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Make your own no-sew nut milk bag
If you want to start making your own raw almond milk, or any nut milk for that matter, then you’re going to need a nut milk bag.
Trust me.
There’s nothing worse than a gritty, grainy texture to put you off the idea of nut milk for life.
And nothing more delicious than a smooth, rich and creamy nut milk.
And I’ve discovered a quick and inexpensive way to make your own nut milk bag, that doesn’t even require any sewing.
Sometimes these things seem so ridiculously simple and insignificant, that it’s hard to imagine that they could be worth sharing.
But then I realised just how many times a week we use our nut milk bag, and how fantastic a solution it really is, so how I could I not share it with you?
So I’m going to take through how to make one of these super-easy nut milk bags for yourself, and then show you how to use it.
Let’s do this!
What is a nut milk bag?
Let me explain…
A nut milk bag is basically a specially shaped fabric bag, that you strain your blended raw almond milk through, to remove any pulp or fibre that remains.
You don’t have to strain your nut milk, and some people do like to just blend and use their raw milk unstrained, but straining does have some useful benefits:
- It makes your milk a lot smoother and creamier, taking away the slightly grainy texture
- It helps your nut milk to resemble dairy milks more closely, which can make it easier to accept for some people
- It gives you leftover almond pulp meal, that you can use to make all kind of delicious things, including raw chocolate fudge brownies and raw hummus
You can buy nut milk bags online, where they can cost anything from $5 to $35, and they come in various shapes, sizes and materials.
Most raw vegan chefs recommend that you include a nut milk bag in your collection of raw food kitchen gadgets, so I got myself one when I first bought my Vitamix.
Ditch the nut milk bag frustrations
When I started using mine to make raw almond milk, I got quite frustrated with it for a couple of reasons:
- It was the wrong shape and size for the jug I wanted to use it with
- The seam of the nut milk bag sat right along the point where the milk was dripping out, so it actually prevented the milk from coming out neatly
- I found it hard to clean all of the pulp out of the seams of the bag, and I’m SO not a big fan of fiddly cleaning jobs
So I figured there had to be a better solution, and I found one that’s so fast, cheap and effective that it seems silly.
And here it is…
Use a square of curtain fabric.
See! A whole post for six simple words? Crazy!
But it works really, really, really well for us, and I reckon you might just like it too.
Make a nut milk bag in 2 easy steps
I’ll repeat the instructions for you below so you can print them out, but basically it boils down to two simple steps.
Step 1. Buy yourself some super-plain swiss voile fabric in white or cream
Swiss voile fabric is basically a very light fabric, similar to chiffon, usually made from cotton or polyester, and used mostly for curtains and dress-making.
I bought mine at Spotlight (in Australia), and you should be able to buy it from any larger fabric shop, especially one that includes furnishings.
You can get voile in all kinds of fancy patterns, but for the nut milk bag you want it completely and utterly plain.
I would recommend white or cream, although the nut milk will eventually turn it off-white / brownish anyway.
The swiss voile that I bought for this purpose was 100% polyester, which is really important, because it’s really strong even when it’s wet.
Note: If you have concerns about straining your raw nut milk with polyester fabric, then this probably isn’t the solution for you. You might want to find some suitable organic cotton fabric instead.
Step 2. Cut yourself a 50cm/20″ square out of the fabric
Wash your fabric before you use it, making sure to rinse it very thoroughly, and let it dry.
Then just cut yourself a 50cm (20 inch) square out of the (washed) fabric, and voila!
Instant nut milk bag, for less than $2, ready to use.
How to use your instant nut milk bag
Using your brand-new seam-free nut milk bag is almost as easy as making it.
All you have to do is:
1. Line your container
You just line your container with the fabric and pour your blended nut milk into the “bag”.
2. Make a bundle
Then you carefully pick up the corners and edges of the fabric and collect them into a bundle.
3. Start twisting
Starting twisting the top of the bag, to start forcing the milk out through the bottom.
4. Squeeze every last drop out
Keep twisting, squeezing and tightening the bag to get every last drop of precious milk out of your pulp.
5. Rinse your nut milk bag
Give your nut milk bag a thorough rinse with plain water and hang it up to dry, ready for next time.
And you’re all done!
Bonus step – Make something yummy
Use the leftover pulp to make something delicious, like my raw chocolate fudge brownies or my raw almond pulp hummus.
And then nothing goes to waste.
How easy was that?
