Almond milk, unsweetened, plain, refrigerated
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
A light, creamy, plant-based milk made from ground almonds and water, with a subtle, nutty flavor and a smooth, slightly thin texture. It's exceptionally low in calories, providing only 19 kcal per 100g, with a modest amount of healthy fats and very little protein or carbs. This makes it a popular, dilute alternative to dairy or denser nut milks.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 14% carbs · 73% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love its mild, versatile flavor that complements rather than dominates, making it a perfect canvas for coffee, smoothies, or cereal. Its light texture and low-calorie profile make it an easy, guilt-free swap for higher-calorie milks in daily routines.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
It is a common tree nut allergen, making it unsafe for those with almond allergies. Its low protein content (0.656g/100g) means it's not a nutritional substitute for dairy milk for children or those needing high-protein diets. Tip: Use it in contexts where protein isn't the goal (e.g., coffee, smoothies with added protein powder) and always check labels for cross-contamination warnings.
Key benefits
- Very low calorie density (19 kcal/100g)
- Naturally lactose-free and vegan
- Source of monounsaturated fats from almonds
- Useful for lightening coffee or cereal without significant calories
- Minimal impact on blood sugar due to low carb content
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Unsweetened, refrigerated almond milk can have a shorter shelf life than shelf-stable versions because it lacks the ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing and preservatives that allow cartons to sit unopened for months.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 96.5 g |
| Energy (Atwater General Factors) | 19.3 kcal |
| Nitrogen | 0.10 g |
| Protein | 0.66 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.6 g |
| Ash | 0.59 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.67 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Sucrose | 0.04 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 158 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.12 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 8.2 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 19.1 mg |
| Potassium, K | 49.3 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 59.2 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.08 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.03 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.06 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.08 mg |
| Niacin | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Biotin | 1.4 ug |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.45 ug |
| Retinol | 60.9 ug |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 63.6 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) | 1.6 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.01 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.00 ug |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, almond milk, chocolate, ready-to-drink — USDA does not publish this profile for Almond milk.
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 13:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.63 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.62 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.21 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.21 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Stigmasterol | 0.00 mg |
| Campesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Beta-sitosterol | 3.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.01 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.03 g |
| Leucine | 0.05 g |
| Lysine | 0.03 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.04 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.02 g |
| Valine | 0.02 g |
| Arginine | 0.09 g |
| Histidine | 0.01 g |
| Alanine | 0.03 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.08 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.14 g |
| Glycine | 0.04 g |
| Proline | 0.03 g |
| Serine | 0.02 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
| Cysteine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Why is refrigerated almond milk thinner than some others?
It typically has a lower percentage of almonds (often around 2-3%) compared to some premium or 'barista' blends, resulting in a lighter, less viscous texture.
Can I use this for baking?
Yes, it works well in most recipes as a 1:1 substitute for milk, but its low protein and fat content means it won't provide the same richness or browning as dairy milk.
Does it need to be shaken?
Yes, natural separation is common. Always give the carton a good shake before pouring to recombine the almond solids and water.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.19 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.20 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.