How to Make Your Own Soy Milk

If you're an avid soy milk drinker, you may be well-stocked up with your favorite brand. The average bottle of quality soy milk ranges between $2.50-$3.00 at the grocery store, but there is a way to cut back on the expense by making your own soy milk at home.

The Process of Making Soy Milk
Soy milk is made fresh in China and Japan every day, and is simply a process of grinding soybeans, then straining it to leave the water - or milk - behind. Soymilk found at the grocery store is usually fortified with vitamins, minerals, and extra calcium, and you can even find flavored varieties such as chocolate and vanilla.

Still, if it's just a simple soymilk you want to stock up on, it is possible to make your own soy milk at home.

Making Soy Milk at Home
You will need:

-Whole soy beans (250 grams makes about 2 liters of soy milk)
-A bowl of warm water
-A blender
-A sieve
-Cheese cloth
-Saucepan
-Salt

Crack the soy beans and removing the hulls (this cuts down on the soaking time). Then leave the soybeans to soak in warm water for at least 8 hours until they become soft.

2. Heat the soybeans in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes until they become even softer.

3. Place the soybeans and 2 liters of water in a blender and mix on medium-high speed until it forms a paste.

4. Spread the mixture onto a cheesecloth and set it above a jar or bowl to let the soy milk drip. This process can take some time, and you'll need to push the pulp around frequently to make sure all the milk is 'extracted'.

5. Pour the freshly extracted soymilk into a saucepan and bring to a boil. You'll need to boil it for about 8-12 minutes until the liquid becomes a little thicker and more of a 'milk' consistency. Stir in the salt, and set aside in a large pitcher.

6. Refrigerate immediately to cool, and serve after 4-5 hours. Fresh soy milk stays fresh for up to 72 hours.

Choosing a Soy Milk Maker
If you're not motivated enough to soak your soybeans and grind them at home, you do have another option - a commercial soy milk maker. These compact machines are a convenient way to make your soy milk at home, and even flavor or enhance it just like the store variety.