We don't think of dairy products as pantry staples because they generally need to be refrigerated and have a short shelf life. There are two notable exceptions: evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. Both are shelf-stable and canned, and both are sold in the baking section of the grocery store, often side by side, so they are easy to confuse. We talked to the experts about evaporated milk vs. condensed milk to learn how these two products are similar and what makes them different, plus whether you can substitute one for the other.
Sébastien Canonne, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, pastry chef and the founder of The French Pastry School in Chicago and The Butter Book, an online baking school
"Evaporated milk is a dairy product made by gently simmering regular milk, which removes [about] 60 percent of the water," says Isamar Leal, recipe developer and chef creative director at the Florida Education Institute. The result is a liquid with twice the milk fat (and twice the dry milk solids) of fresh milk, says Sébastien Canonne, MOF, pastry chef and founder of The French Pastry School in Chicago. Canonne says you can make a homemade substitute for evaporated milk by gently heating milk until it's reduced.
Taste and Texture
Due to the high content of milk fat and dry milk solids, evaporated milk is thicker and creamier than regular milk, says Leal. It also has light caramelized flavor and ivory color.
Uses
Evaporated milk can be used in both baking and cooking, where it provides richness, creaminess, and a mild "cooked" flavor without adding sweetness, says Leal. Because it is unsweetened, it works well for both sweet and savory dishes, from desserts (like pumpkin pie and flan) to soups, pasta sauces, and mashed potatoes, says Canonne. Also, "it can be used to enhance hot beverages, such as coffee and hot chocolate, and baking recipes like cakes and muffins," he says.
What is Sweetened Condensed Milk?
"Sweetened condensed milk is similar to evaporated milk, but [it has] sugar," says Canonne. It is made by heating regular milk until it's reduced by about one-third of its total weight, then mixed with sugar and rapidly cooled, he explains. It’s often simply called condensed milk.
Texture and Taste
Between the heating process and addition of sugar, sweetened condensed milk is thick, sweet, and dense, according to Canonne. It also has a light ivory tinge that may look more noticeable than the color of evaporated milk.
Uses
Since condensed milk is sweetened, it's primarily used in desserts, says Erin Cayaban, corporate pastry chef at TAO Group Hospitality. Examples include sweet sauces, glazes, custards, confections, chocolates, candies, and dessert fillings. The product is particularly useful for rich, dense treats that require a near-solid consistency, such as key lime pie or fudge, says Canonne. In fact, dulce de leche—a thick caramel-like sauce traditionally used in Latin cuisine. Sweetened condensed milk is also used in beverages around the world, as seen in Vietnamese iced coffee, Spanish café bombón, Mexican horchata, and Venezuelan chicha, says Leal.
Evaporated Milk vs. Condensed Milk
Although evaporated milk and condensed milk are both shelf-stable milk products that are produced in similar ways, they're not the same. The main distinction is the addition of sugar in condensed milk, which yields a different texture and flavor profile. As Leal explains: "Evaporated milk offers creaminess without sweetness and is suitable for savory dishes and some desserts. On the other hand, sweetened condensed milk is intensely sweet and used in desserts and sweet treats, thanks to its thick, syrupy texture."
Don't Substitute One for the Other
Substituting evaporated milk for condensed milk or condensed for evaporated is not recommended, according to Cayaban. When a recipe calls for evaporated or condensed milk, the other ingredients (and their measurements) have been chosen to work with that specific milk's texture and sweetness. Thus, using condensed milk in a recipe that requires evaporated milk will yield an overly sweet dish. Likewise, if you were to use evaporated milk when condensed milk is required, the final product would be too bland, says Cayaban. For best results, "follow the recipe's recommendation for the type of milk to ensure the desired taste and consistency," says Leal.
The Difference Between Evaporated and Condensed Milk—and When to Use Each
Both are concentrated, shelf-stable milk products that have been heated until at least 60 percent of their water content has evaporated. The main difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk is that evaporated milk is unsweetened while condensed milk is sweetened.
It's thicker and sweeter than evaporated milk, which means the two cannot be used interchangeably. It's typically used to make rich desserts, such as magic cookie bars, tres leches cakes or an easy caramel sauce. Just two tablespoons of condensed milk contain 18 grams of added sugar.
These items are essentially the same with one big difference: no sugar is added to evaporated milk. Sweetened condensed milk also has 60% of the water removed, but contains 40% sugar. Due to the big flavor difference, they cannot be substituted for each other.