Making nut milk just got a whole lot simpler
I think my super easy nut milk bag works so well because:
- It adapts to any size or shape container
- There’s no seams getting in the way of the milk coming out – the milk drips beautifully from the bottom of the bag, wherever that ends up being
- The fabric is still really strong when it’s wet, so you can squeeze really hard without breaking anything
- The fabric stretches a little over time, so you end up with a perfect indentation in the middle of the square for making milk
- There’s no seams to clean out afterwards
- The fabric is super easy to rinse clean, and although it gets a little stained, it doesn’t seem to hold any food particles (so it doesn’t get smelly)
- Being polyester, it dries really quickly, ready to use again
So simple, so elegant and so convenient.
Nut milk bag instructions
So here’s my “recipe” so you can have a go at make your own homemade nut milk bag.
Make sure you read the tips that come after the recipe, as well as the comments from the other people who’ve tried this, because there’s some important stuff in there that will help you have the best experience with your super-duper nut milk bag.
No-Sew Nut Milk Bag
Here's a quick and inexpensive way to make your own homemade diy nut milk bag, that doesn't even require sewing, and all for less than $2.
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Makes: 3 nut milk bags
Ingredients
- 50 cm plain swiss voile , cream or white (20")
Method
- Wash fabric thoroughly and dry.
- Cut a 50cm (20 inch) square out of the fabric.
- Use to line a container and strain raw nut milk through it.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry between uses.
Tips
- Wash the fabric thoroughly before using it to remove any manufacturing residues.
- The edges will fray as you use it, so make sure to remove any loose threads that appear as soon as you seen them. The last thing you want is pieces of polyester thread in your raw nut milk. The edges will eventually fray just enough that no more threads come loose.
- If you want to, you could cut around the edges with pinking shears (sawtoothed scissors) to create an edge that will only fray a little bit, but I didn’t want to have lots of little loose threads ending up in my milk, so I skipped this step.
- You could throw your nut milk bag into the washing machine if you wanted to, but I wanted to minimise the amount of washing detergent I used on our bag, given that it will be coming into regular contact with our food. So we just rinse ours thoroughly with fresh clean water each time.
- Don’t leave it to sit around dirty! It will become impossible to clean and you may have to throw it away. Wash it as soon as you’ve finished straining your milk. Trust me on this.
- The polyester fabric doesn’t seem to trap many food particles, and rinses clean quite easily. Ours never gets smelly.
- Your nut milk bag will become stained over time, but it doesn’t make it any less useful. I would rather know that it was safe and clean to use with our food, than worrying about a bit of discolouration.
- Make sure it dries thoroughly between uses. We leave ours to drip dry and being polyester, it dries quite fast. We make milk every day or so, and ours is always dry and ready to go.
- You can use your homemade nut milk bags for straining all kinds of things, although we’ve only ever used ours for almond milk. I also keep one just for making nut milk, and if I want to strain anything else (such as juice or sprouts), I’ll use a different bag.
Of course, if that all sounds too hard, then you can always just buy yourself a pre-made nut bag instead.
My inspiration
I don’t have a lot of patience for fuss and fiddle in the kitchen, and my new store-bought nut milk bag got annoying very quickly.
Very quickly.
I also like coming up with creative solutions to problems, so I immediately started thinking of ways to make a seam-free nut milk bag.
Of course, I finally realised that I could turn a simple piece of fabric into a seam-free bag, so I headed off to my local fabric store and started prowling the aisles, looking for something that seemed just right.
And I found my answer in the curtain fabrics.
I’m so pleased that I discovered this solution, because it’s made our lives SO much easier.
I hope you have lots of fun making and using your super-easy nut milk bag too.
Resources
If you want to know more about the nutritional benefits of almond milk, check out these articles:
- Almond Milk: Nutrition & Benefits @ Live Science
- Almond Milk: Benefits, Side Effects, Recipes, Nutrition Facts @ Seed Guides
- You Ask, I Answer: Nutritional Content of Homemade Almond Milk @ Small Bites
If you’d prefer to sew your nut milk bag, there’s some great instructions here:
- How to Sew Your Own DIY Nut Milk Bag @ Hello Creative Family
And have an awesome day!
I studied Biochemistry and Genetics at Monash University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science, with Honours.
I've always had a passion for natural health, having grown up with asthma, eczema and numerous food allergies, and I wanted to help my kids avoid the same issues.
