Cooking with soy milk ... WTF?

[AtomicKitten]

I use soy milk exclusively for coffee and cereal, but WTF is up with cooking with soy milk?

I have ruined everything from souffles to frittatas to bread pudding using soy milk. It simply does not combine with the other ingredients.

Must I revert to using cow's milk in recipes calling for milk or is there some magical conversion table I'm not aware of?

Any information in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

[BainsBane]

1. perhaps because it's not milk

It's more like the juice of soybeans.

[AtomicKitten]

3. it's probably just as simple as that

[Major Nikon]

2. Soy milk is not really milk

Since there is no soy teat. Seriously though there are many differences chemically between the two. Some recipes will be fine with a direct replacement, others will not. The biggest reason is because the proteins and carbs involved are chemically different. During cooking you are applying heat which will denature some of the proteins, creating new substances which react in various ways with the other ingredients.

You are much better off finding recipes which are specifically intended to use soy milk rather than dairy. Otherwise you may find yourself having to alter the other ingredients to make the recipe work, if it even will at all.

[AtomicKitten]

4. ah, well that makes sense

I feel rather foolish for continuing to try to use it, thinking perhaps it was me and not the ingredients.

I'm going to try to ferret out a recipe book for cooking with soy milk; otherwise, I will simply just use cow's milk.

Thank you for the explanation. Cheers.

[Politicub]

5. It's kind of like soy juice more than milk

It would be like cooking with apple juice in place of milk.

[AtomicKitten]

6. the end result is pretty horrifying

My first clue ..... derp.

Fortunately I never produced the mess for dinner guests.

[bitchkitty]

7. Maybe try coconut milk?

I've been using it in baking for a while, it works well enough - no coconutty flavor that I notice. I haven't tried it in a white sauce yet.

[AtomicKitten]

9. excellent idea

I know it comes unsweetened. I definitely will try it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[BainsBane]

8. Coconut milk can work for some things

Whereas goat's milk and sheep milk can be used exactly like cow's milk.

If you're trying to cook vegan, it's probably best to get some recipes created with that in mind.

[AtomicKitten]

10. I have always thought regular soy milk is rich.

Even when I used milk, it was always 1%. Comparatively I've found soy milk rich and luxurious in coffee.

I think coconut milk is worth a shot, and I really need to look harder for specialty cookbooks.

[pinto]

12. Coconut milk would probably work great in some kind of curry dish.

Going to give it a try.

[pinto]

11. I like using rice milk for cooked grains.

Seems to add something.

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'm still a noob when it comes to this stuff.

And I really appreciate the suggestions.

[cbayer]

14. Bean juice - yuck. Can't stand the stuff.

I like milk. Real milk that comes from a cow.

I also like cheese, yogurt, cream, butter and pretty much anything made from milk.

The only thing I like made out of soy is soy sauce and edamame.

Is there a reason you avoid cow's milk?

[AtomicKitten]

15. I was starting to become nauseous and it turns out dairy was the culprit.

I love cheese and consume it sparingly without problem. My absolute favorite is cheese souffle which I can whip up blindfolded; I even like it leftover cold which would probably make most foodies' heads spin. LOL.

I'm not lactose-intolerant, but rich foods and most dairy started making me nauseous. That can be a sign of a gallbladder barking, so I'm trying to work with my digestive system instead of against it.

[cbayer]

16. I have similar issues with plain, cold milk, but find that if

it has been aged or used for cooking, I don't really have a problem.

Those lactaid tablets did nothing for me.

You got to listen to your body. Hope you find a good solution here.

[Aerows]

18. You and me both

If it isn't from a cow, then at least it is from a goat or a sheep (I like a lot of different cheeses prepared with both if they aren't from cow's milk).

Ick. Soy milk is nasty. I lived with a vegan for a year and a half and had to put my foot down about what I would have in the house. Milk was one of them, real cheese was another.

[Arkansas Granny]

17. I don't know anything about this subject, but I'm pretty sure I've seen Christina Pirello use

almond milk in a cake recipe. It might be worth checking into.