What Does Lactose-free Milk Taste Like?

Once you discover you are lactose intolerant, the first step is to switch from regular to lactose-free milk. You or your family may be worried about the taste of these lactose-free versions and wonder if you'll have to give up drinking milk altogether. There are a variety of lactose-free brands and milk types to choose from, and exploring your options will help you find the closest taste to the milk you're used to.

Facts

The cartons of lactose-free milk in your local grocery store contain cow's milk and the added enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose. Most people describe lactose-free milk as being slightly sweeter, but the overall taste and consistency are the same as regular milk.

Lactose-Free Milk Varieties

Lactose-free milk is available from manufacturers that specialize in lactose-free dairy products. Obtain the closest taste equivalent to your usual glass of milk by checking your favorite organic food stores and major grocery chains for lactose-free milk in their own house brand. Check online grocers for more organic varieties of lactose-free milk. Choices may vary by manufacturer, but lactose-free milk is available in a creamy whole milk version, as well as blander, low-fat options including 2 percent, 1 percent, and fat-free.

Lactase Drops

Purchase lactase drops (see Resources) to add to your preferred brand of milk, such as extra creamy local dairy milk, organic milk, or flavored milk that isn't typically available in lactose-free versions. The lactase enzyme dissolves the lactose and gives the milk a slightly sweeter taste.

Other Options

Soy milk is a non-dairy drink so is naturally lactose-free. Soy milk retains the distinctive, slightly bitter taste of its soy bean base. Vanilla soy milk resembles the flavor and consistency of condensed cow's milk.

Rice milk is another non-dairy, lactose-free option made from white or brown rice. Rice milk has a more watery, sweeter taste than soy milk. Choose rice milk varieties like vanilla, chocolate or almond to enhance the flavor of your breakfast cereal or cup of coffee.

Almond milk is the most common nut milk, but this non-dairy drink can also be made from other ground nuts like pecans, peanuts, cashews, Brazil nuts and filberts. Like soy milk, nut milks have a noticeable taste that resembles its main ingredient. Try almond milk instead of soy milk for a more subtle nutty flavor in custards and puddings.

Considerations

Sample a variety of lactose-free milks and non-dairy "milks" to discover the best option for your taste buds. Give yourself a chance to acquire a taste for each type. A 2000 NASA-funded Cornell University study on space program food found that participants who didn't enjoy the flavor of non-dairy milks in taste tests "got used to them and accepted them just fine once they started eating them regularly." Use lactose-free cow's milk in place of regular milk in all of your favorite recipes, and you shouldn't notice any taste difference.

If you want to experiment with flavor options, check out vegan diet books at your local library, bookstore or online to find easy recipes for making your own non-dairy milks. Vary the water content to obtain the consistency you prefer, and add a variety of flavorings and spices to find the best taste for your lactose-free drink.