Is It Safe To Drink Evaporated Milk Straight From The Can? (2024)

Evaporated milk can be a bit of a mystery. It sounds like an old-fashioned product — and, technically, it is since it was invented in 1885 — but evaporated milk can still have a time and a place in your pantry. You just have to understand what it is and how to use it.

Let's say you want to use the can for the same main purpose as regular milk: drinking it. Is it safe to consume the evaporated version straight out of its container? While a dairy product that can last for over a year without refrigeration may sound a little suspect, it is completely safe to drink it plain -- as long as it hasn't gone bad, of course. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says evaporated milk shouldn't go bad until at least six months after it's packaged.

Evaporated milk is simply regular milk that has been heated so that over half of its water content has evaporated. You end up with a condensed version of the dairy product (not to be confused with condensed milk, which is sweetened). Evaporated milk is sterilized and canned so it can last a long time on the shelf.

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How To Consume Evaporated Milk

Is It Safe To Drink Evaporated Milk Straight From The Can? (1)

So, now we know that evaporated milk is safe to drink from its container, but just because you can consume it this way doesn't necessarily mean you'll want to. Since evaporated milk is thick and creamy, the consistency will be completely different than a regular carton that you're used to. If you want to replicate the texture of the regular drink, mix the canned stuffed with about 1½times as much water. You'll end up with a thinner beverage that you can pour into cereal bowls or smoothies or consume straight out of a glass. Just keep in mind that your drink might be a little sweeter than what you're used to since the evaporation process allows the sugars to caramelize a little.

Although you can transform your can into a somewhat normal glass of milk, feel free to also take advantage of its creamy consistency. For instance, it can be a great replacement for half and half, whole milk, or creamer in your morning coffee, and you can even add a dash to your smoothie or oatmeal without mixing it with water. 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.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Is It Safe To Drink Evaporated Milk Straight From The Can? (2024)

FAQs

Is It Safe To Drink Evaporated Milk Straight From The Can? ›

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.

Can you drink canned evaporated milk? ›

So, now we know that evaporated milk is safe to drink from its container, but just because you can consume it this way doesn't necessarily mean you'll want to. Since evaporated milk is thick and creamy, the consistency will be completely different than a regular carton that you're used to.

Can you drink evaporated milk without cooking it? ›

But, if you have the urge to drink evaporated milk straight from the can, go right ahead; it's completely safe to do so.

Is it healthy to drink 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.

Can you water down evaporated milk to drink? ›

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.

How to make evaporated milk drinkable? ›

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.

Can I drink condensed milk by itself? ›

Can I drink sweetened condensed milk? It is a ready-to-use product so it may be consumed without any other preparation. You can add it to everyday items like in your coffee, on toast with cinnamon, on fruit or yogurt, and in any way you see fit.

Why do people drink evaporated milk? ›

You can drink evaporated milk by itself, many people prefer to drink evaporated milk due to its taste, and it doesn't contain extra ingredients you will find in pasteurized fresh milk. It is rare to drink straight out of the bottle, but most people drink it once they've added water.

Can you drink evaporated milk in coffee? ›

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.

Why does evaporated milk taste so good? ›

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.

What happens if you use too much evaporated milk? ›

Pies with too much evaporated milk formed blisters on top.

As I let the pies cool, I saw that they all had browned blisters on top of their plastic-looking skin. Though the interior of the filling had a great, creamy texture. The flavor was ever-so-slightly muted and had a hint of milkiness to it.

What is the shelf life of evaporated milk? ›

The shelf life of an unopened evaporated milk is usually between 6 to 12 months, but check the label for a “Best By” date. It will not be harmful after that, but its flavor will have deteriorated. Once opened, it should last similarly to fresh milk held in the refrigerator, about five days to a week.

Is evaporated milk bad for cholesterol? ›

Limiting your saturated fat intake can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels normal, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. There are also 10 milligrams of cholesterol in 1 ounce of regular Carnation evaporated milk, which is only about 3 percent of your daily limit.

Is it okay to eat a whole can of condensed milk? ›

But the presence of useful properties of condensed milk does not mean at all that it should be eaten by cans, since excessive consumption of condensed milk can harm the human body.

Can you drink evaporated milk with coffee? ›

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.

Can my 1 year old drink evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk is not suitable for babies. Skimmed milk varieties should not be given to children under 5 years. Condensed milk should not be used for babies or children. Goat's milk is not suitable for babies unless recommended by a paediatrician.

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