How to Find Inexpensive Nut Milk Bags

Nut Milk Bag a.k.a. 1 Gallon Mesh Paint Strainer

I love raw food and raw foodists, but sometimes prices for ‘raw’ products and equipment are ridiculously high, and frankly, a barrier for some people who might want to try a raw foods diet. Certain equipment needed for a raw food diet is also not readily available in many places, including the elusive ‘nut milk bag‘.

Nut milks are a standard milk replacement in a raw food diet and are very easy to prepare if you have a good high speed blender and a nut milk bag. Nut milk bags are not that easy to find, unless you know that the same material and function is available in similar, unrelated products. Here is how I found that out: one day, I was at my local paint store picking up some house paint, brushes, and other supplies. As I was waiting for my paint to be shaken, I was browsing the wall of painting tools: brushes, rollers, and Hey, what is this? Mesh paint strainers! I picked one up. It was a one gallon size with an elastic hemmed opening. I took a good look at it and laughed. For about $0.99 I had myself a nice nut milk bag. Same material, same type and size of mesh, but for much less money.

Mesh paint strainers come in a couple sizes, usually 1 gallon and 5 gallon. At chain stores like Home Depot, you can buy them in little packages of 5 for about $5. Some paint stores sell them in bulk, so you can just buy one, if you want, for around $1.00.

I use the 1 gallon size. It’s nice and big, but not too big to be unwieldy. You can easily pour an entire blender of nut mash into a 1 gallon bag and squeeze the milk out over a large bowl. The nut milk bags can be re-used, of course. Simply rinse them out well, and wash them by hand with water and a small amount of dish soap. Or, throw them in with your delicate laundry. These bags are tough and can be used over and over again and will last years, so there is no need to throw them away, even if they are cheap. That would be wasteful and we are trying to be more mindful.

Any way you look at it, if you are interested in making nut milks, or trying more raw recipes, you will need a nut milk bag. There is no reason to pay $8 for a little mesh bag. If you or someone you know is handy with a sewing machine, I am sure this mesh material is available at fabric stores and you could make your own or even go into business making them for your friends. But in the mean time, visit your local paint supply store and ask for ‘mesh paint strainers’. On a side note, there are also paper paint strainers that look like paper funnels. You don’t want those. You want mesh paint strainers.

If you don’t know how to make nut milks, check out these two articles here on The Healthy Eating Site:

How To Make Almond Milk

How To Make Cashew Milk

Using the same instructions for almond or cashew milk, try making your own nut milks with your favorite nuts. Don’t be afraid to experiment! It’s just food, after all. Try making different combinations of nuts and/or seeds and see how it tastes. You can sweeten your nut milk with a couple dates, a small handful of raisins. honey, agave nectar, or stevia. You can try using different flavorings, such as spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) or powders or syrups, such as maple syrup, or lucuma powder.