I love blending science and alternative approaches to find the best of both worlds, and I'm always looking for ways to create more amazing health and happiness in my life.
Learn more about me
Sarojini says
Great idea, post and tips- I was actually already using a square of muslin, so I can see where you’re coming from!
Nikki says
Good to know it’s a tried and true idea :)
Lynda says
A few years ago when I was starting out as a raw foodist I got a great tip from a teacher. Go to the hardware store and buy a paint straining bag for a couple of bucks to use as a mylk strainer. I did just that and am still using the first bag I bought. It is strong and durable, made of a similar fabric to the Swiss voile fabric you use. According to that teacher, the early raw food gurus bought up paint bags and sold them as mylk bags at quadruple the price to naive novices like myself.
I love your idea and will use it if my treasured bag ever breaks. Very practical solution.
Nikki says
Hi Lynda,
Thanks for the tip – it’s a great idea! Love that it’s probably where the earliest nut milk bags came from anyway :)
Michelle says
That is so brilliant!.
I am off to Spotlight right now! :D
Kim Kingston says
Thanks!! :)
Tammy says
You just made my day!!! Thank you!
And thank you to all of the thoughtful conversation that followed!
Michelle says
I use muslin cloth in exactly the same way, it is cotton & strong.
Nikki says
Awesome! Sounds like muslin is a really good option too.
Stacey E says
Most places tell you to use cheesecloth to strain nut milk. I’ve tried that and it’s almost a complete waste of time. I don’t get any more of the grit out using cheesecloth than I do using a mesh strainer. I will try your method next. I don’t really want to buy a fancy bag when what you do sounds perfectly reasonable.
Nikki says
Hi Stacey,
I’ve read that too, but I suspect that “cheesecloth” might not mean the same thing to everyone. I’ve never tried cheesecloth personally, but make sure whatever you use is plain, fine and strong, so you don’t have troubles with it breaking open. I love the simplicity of my method and our “bag” has lasted for years now, so with the right fabric it’s a brilliant solution (even if I do say so myself) ;)
Jean says
I read your tutorial, went straight to the fabric store and bought enough swiss voile to make several bags. Used the first one tonight and it burst right in half upon twisting. Is there a different fabric that would work better?
Nikki says
Hi Jean,
I’m really sorry to hear that. We’ve used our piece hundreds of times and squeezed it really hard and it’s never shown any signs of strain. Perhaps the quality of swiss voile varies a bit. I’m no fabric expert I’m afraid. I know mine was 100% polyester, so it’s strong when wet, but I don’t know if swiss voile can be made from other things.
Honestly, when I was looking for a solution, I just looked for something that was really fine, plain and strong. I was just lucky that the swiss voile I bought worked so well. I bought it from the curtaining section of my fabric store, so perhaps if you wander around yours, you might see some things that look promising and give them a good tug to see how strong they are before you buy any.
HTH
Elizabeth says
Terrific idea. But I would highly suggest looking for fabric that is NOT made in China and has not been treated.
Nikki says
Hi Elizabeth,
Absolutely, if that’s important to you as well. Basically any fabric with the same physical properties, made locally or overseas, with natural or man-made fibres, would be an option. Hopefully this simple idea will encourage people to experiment with different fabrics and let us all know what else can do the job!
Deidre says
Thank you for this post. I really appreciate the detailed information and the photos for visual learners. Thank you for taking the time to help us steward our budgets well!
I have been using (and re-using) cheesecloth which, in multiple layers, will strain better than a mesh strainer. However, sometimes the pressure of squeezing it will “pop” the cheesecloth, allowing a small, but forceful leak of the milk.
I am eager to try the swiss voile and/or muslin.
Elizabeth’s comment has me wondering how to know whether or not a fabric has been treated.
To your health!
Nikki says
Hi Deidre,
You’re most welcome. Some things are really hard to explain in words, so I’m glad the pictures did the job! I couldn’t believe how effective such a simple and inexpensive trick was, so I’m glad to be able to share it with you.
I’m not sure how to figure out if a fabric has been treated, or whether you can wash it out afterwards. I have read of some people contacting the manufacturer to find out, but that’s not always possible or practical. Others recommend using only 100% organic cotton so there’s no risk of any synthetic fibers getting into your food. In the end, I guess it’s a personal choice about what’s most important to you.
