What Is Evaporated Milk? (2024)

FAQs

What Is Evaporated Milk? ›

But what even is evaporated milk? As its name suggests, evaporated milk is a dairy product made by removing about 60% of the water from cow's milk through a slow heating process. Once the water is removed, the mixture, which is about 7% fat, is hom*ogenized into an emulsion, then canned and sterilized.

To use evaporated milk as a subsitute for fresh milk, add one and a half cans of water to each can of evaporated milk. Diluted evaporated milk is a good substitute for milk in coffee, hot chocolate and cooked cereal like cream of wheat or oatmeal.

For the same consistency as drinking milk, mix ½ cup Evaporated Milk and ½ cup water to make 1 cup of regular drinking milk. How can I use Evaporated Milk for extra richness and creaminess in my recipes?

Evaporated milk is simply fresh milk that's been heated until about 60 percent of its water content has evaporated.

Evaporated milk offers a lighter alternative with subtle sweetness, while heavy cream provides unparalleled richness and creaminess. Each ingredient lends its unique texture and flavor profile to recipes, whether it's a savory coconut curry, a decadent coconut cream pie, or a refreshing coconut ice cream.

Sour cream will give your baked dishes a creamier texture due to its acidity. You will need to mix it with baking powder, and then add equal amounts according to your recipe. This is a great replacement for evaporated milk. It can also be used to make buttermilk or whole milk.

But when left in its thickened, low-moisture canned state, it can also stand in for milk or heavy cream as an enriching agent. Evaporated milk gives body to smoothies, thickens up and sweetens coffee, and adds nuance and richness to creamy soups and chowders, not to mention savory sauces and even oatmeal.

While we don't recommend substituting condensed milk for evaporated milk or vice versa, you can make your own condensed milk when you're in a pinch. Simply heat together 1½ cups of sugar and one can of evaporated milk until the sugar has fully dissolved.

Carnation Evaporated Milk is the best for mashed potatoes. I learned this from my mother-in-law in the '70s. She made hers with this, and they were the best I ever tasted. The Carnation Evaporated Milk just gives them a sweetness and great flavor that you can't get from just regular milk or even cream.

What happens if you use evaporated milk instead of milk? ›

For a creamy taste without the cream, try evaporated (canned) milk! Evaporated milk is made by removing water from fresh milk and then heating it. Heating the milk gives it the creamy, slightly cooked taste and darker colour. When mixed with an equal amount of water, it can be substituted for fresh milk in recipes.

Dialing the ratios down to 67 percent evaporated milk and 33 percent water helped only a little. But a 50-50 mix produced results that were close to the all-regular-milk versions in all three cases. It's good to know that we can keep a ready substitute for fresh milk in the cupboard.

And while milk might only last a week in the refrigerator, unopened evaporated milk that is properly stored can last up to two years. But how can you tell when it's gone bad? In short, by looking at it. If your milk has turned dark yellow or brown, don't use it.

But the flavor is only half of the incomparable equation. “Evaporated milk makes desserts more luxurious, more tender, more rich without adding a lot of extra fat if you were to use cream,” says Martinez.

In fact, it's also known as unsweetened condensed milk. Being a type of concentrated milk, evaporated milk has a higher nutrient concentration than fresh cow's milk, which gives it its characteristic creamy texture. It also has a higher mineral content.

Evaporated milk gives body to smoothies, thickens up and sweetens coffee, and adds nuance and richness to creamy soups and chowders, not to mention savory sauces and even oatmeal. If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, you can also use it in place of sweetened condensed milk in plenty of desserts.

On the other hand, condensed milk is made by removing water from regular milk and adding sugar. To get whole milk, you may need to dilute the condensed milk with an equal amount of water. This will reduce the sweetness and thickness of the condensed milk and bring it closer to the consistency of whole milk.

Regular milk has a higher water content compared to evaporated milk. Due to its reduced water content, evaporated milk is thicker and creamier than regular milk. It's often used in recipes to provide a richer texture and flavor. Regular milk has a more fluid and watery consistency.

You can make a sweetened condensed milk substitute on the stovetop as well. In a saucepan, whisk together 2 cups milk and 1 cup sugar. Heat the mixture on medium to allow the sugar to dissolve. Reduce the temperature just before the milk begins to boil, and then leave it to simmer on low.