A Complete Guide to Making and Storing Soy Milk: An Analysis of 5 Major Issues
Introduction: Soy milk is a breakfast food, a beverage, and a nutritional supplement... It has always been popular. How much do you really know about soy milk? The editors of Aimmei share some healthy eating tips to give you a comprehensive analysis of the 5 major issues concerning soy milk, from selecting and soaking the beans to storage and nutrition. Come and learn, and enjoy a healthy and delicious soy milk!
Soy milk is nutritious, and drinking or making soy milk has become a habit in many people's lives. However, how much do you know about soy milk? Are there any questions you still have? Below, the editor will list 21 Q&As for you about making soy milk:
I. Selecting Beans:
What is the best ratio of beans to water for making soy milk?
Answer: According to the dietary guidelines, each person should consume 30-50 grams of beans per day. Excluding the amount of tofu eaten daily, 10-20 grams of beans are sufficient for making soy milk. If you use 20 grams of beans, you will generally need 400 ml of water.
Can mung beans, soybeans, red beans, and black beans all be used to make soy milk?
Answer: Beans like soybeans and blackbeans, which contain a certain amount of fat, are made into soy milk. Mung beans and red beans, on the other hand, are made into bean paste. The texture is different.
Can you make vegetable or fruit soy milk?
Answer: Not all vegetables and fruits can be added to soy milk. Soy milk curdles when it encounters acid, so acidic vegetables and fruits like tomatoes are not suitable for adding to soy milk.
II. Soaking Beans:
Does using dry beans affect absorption?
Answer: The main reasons for soaking beans are twofold. First, for texture; when protein absorbs water, it becomes more uniform and the texture is finer. Second, anti-nutrients in beans like tannins and phytic acid can hinder the absorption of minerals, and soaking can dissolve these anti-nutrients. Therefore, for most people, it's best to soak the beans.
How long should you soak the beans?
Answer: Soaking for about 8 hours is suitable. Depending on the season, 6-9 hours in summer, 8-12 hours in spring and autumn, and 11-16 hours in winter.
Are the beans bad if there are many bubbles after soaking?
Answer: The appearance of bubbles or white foam is due to saponins in the beans, which are active ingredients that dissolve in water. If you don't smell any strange odor, you can still use them to make soy milk. It's best to soak beans in the refrigerator during the summer.
Can sprouted beans still be used to make soy milk?
Answer: Yes, you can make soy milk with sprouted beans. The process of beans sprouting does not produce toxins. On the contrary, it produces more beneficial substances.
What is the suitable water temperature for soaking beans?
Answer: Using water at room temperature is more conducive to softening the beans. If the water temperature is too high, it can easily destroy the active substances on the bean's surface. If you use cold water directly, the soaking time needs to be extended.
Does soaking beans produce the carcinogen aflatoxin?
Answer: Aflatoxin grows when seed foods become damp in the presence of sufficient moisture and oxygen. When beans are soaked in water, there is insufficient oxygen, making it difficult for them to breed. Therefore, aflatoxin cannot grow in soaked beans. When buying soybeans, pay attention to their dryness, and avoid letting them get damp during storage.
III. Storage:
How to choose a container for storing soy milk?
Answer: Prepare containers that are airtight and heat-resistant, such as thermoses or very well-sealed insulated cups. The capacity of each bottle should be about the same as the amount you drink at one time. Wash them thoroughly and let them air dry. Soy milk is piping hot, so it must be stored in heat-resistant containers. To ensure that sterilized food can be stored for a long time, you must prevent bacteria and oxygen from getting in. Therefore, the container must be airtight after sealing.
Should soy milk be stored after it cools down or while it's still hot?
Answer: Immediately after the soy milk is made, pour the hot soy milk into the container, but do not fill it too full, leaving a gap of about 1/5 of the bottle's capacity. Place the cap on loosely, but do not tighten it, and leave it for about ten seconds. Then, tighten the cap as much as possible. Wait for the soy milk to cool down naturally at room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator.
How long can soy milk be stored?
Answer: If the steps above are followed, it can be stored for a week at 4°C.
Does it need to be reheated when taken out for consumption?
Answer: It's best to reheat the stored soy milk to kill any bacteria.
IV. Creative Uses:
What else can leftover soy milk be used for?
Answer: Soy milk rice. Use soy milk instead of plain water in a rice cooker to cook rice. It has a delicate fragrance, the rice texture is pleasant, and it can fully utilize the complementary nutritional effects of beans and rice. Soy milk porridge. Take leftover rice that you don't know what to do with, add an equal amount of water to cook it into a thick porridge, then add an equal amount of soy milk and continue cooking for a few minutes.
What is the nutritional value of bean dregs?
Answer: Bean dregs are rich in dietary fiber and have the effect of preventing constipation. Moreover, bean dregs can promote the excretion of cholesterol in the human body.
What is the best way to eat bean dregs?
Answer: Bean dregs paired with grains and meats can reduce greasiness and lower cholesterol absorption. Two recommended ways: Nutritious breakfast: Stir-fry the bean dregs until cooked. Add a generous amount of chopped green onions and a little salt. Serve with soy milk, baked buns or steamed buns, and eggs for a great breakfast. Bean dregs balls: Appropriate amount of bean dregs, 2 liang (100g) of lean meat, 2 eggs, a little green vegetables, appropriate amount of flour, and appropriate amount of salt. Chop the lean meat and green vegetables, and mix them with the bean dregs, eggs, and flour. Season with salt, form into balls, and cook in a pot until done.
V. Nutrition:
Compared to milk, which is better, soy milk or milk?
Answer: Each has its pros and cons. Where soy milk falls short compared to milk: first, its calcium content is lower; second, it lacks vitamins A and D; and third, its content of vitamins B2 and B6 is significantly lower than that of milk. Soy milk also has three advantages over milk: 1. It contains plant-based health-promoting components, including soy isoflavones, saponins, and soy polysaccharides, which help prevent various chronic diseases. 2. It contains vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids, and no cholesterol. 3. It contains dietary fiber.
Does drinking soy milk also cause bloating?
Answer: Just as some people feel unwell after drinking milk, the same can happen with soy milk. Some people are sensitive to oligosaccharides and anti-nutritional factors, which can easily lead to bloating and gas. However, as long as your digestive and absorption functions are normal, these mild reactions are not significantly harmful to your health. You can start with a small amount and gradually increase it until your intestines adapt.
Can drinking soy milk help with weight loss?
Answer: Soy milk is rich in soy saponins and unsaturated fatty acids, which can break down cholesterol in the body, promote lipid metabolism, and make it harder for subcutaneous fat to accumulate. Although soy milk is a liquid, it is still a high-fiber food that can enhance gastrointestinal motility, solve constipation problems, and prevent the abdomen from protruding.
Is it okay to drink soy milk if you have a weak stomach?
Answer: Because soy milk is neutral and slightly cool in nature, people with a weak spleen who are prone to diarrhea and bloating, as well as those with frequent nighttime urination or kidney deficiency due to seminal emission, are not very suitable for drinking soy milk. However, this does not mean that they cannot drink it at all. If they do, they should try to drink it warm and not drink cold soy milk.
Can soy milk fill you up?
Answer: When comparing drinking a cup of soy milk to eating an equivalent amount of porridge, which is more filling? Undoubtedly, soy milk has a better satiating effect. If you compare liquid foods of equal volume and equal energy, soy milk has a better satiating effect than sugar water.