All the best to you and your health too :)
Pam C says
Thank you for posting this. I want to try to make Almond milk and my own nut milk bag. I never saw one and didn’t know what type of fabric to use. I already have muslin, so I will try that. I would think polyester voile would be stronger, so if this doesn’t work I can try that. Now to buy some almonds!
Nikki says
Hi Pam,
I’m so glad I could help. Have fun with it :)
Elyse says
Most fabrics in stores are treated with optic whiteners, bleaches, preservatives (like formaldyhyde) or finishes (like sizing). I would only make this bag strainer using organic raw cotton fabric. Check out Dharma Trading Company for their organic cottons. Myself, I use a “yogurt strainer” to make my almond milk. It’s a cone shaped sieve thingie. A conical fine mesh strainer would also do the job. Williams_Sonoma carries them as would any kitchenware type store.
Nikki says
Hi Elyse,
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m aware of the treatments given to fabrics, which why I always wash any new fabrics I purchase before using them. And for anyone who is concerned about the synthetic nature of swiss voile, then this solution is definitely not for them, and organic cotton would probably be a better way to go. I haven’t tried it so I can’t speak from experience as to how it compares.
I haven’t tried using my cone shaped sieve thingy because I’m too lazy to wash all the pulp bits out of the mesh afterwards, and I like being able to really squeeze every last drop of precious milk out of my pulp.
In the end, I guess it’s really about each person choosing the best solution for them, depending on what’s most important to them, and having all of this information about the different options that are available helps them to do that.
Liz says
Thank you SO much for your recommendation of Dharma Trading Company. I am wanting to make my own nut milk bags as per Nikki’s lovely instructions (Thank you Nikki!) but feel more comfortable using a natural fibre. I have ordered a sample of organic cotton muslin fabric from Dharma TC and am looking forward to seeing if it would work. Only 25 cents for the sample and free shipping, even here to Canada. And if it seems it would work, it will only cost me around $10 (after USD to CAD) exchange for a yard! Again, thank you so much! Wanted to post this to thank you and Nikki, and hopefully be of help to anyone else who may prefer a different fabric!
Nikki says
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Liz!
Lyndsay B says
Thank you for your post, did you like it when it came?
Joanne says
Thanks so much for posting this! I didn’t want to spend a lot on a nut milk bag so I searched for a tut on how to make one and came upon your blog. I’m not sure if Swiss voile and polyester organza are the same thing, but that’s what I went with as my local fabric store doesn’t carry Swiss voile. I made my first batch this morning and it turned out superbly! No grit, easy to use, extremely easy to clean. Thanks again!
Nikki says
Hi Joanne,
You’re most welcome. I’m so glad it worked out well for you, and polyester organza does sound like it would be very similar to swiss voile.
Xandra Williams says
Hi, Great post, I’m glad you though it important enough to share it. You shared some ideas with us so I thought i’d share some of my ideas with you. We use bi-carbonate of soda in our washing machine and our clothes are never dirty. I just substituted the same amount of bi-carb for the old washing powder we used to use. I also use it instead of shampoo, conditioner & deodorant and I make my own coconut oil and sugar body scrub which take the place of soap and an expensive chemical laden body scrub and moisturizer too.
Nikki says
Hi Xandra,
Thanks for the tips. They sound wonderfully simple and effective.
Andrea says
You might want to know that your first picture is the EXACT same picture posted on Amazon for the #1 bag. Since you have the rest of the series of pics, I assume they’re yours and Amazon took them. Or vice versa, who can know for sure. Might want to check their site and ask them to remove your pic. Thanks for the great article! – A
Andrea says
…US Amazon, in case you can’t find it. https://www.amazon.com/Rated-Nut-Milk-Bag-Multi-Purpose/dp/B00G3ZHOLY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Nikki says
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for letting me know! That’s my kitchen bench and my husband’s hands in the photo, so there’s a good chance I took it (unless Amazon have been sneaking into my kitchen unawares ;) ). I’ll get in touch with them.
Eleni says
Hi, I was just searching for a nut milk bag on Amazon France, decided they were much too expensive and found your great tutorial. I will definitely be making my own ‘bag’. I also noticed that they have used your photo as one of their product shots.
https://www.amazon.fr/Vivrebio-Sac-à-lait-végétal/dp/B00L2E72O0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405966111&sr=8-2&keywords=sac+lait+de+noix
Just thought I’d let you know.
Nikki says
Hi Eleni,
I’m so pleased you found my tutorial helpful. It’s certainly easier and cheaper than buying one :)
Thanks for letting me know about the nut milk bag image. I’ve contacted Amazon France and asked that it be removed.