Evaporated milk starts out as fresh milk and is heated to drive off more than half of the water. Add water and use it as milk or pour it straight out of the can and use it as half-and-half. Creamy, rich and perfect for baking, custards, soups and even ice cream.
Sweetened condensed milk is a mixture of whole milk and about 40 to 45 percent sugar, which is heated until about 60 percent of the water evaporates. Evaporated milk on the other hand, skips the sugar and just heats milk until 60 percent of the water evaporates.
As for whether you can drink evaporated milk right out of the can, it's safe to do so. Because the only real difference is the water content, evaporated milk is pretty similar when it comes to nutritional value. However, the taste and texture of evaporated milk can be somewhat off-putting to many people.
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.
Evaporated milk can be used as a substitute in recipes in which heavy cream is used as a liquid ingredient, such as in baked goods, but it doesn't whip well. Substitute the heavy cream in your recipes with an equal amount of evaporated milk.
Just like fresh milk or powdered milk, evaporated milk is a healthy choice. It provides nutrients needed for healthy bones: protein, calcium, vitamins A and D. Evaporated milk is sold in cans. It comes in skim, 1%, 2% or hom*ogenized (3.25%) versions.
On its own, evaporated milk is thick and creamy, making it an excellent replacement for half and half or creamer in your coffee or tea. You can also experiment with adding it to smoothies, milkshakes, soup, or pasta sauces, although you'll want to use less than you would with regular milk.
Evaporated milk is unsweetened, and sweetened condensed milk is sweetened with added sugar, which acts as a natural preservative. Evaporated milk is about 10 percent sugar by weight because fresh dairy milk naturally contains about five percent sugar, mainly in the form of lactose.
Here's the difference between evaporated milk vs. condensed milk. Evaporated milk and condensed milk are both shelf-stable canned milks that are easily found at most grocery stores. The main difference is that condensed milk is very sweet, and evaporated milk is unsweetened.
The product was invented in 1885 as a way to enjoy milk without the need for refrigeration. Heating the milk kills lingering bacteria that can cause spoilage and also reduces its weight, making it easier to transport. Evaporated milk is slightly thicker than fresh milk and has a more opaque, slightly yellow color.
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.
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.
The key here is typically to use less than you would with cow's milk since it's a much heavier product. But, if you have the urge to drink evaporated milk straight from the can, go right ahead; it's completely safe to do so.
In summary, evaporated milk is unsweetened and has a similar nutritional value to regular milk, while sweetened condensed milk is very sweet and has a higher calorie count due to the added sugar.
The "Our PET" trademark is registered and becomes the official name for the company's leading brand. 1898—"Our PET" helps supply Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and other American fighting troops with a safe and convenient source of milk in Spanish-American War.
The second big key was to use evaporated milk as the base liquid. Evaporated milk is a highly concentrated source of milk protein micelles—bundles of proteins that can act as powerful emulsifying agents—which help to keep the sauce creamy and smooth.
Evaporated milk may be problematic for people with lactose intolerance or cow's milk allergy (CMA), as it contains more lactose and milk proteins per volume, compared with regular milk. Lactose is the main type of carb found in milk and dairy products ( 20 ).
Yes, NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk should be refrigerated after opening. As with any milk, use within a few days. Wipe can top after each use and keep covered or transfer to an airtight glass or plastic container. We do not recommend that you freeze unused products because it becomes very watery when thawed.
“If you were to use fresh milk or cream instead of evaporated milk, it would seem incomplete,” he explains, “like making a cake and forgetting to add vanilla.” Nik Sharma, author of The Flavor Equation, likens this unique taste to a mild caramelly note that the milk develops during the evaporation process.
How to Substitute: Place milk in a saucepan and simmer it on the stovetop for about 30 minutes until it has reduced by about 60%. To make the equivalent of a 12 ounce can of evaporated milk, simmer a quart of milk or 32 ounces, until it reduces to about 12.
The name evaporated milk reflects the processing method that's used to make it. It starts as plain old cow's milk, either whole or skim. Then the milk simmers at a low heat until about 60 percent of the water is evaporated. The slightly thickened milk is then sealed in shelf-stable cans.
Condensed milk is evaporated milk that has been sweetened with sugar. Evaporated milk can be used in place of heavy cream in most recipes, whereas condensed milk is best reserved for desserts.
What Does It Taste Like? Evaporated milk tastes like milk but with a thicker, less watery consistency. The process of heating the evaporated milk in the cans imparts a slightly sweet flavor to the milk and it's just a bit darker in color than ordinary milk. It has a similar viscosity to half-and-half.
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