Oat Milk vs Buttermilk: The Ultimate Verdict  

Oat milk and buttermilk are on two opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of plant-based and animal-based milks, with oat milk being a very popular dairy-alternative that’s loved by many people!

Buttermilk, on the other hand, is the milk of choice for many people when it comes to baking and cooking, as its unique taste and delicious texture are often called for specifically in many recipes!

So, should you choose the plant-based oat milk or the animal-based buttermilk?

Well, let’s check them out in more detail and see how they compare in a variety of factors. That way, we’ll get all the nitty gritty details and make the most well-informed choice!

Let’s jump in!

Comparing oat milk vs buttermilk 

Oat milk is plant-based, and has no allergens at all! It’s also a great choice for vegan diets, but won’t fit into paleo or keto diets just like buttermilk doesn’t.

Buttermilk is animal-based, and has milk as an allergen. It’s not suitable for vegan, paleo, or keto diets, and contains lactose – check out almond milk if you want a more dietary versatile milk!

	Oat milk	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Type	Plant-based (grain)	Animal-based
Allergens	None	Milk
Vegan?	Yes	No
Paleo?	No	No
Keto?	No	No

Differences between oat milk and buttermilk

The main difference between oat milk and buttermilk is their sources, leading to differences in taste and texture. 

Oat milk comes from oats, which are blended with water to create the milk. It boasts a creamy texture with a mild flavor that’s slightly sweet, which is often further enhanced by things like flavorings, guar gum, vitamins, and minerals. A great thing about oat milk is that it’s easy to make at home!

Buttermilk comes from regular milk, which has a probiotic culture added to ferment it. This gives us a tangy, slightly sour, thick, and creamy milk that’s similar to kefir. The unique flavor and great texture is often called for in recipes, along with buttermilk’s great ability to add moisture to bakes.

How to use oat milk vs buttermilk 

Oat milk and buttermilk can both be used in many tasty ways:

Oat milk:

• Enjoy it as a dairy-free beverage.
• Add it to your cereal and oatmeal.
• Pair it with your favorite pancake recipe.
• Put it in your coffee. 
• Make smoothies with it. 

Buttermilk:

• Drink it by itself.
• Use it for marinades and brines.
• Tenderize meat with it.
• Add its tangy flavor and creamy texture to recipes.
• Moisten different bakes like pancakes, cookies, and cakes.
• Use it to make thick and creamy dressings and dips.

Can you substitute oat milk for buttermilk?

In most cases, yes you can. Oat milk can be a great dairy-free alternative to buttermilk because it’s lactose-free and has no allergens in it. It’s also creamy, but the massively different flavor is going to be the biggest hurdle in using these interchangeably…

Buttermilk’s tangy flavor is often needed in specific recipes, and oat milk can’t quite replace that. Plus, buttermilk is a fair bit thicker, so there will be changes in texture as well. But for cases like smoothies, drinking by itself, or baking things like pancakes and waffles, you can experiment with substituting these out for one another!

Nutrition: Oat milk vs buttermilk

Oat milk has less calories than buttermilk, and also has a bit less fat. They’re both high in carbs, although buttermilk has almost twice as much as oat milk. 

Buttermilk has 11 grams of sugar per serving, while oat milk has none. You’ll also find a lot more protein in buttermilk with 10 grams per serving, as opposed to oat milk’s poor protein content of 0 grams. Both milks are solid in terms of calcium and vitamin D.

Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.)	Oat milk	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Calories	45	120
Total fat (saturated)	0.5 g (0 g)	2.5 g (2 g)
Total carbs	8 g	15 g
Total sugars (incl. added)	0 g	11 g (0 g)
Protein	1 g	10 g
Calcium	25% DV	25% DV
Vit D	20% DV	10% DV

How to store oat milk and buttermilk

Oat milk can be stored at room temperature for 1-4 months if it’s in an aseptic container and unopened. This is great if you’re trying to save fridge space or want to go camping! However, keep it in a cool and dry place for the best results, and put it in the fridge after opening it – finish it within 7-10 days after opening as well.

Buttermilk should be stored in the fridge and finished within 5 days of opening, although some brands claim it’ll last for up to 14 days (keep an eye on it if you’re storing it for that long). However, it’ll last you about 7 days in the fridge when unopened.

Oat milk vs buttermilk: The ultimate verdict

Are you going to choose plant-based or animal-based here?

These two offer some great benefits, along with their own unique drawbacks. Oat milk tastes great, has an amazing shelf-life, and boasts some solid nutritional qualities, while buttermilk has a unique flavor with a thick texture that’s perfect for baking!

It comes down to what you need them for, as oat milk is a wonderful option if you want a dairy-free milk or have allergies, while buttermilk is great for baking and the many recipes that call for it!

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