Marie says
I was wondering if muslin works?
Nikki says
Hi Marie,
I think some people use muslin with success (it’s even mentioned in some of the comments above I believe). My only caution would be that muslin is not always the same thing to every person so I think your best bet would be to try some and see. Just make sure it’s strong and fine, and cross your fingers ;)
Donna says
I love your recipes and tips,especially this nut bag one. Cannot wait to try it. I bought the voile already and will be trying out today. Thank you.
Nikki says
Hi Donna,
Thank you so much :) I hope it works out well for you. Have a great day.
Donna says
Hi Nikki. I tried your no sew nut milk bag yesterday. It worked out really well. Much better than the nylon bag and the fabric (made from natural untreated hemp) nut bag I tried. My last method that I finally resorted to was to strain with my conical shaped strainer, then strain the milk a second time using a reusable coffee filter (found that on some’s blog). Anyway I continued with the second strain even though I didn’t really need to. Now I have incredibly smooth milk. Thanks again.
Nikki says
Hi Donna,
I’m so pleased to hear that it turned out well, and thanks for letting me know. Enjoy your fabulously smooth milk :)
Corinna says
Hey Nikki,
Great idea… gonna try it. One question: did you wash the fabric by hand like the care instructions on the label (pictured) said, or did you just throw it in the machine?
~Corinna
Nikki says
Hi Corinna,
I know that we normally wash it by hand, but I’m pretty sure I threw it straight into the washing machine the first time, with a minimal amount of detergent, probably on a gentle wash cycle. And then I rinsed it thoroughly afterwards to remove any traces of soap, and it’s survived just fine.
Corinna says
Hi Nikki,
I went straight to Spotlight today and bought the exact same fabric, swiss voile, and made my almond milk. Worked perfectly. Thanks for the tips :)
~Corinna
Nikki says
Hi Corinna,
I’m so pleased to hear it. You are most welcome ♥
Sharon says
This is a fantastic idea! Thank you so much :) I used to work in a fabric store and I can tell you almost all fabrics are treated with chemicals, especially formaldehyde! So definitely wash your material! Happy milk making :)
Nikki says
Hi Sharon,
You’re most welcome. And thanks for the confirmation that it is really important to wash your fabric thoroughly before using it.
Ms868 says
is mosquito netting suitable? is the mesh fin enough?
Nikki says
Hi,
Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve never tried using mosquito netting, and I’m not sure how fine the mesh is on yours.
The swiss voile we use is pretty fine, so if your mosquito netting is not that fine (have a look at the pictures), then perhaps not, but the only way to know for sure is to try it.
Ricky says
I used the same method though with proper juicing cloth ,I tried 50 x 50cm and find t a bit small so I have used a 70x 70 Cm
Comes out real smooth ,I tried nut milk bags but always split on the seams.
I also use the same method for my juices once I have juiced and want to remove all residue pulp .
It is as smooth as drinking water except you are drinking juice or nut milks.
Nikki says
Hi Ricky,
That sounds like it works really well. I love the sound of super smooth juices too. I think I’ve only ever done it with wheatgrass juice, but it does filter out the pulp nicely.
Kathy says
I’ve been using old baby receiving blankets cut up for dish rags and for straining liquid out of potatoes for hash browns and an interesting yam and potato crust for quiches (you won’t believe how much liquid sweet potatoes and yams have). One day I was in a pinch and couldn’t find the bag of old receiving blankets (recently moved and down sized ) and ended up using plain cotton from my quilt fabric that I use for quilt backing. When you’re in pinch with a stack of grated potatoes anything will do…
But I read somewhere (can’t remember where) that painters drop cloths are made out of Muslin and are super cheap…and super big. Haven’t been at a paint store lately but it’s on my to do list.
Nikki says
Hi Kathy,
That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing it :)
Deborah Israel says
Hey Nikki, I would think a cotton fabric would be the best fabric to use for food prep instead of polyester, please give me your opinion on that.
Nikki says
Hi Deborah,
Polyester is a man-made fibre, as opposed to cotton, with is plant-derived. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of synthetic fibres coming into contact with your food, then you may want to try cotton (and probably organic if you can).
It really is a personal choice, so I can’t say what’s best for you. Personally, I’m comfortable with the polyester because it works so well for us. If you do try the cotton, I’d love to hear how it goes.
yvoni says
Thanks for sharing your post it sounds like a wonderful idea and i cant wait to try it out!
