EV’s Take: A Refreshing Oil-Free Oat Milk
As I reviewed Táche Pistachio Milk, I learned a lot about the role that emulsifiers, stabilizers, gums, and oils play in creating a creamy, plant-based alt-milk. Even more importantly, I realized the importance of using quality ingredients, particularly if a product is selling at a premium price. Táche’s biggest undoing was its obvious use of imitation vanilla, resulting in an unpleasant aftertaste. This review led me down the path of researching many different alt-milk brands, including MALK oat milk.
I was impressed by MALK’s lean ingredient list and commitment to clean, all-natural goodness. Understanding that MALK does not use a single drop of oil, I anticipated that it would be a thin oat milk, and it certainly lived up to that expectation.
A thin oat milk with an even thinner ingredient list
MALK’s oat milk is much thinner than any oat milk I’ve had. But I also appreciate that this is a result of their commitment to no fillers, no gums, and no oils, so while the texture was a bit of a low point for me in this review, I still respect the product. That said, this light, thin texture may be exactly what you’re looking for, and you’ll love that MALK is a refreshing drink that won’t weigh you down. But if you’re all about a thick, frothy oat milk life, you might find MALK to be off the mark.
Even more, though, I respect MALK for using quality ingredients. Their milk is made from organic oats and Himalayan pink salt. Vanilla Oat MALK uses 100% pure organic vanilla extract. If you read my review of Táche, you’ll know how much I waxed poetic about my disdain for the artificial vanilla flavor. MALK’s vanilla oat milk is the opposite. The vanilla MALK tastes like real vanilla because it is real vanilla. I really loved the flavor and thought it worked perfectly to sip on its own or to add to a cup of coffee.
Even though their price point is on the higher end, I do think this is a high-quality product. Personally, the price is prohibitively expensive for me, so MALK is not an alt-milk I’ll be keeping in my refrigerator, but it is one I’d recommend to anyone looking for a tasty oil-free oat milk.
What is MALK oat milk made from?
MALK’s oat milk is simple and clean, which is what drew me to it. Its ingredient list is as short and sweet as it gets.
Original Oat MALK ingredients:
Filtered water, organic, gluten-free oats, and Himalayan pink salt.
Vanilla Oat MALK ingredients:
Filtered water, organic, gluten-free oats, pure, organic vanilla extract made from vanilla beans, and Himalayan pink salt.
That’s it. No oils, no gums, no funny business.
The no-oil thing is a big deal. As I mentioned from the outset, many oat milk brands, including popular ones like Oatly, add oil–like rapeseed, aka Canola oil, or sunflower oil–to achieve the creamiest texture possible. While that’s great for mouthfeel and thick lattes, it also means extra calories and fats. MALK skips the oils, keeping things lighter and lower in calories. Every person has different dietary goals, so this may be important to you if you’re counting calories or just trying to cut down on processed fats.
How does MALK nutrition compare to Oatly:
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I am not a doctor, so these numbers are for your reference only. Every person’s dietary goals and preferences are different, and this review does not claim that one milk is better than the other from a nutritional perspective.
Compared to Oatly Original Oatmilk, Original Oat MALK has fewer calories, fat, and sugar. Here is how the numbers stack up in an 8-fluid-ounce serving size:
| Oatly Original Oatmilk | Original Oat MALK |
| 160 calories | 90 calories |
| 5 grams fat | 1.5 grams fat |
| .5 grams saturated fat | 0 grams saturated fat |
| 7 grams added sugar | 5 grams added sugar |
| 2 grams dietary fiber | 1 gram dietary fiber |
| 3 grams protein | 3 grams protein |
The biggest disparity you’ll see is between the calories and fat, presumably because of the use of oil in Oatly Original Oatmilk. Oatly takes the lead with slightly more dietary fiber, and both give you a few grams of protein per serving.
Ultimately, MALK may be the right choice if you’re counting calories or looking to reduce your fat intake.
How to Use MALK Oat Milk:
It’s easy to swap MALK oat milk for just about anything. Personally, I would not use this product in places where I’m looking for something rich and creamy, just like I wouldn’t use skim milk in mashed potatoes.
Here’s how I used MALK milk during my review:
- Solo: Similar to Táche, I swapped my Oatly for MALK with my evening snack. I always eat an apple with nut butter before bed and enjoy it with a cup of oat milk. While the MALK was very thin, the flavor is quite nice, so I felt like it was a good substitute and it didn’t knock down my enjoyment of my snack at all. The Vanilla Oat MALK is really delicious to drink on its own and has no funny aftertaste.
- Lattes: MALK does not promise to be a milk for creamy lattes, and they specifically recommend using it for iced lattes on the packaging. For fun, I did try frothing it anyway, and the results were awful which was to be expected. MALK is really better suited for cold, refreshing drinks.
- Smoothies: I had Daily Harvest smoothies in the freezer from our review of the Daily Harvest frozen meals service, so I used MALK in the smoothies. I loved the MALK in this. The light, subtle milk perfectly complements the smoothies.
- Overnight oats: I thought MALK would be perfect for overnight oats, but because it’s so thin, you won’t get that thick, creamy bowl of oats. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but if you’re making overnight oats with MALK, the finished product may be a bit thinner than what you’re expecting.
Want to try them? Grab your MALK and make these vegan banana bread overnight oats!
Vegan Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 medium, ripe bananas
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 3 cups Vanilla Oat MALK
- 1¼ cup Kite Hill Greek Yogurt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
- ½ cup walnuts, broken into pieces; plus more for serving
Instructions
Mash the bananas:
- Peel the bananas and place them in a bowl. Mash with a fork until smooth.
Make the base:
- Add the oats, Vanilla Oat MALK, and Greek yogurt to the bananas. Use a rubber spatula to mix until smooth.
Finish the overnight oats:
- Fold in the cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla extract, coconut, and walnuts. Taste and add more maple syrup or cinnamon if you like.
To serve:
- Transfer the oats into mason jars and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. This recipe yields 8 8-ounce servings. You can serve the overnight oats with more walnuts on top or chopped fruit.
Nutrition
Where Can I Buy MALK Oat Milk?
You can buy MALK from many grocers like Safeway, Whole Foods, and Sprouts. You can also find it on Amazon. Use MALK’s store locator to find a retailer near you.
What do you think?
Have you tried MALK? What do you think? Too thin or perfectly refreshing and light? Let us know in the comments!
