
  • Maple syrup, agave, dates, and honey are all great sugar alternatives to sweeten your nut milk. You can also add vanilla extract for a vanilla-flavored milk. Just add these ingredients to the blender before you blend your nuts and water.
  • Nut milk bags are popular for making vegetable juice, like celery juice, without a fancy juicer. Put your veggies in a blender, blend until smooth, and pour the pulpy liquid into your nut milk bag. Close and gently squeeze the bag over a bowl or wide-mouthed container to extract your juice.
  • Another alternative use for nut milk bags is to make cold brew coffee.
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Nut milk bags are made from a cheesecloth-like material that is sewn in a pouch shape and cinched with a drawstring.

FAQ

Q. How do I make almond milk at home?
A.
The simplest way is to start by soaking raw almonds overnight at room temperature. (If you’re in a rush, 15 minutes will do.) Drain the almonds in a strainer and rinse them with cool water. Place one cup of nuts in a blender with two cups of water. You can tweak the ratio to your liking. Blend for three minutes on high until the nuts are broken down into fine particles. Pour the mixture into a nut milk bag and close. Gently squeeze and press the bag over a container until all the liquid is extracted. The milk should last up to four days in the fridge.
 

Q. How do I clean my hemp or cotton nut milk bag?
A.
Nut milk bags made from natural fibers like hemp or cotton should be washed by hand after each use. Turn them inside out and run them under the tap to remove any nut bits or food particles. Then, hand wash with mild soap and hot water. Be sure to rinse all detergent from the bag, or your next batch of almond milk might taste soapy! Air dry the bag, and do not store it until it is completely dried. If your bag is machine washable, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
 

Q. I’ve been reusing my nut milk bag, and it’s starting to smell funky and look stained. Do I need to toss it?
A.
Not necessarily. You can sanitize it in a mixture of vinegar and water. If this doesn’t do the trick, you can try bleaching it in a solution of one teaspoon of bleach and two cups of water. Let the bag soak until you see the stains lift. Then, rinse thoroughly and air dry. We don’t recommend bleaching too often because it will weaken the bag over time.