Nikki says
Hi Yvoni,
You’re most welcome!
Sally says
I love your informative post. Well done. Ive been using a piece of terylene curtaining in the same way because it is so fine and strong and NO SEAMS and Im lazy and pretty low income.
Nikki says
Hi Sally,
Thank you. I love your solution – quick, easy and cheap.
Alocasia says
The label on the fabric says do not wring….isn’t that what you have to do to get the milk out? Maybe that’s why Jean’s burst.
I had one made of nylon that I can’t find. This time I’m going to look for something organic and possibly that yogurt strainer.
Thanks for this info…
Nikki says
Hi Alocasia,
You’re most welcome. I think the instruction not to wring is if you’re planning to use it as a curtain, because wringing it does stretch it.
The fabric that we use is wrung REALLY hard every time we use it and it’s never burst, so I think that’s about the composition of the material.
I know there’s a few places selling organic options, so I hope you find something great.
Odopa says
Hi Nicky,
What a great idea! Thank you very much. I am off to the shops to get a good quality fabric to make different bags for my pure Noni and nut milk drinks.
Thanks again for all these helpful tips. Be blessed always.
Odopa
Nikki says
Ho Odopa,
You’re very welcome. Have fun at the shops. May you be blessed also ♥
Gina Powell says
In your first bullet under “What is in a milk bag? you have an extra word “make” you can delete. :-)
■It makes make your milk a lot smoother and creamier, taking away the slightly grainy texture
Nikki says
Hi Gina,
Thanks for picking that up! I’ve now removed the extraneous word :)
Cynthia Feitosa says
Hi! I found your site while looking for the proper way to clean my nut milk bag, because, just like you, I didn’t want to risk having soap or detergent in something that will be touching things we eat and drink. Glad to know that just plain water does it. Thanks! I can see you’re fully satisfied with your own, but just in case you or your readers might want to give it a tweak – to make the edges run-free, slip-proof and adjustable to different sized recipients -, here is a tutorial on how to do that very easily and without need for sowing. It’s in my language (Brazilian Portuguese), but the images speak for themselves, so I don’t think the language barrier will get in the way. Just remember to be extra careful with the candle, because synthetic fibers can burn easily. It really begins at 1:03. Hope you like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7epZIxMC-o
Nikki says
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for sharing.
Patti says
That video is FABULOUS! THANK YOU, Cynthia!
And thank you, Nikki, for the budget-saving idea about the fabric. I’ll check back to see more!
Nikki says
Hi Patti,
You’re very welcome. Glad we could help you out :)
Diane says
Thank you, Nikki, for sharing this. You have saved me money and frustration. I know that I, too, would have become frustrated with the seams of a nut milk bag after reading your description. Off to find some material in my sewing area that will work for this… Thanks again.
Nikki says
Hi Diane,
You’re very welcome. Glad I could save you the trouble :)
Janice Foote says
For those having issues with pulp getting caught in the seams of your bag – use the bag with the seam allowance on the outside (like it’s inside out) – no crevices to catch the pulp!
Nikki says
Hi Janice,
This is a great tip, thank you. Hopefully it will help out people who already have a bag with a seam down the middle.
Sadly I tried this with mine, and still ended up with pulp in the seam. I think the problem is the seam, not the seam allowances, so the only way to solve it for me was to get rid of the seam entirely.
Janice Foote says
Another thought – some people use old (but clean) pantyhose or knee-highs for straining. Just make sure you use a section that doesn’t have any runs in it!
Nikki says
Hi Janice,
I love the idea of using old run-free pantyhose for the job. I’ll make sure to wash mine thoroughly first ;)
Luisa says
Thank you for sharing! Great Idea. Looks to me as though you have better control that way too. Will try it :)
Nikki says
Hi Luisa,
You’re very welcome. We certainly love doing it this way, and we feel like it helps us get the maximum amount of liquid out too (although Paul’s strong hands help with that too).
Let me know how it goes :)
deborah martinez says
hello, i make greek yogart, and i find a plain hand wipe you buy anywhere works great, you know the green and blue sometimes pink , i buy them in the dollar store they work great. so would work great for nut milks that iam doing right now
Nikki says
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for the tip. It’d be great if you could share the brand, or perhaps even a link to the product you’re using, because we live in many different places around the world, so it’s tricky for us to know exactly what you mean.
