Understand the difference between evaporated and sweetened condensed milk (2024)

FAQs

Understand the difference between evaporated and sweetened condensed milk? ›

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.

Although it may be tempting, because of the added sugar, you should generally avoid substituting sweetened condensed milk in any recipe that calls for evaporated. If you don't have evaporated milk available, it's possible to substitute a cup of light cream, or you can make your own.

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.

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."

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.

Use Evaporated Milk- Make sure to use evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. If you accidentally use sweetened condensed milk your fudge will be incredibly over the top sweet. Cut up the Butter– Before adding the butter in make sure to cut it into smaller pieces for faster melting.

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.

Condensed milk is evaporated milk that typically has sweetener added, so much so that the terms 'condensed milk' and 'sweetened condensed milk' are used interchangeably. Sugar is added before canning; condensed milk is very sweet and contains about 40 to 45 percent sugar.

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.

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.

What are the cons of evaporated milk? ›

Potential downsides

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 ).

Sweetened condensed milk is high in calories and unsuitable for people with cow's milk protein allergy or lactose intolerance. Its sweet flavor may be off-putting for some and doesn't typically serve as a good substitute for regular milk in recipes.

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.

The benefit of evaporated milk is shelf-life: canned milk can remain stable for up to two years for peak flavor, and maybe longer. If you open a can of evaporated milk and it is dark yellow or brown, don't use it. Same goes for milk that smells bad or is curdled.

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.

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.

Sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk cannot be used interchangeably in recipes due to their different properties and flavors. Condensed milk adds sweetness and creaminess to recipes, while evaporated milk provides richness and a creamy texture without added sweetness.

📖 What is Condensed Milk

It's a fantastic replacement for pumpkin pie without evaporated milk but do note that in recipes with pumpkin and sweetened condensed milk no other sugar needs to be added.

A 14-ounce can would be about 4 cups of milk. Here is our homemade sweetened condensed milk recipe!

Although sweetened condensed milk was initially designed to be diluted with water and used as a milk replacement, it has become a popular ingredient in its own right. Here are just some of the recipes that benefit from sweetened condensed milk's syrupy texture.