Louise says
Thank you Nikki for this. I thought I should have to sew mine, but after reading your post, I know it’s not necessary. I just bought a piece of cotton material to make mine with, but will take your advice and not sew it at all. Makes perfect sense. This will be my first time making nut milk, so it will be a good test.
Nikki says
Hi Louise,
You’re most welcome. I hope your first nut milk making session is a big success.
Irene says
thank you! I bought this: “Mainstays 84-inch White sheer panel / 1 rod pocket panel” material: 100% polyester, at Walmart. The price is US $4.85. I washed it once with little soap in the washer, then threw it again without soap, and then once more, no soap.
Following your instructions I used it for my first ever almond milk, and it worked wonderful, I loved the milk, super smooth and delicious! I can get like, what? a dozen no-sew nut milk bags from that panel! I know, polyester, man made, and from China, but I hope to have gotten out the bad stuff, it works beautifully, and inexpensive, just pennies each. Thanks again, Nikki, for the simplicity!
Nikki says
Hi Irene,
You’re welcome. I’m so glad it worked well for you. It really is an amazingly cost-effective solution.
Enjoy your deliciously smooth almond milk!
Jess says
It looks like great. But I have used Amazon bags. It rather often offered intresting packages. Last one Meshberry – 2 bags around 10 dollars with great options – different pore size, for different taste of almond milk. Wallmart cloth have a very big pores… a lot of pulp inside the milk.
Nikki says
Hi Jess,
Thanks for the feedback. It’s good to know what’s worked for you, and what you get from some of the other options.
Maddie says
My juicer did a pretty good job making almond milk, but it was still a bit gritty. I was on my way to ordering some sort of nut milk bag but comments about them talked about mesh not being fine enough, or trouble cleaning the seams. Then I found your post. I went to the fabric store that day and was lucky enough to find a remnant of voile fabric. I cut it and washed it this morning, then strained my newly made almond milk through it. Wow! So basic and effective. I was surprised at the additional pulp it filtered out. The cloth was easy to rinse out afterward. Thank you for taking the time to share this tip.
Nikki says
Hi Maddie,
I’m so glad you found my blog post in time, and skipped all the hassles. Yay for voile!
Wendy says
I didn’t have any fabric so cut the leg off a clean pair of tights. Worked very well and I knotted the top so was able to squeeze very thoroughly.
Nikki says
Hi Wendy,
What a great trick, and thanks for sharing. I’m glad it worked so well for you!
RC says
I found this post several years ago when my brother asked me to make him a nut milk bag. I need to make more and I just noticed the part that we don’t even need to hem it! As my 12yo would say, this is revolutionary!
Nikki says
Hi RC,
Isn’t just the most amazing solution?! I’m so glad you’re finding it helpful.
Cecile says
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing !!!
I am decluttering the kitchen so I think the juicer will go as I have a powerful blender, my morning cucumber juice will be done with the blender using my brand new nut milk bag !! I even kept pieces of the curtains I had to shorten when we moved in a few months ago, so it’s instantly available and free, couldn’t have asked for more than this :)
Nikki says
Hi Cecile,
You’re very welcome. Sounds like you have the perfect solution for quick and easy juice!
Jenn says
I had used the superfine kitchen cheesecloth for years, but it is hard to find, and confused easily with craft cheesecloth which has a loose weave. I don’t use it anymore because it has been too hard to find. I like your idea of the curtain material, and I have much of it on hand because I make screen prints with it. Excellent idea. For those that don’t want to use polyester for straining, I have used my 100% cotton flour sack towels in a pinch, and though it was bulky because I didn’t cut it down to size, it worked quite well. You can find packs of 3 plain ones at Wal-Mart here in the states, for a couple of bucks. They are about approximately 30″ x 30″
Nikki says
Hi Jenn,
Thanks so much for sharing your tips with us. It makes it an even more accessible option for everyone. Much appreciated!
Glad you love the idea.
SUSAN BIGGAR says
I’m not sure if anyone has suggested this but a great way to stop it fraying is to melt the edges. I put a wet tea towel down for safety and then turn on the burner on the stove, then I carefully touch the edge to the flame for a second and the edge will curl and melt. straight onto the wet tea towel of it goes too far and no more fraying!
Nikki says
Hi Susan,
That’s a great tip. Thanks for sharing!
Nate says
I wonder about bacteria. Polyester in gym clothes and socks makes them stink because polyester keeps bacteria alive for some reason, even after a wash and a dry under high temperatures.
Nikki says
Hi Nate,
The research that looked at polyester gym clothing that I found, talks about polyester fabrics promoting the growth of bacteria better than cotton, resulting in a stronger smell, but it does not specifically mention that it keeps them alive. This also related to bacteria that thrive on the content of sweat, so it may not be entirely relevant here.
We have used our polyester nut milk bag for years, and simply rinse it thoroughly each time with clean water, and we’ve had no issues with smells or bacterial growth.
But if you’re concerned about polyester, simply use a cotton fabric instead, as many of my readers have chosen to do. Just make sure you find a fabric that is strong enough when wet and placed under pressure.
Linda says
are you washing the fabric with a cleanser or just warm water?
Nikki says
Hi Linda,
We’re just rinsing it thoroughly with warm water after each use, because we don’t want to get any kind of cleanser in our milk.
We use cleanser for the first wash, but nothing but water after that.
Linda Briggs says
Okay I probably should have clarified my question. I was referring to the first wash to get any junk out of it. So you do wash it with a detergent the first time and thoroughly rinse it and then just warm water thereafter.
Nikki says
Hi Linda,
Yep, you got it!
Becky says
Hi Nikki,
I called a fabric store to inquire about the Swiss Voile curtain material that you mentioned. The associate found the fabric except its a blend of polyester and cotton. Do you think it will still work even though It’s not 100% polyester like yours?
Nikki says
Hi Becky,
Honestly, I can’t say for sure. Other people have tried cotton fabrics that ripped when wet, but I don’t know if a blend will work any better.
All I can say is to give it a try, in a small amount, and see if holds up under the pressure of being squeezed. I’d love to know how it turns out.
Georgiana says
Thank you ????
Super
Nikki says
You’re most welcome, Georgiana!
Olivia says
Genius! I just used a nut milk bag for the first time but the celery pulp wouldn’t come out of the seam pocket. This seems like a MUCH better solution. Thank you for sharing!
andy says
Hi Nikki,
Love your idea thank you very much for sharing. I would like to know if it can be used for soups? has anyone tried using the swiss voile fabric to strain bone broth?
Nikki Stokes says
Hi Andy,
I don’t know about bone broth, but I’ve also used the same trick to strain juice (that is, I blended it in the Vitamix, and then strained it through the cloth) and various other liquids.
So it definitely can be used for a wide range of other things. Let me know if you decide to use it for bone broth and how it goes.
Goody says
Hi, thanks for taking the time to share your tricks, I enjoy reading it. Though ideally the fabric you are using is not a material that can release any unwanted agents during the production of the milk. Cotton or Polyester can both contain chemicals which were in used to produce those materials. Please point out that research should be done before one feeds her-himself some unwanted particles.
Nikki Stokes says
Hi Goody,
You’re very welcome. There’s certainly been a healthy discussion about your exact point on this post, which is great, because it gives people lots to think about and heaps of ideas on the best options for themselves and their families.
Ryan says
Why not use, a 100% new, washed and rinsed and dried, t-shirt, or a 100% cotton pillow case? Both of these, would probably work great, as well!
Nikki Stokes, Eating Vibrantly says
I haven’t tried this myself but it could be worth a go!
Kimberly A. says
Thank you so much for posting this. I was pondering how to line my colander to squeeze some liquid out of shredded zucchini. And this method is perfect. I love that there are no seams, which makes it so easy to rinse the fabric. I really appreciate you taking the time to post this idea.
Nikki Stokes, Eating Vibrantly says
Thanks, Kimberly. I’m so glad you found the technique helpful. I do love how easy it is to clean with no seams!
Judith M. Schumacher says
Great to hear about your easy solution. My Mother used to strain cottage cheese with an old piece of cotton bed sheet. This was what all the old ladies in my community did to make cheese. Their Moms did it this way back in the old country, did it here in America, and on through the 20th century.
Amazing how the ‘old wives tales’ prove smarter than Amazon.
Bravo to you for ‘Thinking for Yourself’ and solving your situation without just depending on what the commercial sector has to sell.
Nikki Stokes, Eating Vibrantly says
Hi Judith,
It’s nice to know that some old tricks never die, and as you say, might just turn out to be better than anything you can buy.
Quintin says
DIY for the win…
Nikki - Eating Vibrantly says
Indeed :)