What the difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk

And, more importantly, how to milk them for all they're worth

Table of Contents Show

And, more importantly, how to milk them for all they're worth
Find out if condensed milk and evaporated milk are really interchangeable.
Evaporated Milk
How to Use
Condensed Milk
How to Use
Substitutions
Shelf Life
Can I substitute condensed milk for evaporated milk in a recipe?
Which is healthier evaporated or condensed milk?

Most of us are familiar with the uses for a can of condensed milk: A drizzle into your cold brew results in refreshing Vietnamese iced coffee, it's the base of a rich dulce de leche, etc. But there's another dairy superstar hiding behind it in your pantry: evaporated milk.

Evaporated milk is sweetened condensed milk without any added sugar.

Both these shelf-stable products are made with milk that's had about 60 percent of its water removed, with sweetened condensed milk being—you guessed it—sweetened.

So how can you use that extra can of evaporated milk from last fall's pumpkin pie session all year round? The absence of water means the intense milky flavor is a superb substitute when you don't want to spring for heavy cream. The evaporated milk-making process also makes it resistant to curdling—perfect for adapting your favorite chowder recipe for an Instant Pot. This quality also lends itself to an ethereally silky stovetop mac and cheese—one that won't separate or require a block of Velveeta.

And if you're still having trouble using up that can of evaporated milk, there's always a famous holiday pie recipe calling your name.

Find out if condensed milk and evaporated milk are really interchangeable.

It's a question many aspiring bakers want to know: What's the difference between condensed milk vs. evaporated milk? You may have both milk products in your pantry without realizing that each one is used in different contexts. Regardless of your milk mastery, we're here to clear up the confusion.

Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is unsweetened milk that has been preserved in cans. It was invented when refrigerators were a luxury and families had to find a way to preserve the calcium-loaded beverage for their children. Today it is a pantry staple for several sweet and savory recipes.

To make evaporated milk, fresh milk is slowly simmered over low heat until approximately 60% of the (naturally occurring) water is removed. The milk becomes creamier and thicker once the water has, well, evaporated. It is then homogenized, sterilized, and packaged for commercial sale.

How to Use

The unsweetened nature of evaporated milk makes it versatile for savory dishes like decadent mac and cheese and some sweeter recipes like sweet potato pie, which is a more savory dessert. Keep in mind that evaporated milk has some inherent sweetness from the milk, but it is not nearly as sweet as condensed milk.

Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk starts with the same process as evaporated milk—regular milk is boiled down to about half the amount to create a decadent, creamy product. However, a generous amount of sugar is added to the evaporated milk to sweeten it, which turns it into condensed milk.

How to Use

Condensed milk is most commonly used in indulgent desserts like turtle bars, mocha latte fudge, and toasted coconut key lime pie. It's also the single ingredient used to make Dulce de Leche, which is simply caramelized condensed milk. Condensed milk is so beloved by bakers that dairy-free alternatives, like condensed coconut milk, now exist too.

Substitutions

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.

Shelf Life

Both evaporated milk and condensed milk typically have a shelf life of at least one year. After opening cans of evaporated and condensed milk, keep them refrigerated and use them within five days.

Evaporated milk is made by simmering milk to reduce the water — hence the name — and it's unsweetened. Condensed milk, on the other hand, is milk cooked with mega quantities of sugar. The result is a thick, pudding-like milk that's actually sweeter than cake frosting.

The primary thing to keep in mind is that evaporated milk is typically the liquid in a recipe, while sweetened condensed milk is used for its sugar, Castle says. That's largely due to how each style of milk is created.

"For evaporated milk, I think reduced milk would actually be the best description because they're cooking off some of the water," Castle says. "Milk has water, milk fat and milk solids in it. What you have left is milk that doesn't have any additives or anything in it, but it's a condensed version. It's a little bit thicker, it has a slight sweet taste — not because it's been sweetened — but because it concentrates the lactose in the milk. It just tastes a little bit richer."

Castle says recipes, including her grandmother's delicious fudge recipe, call for evaporated milk. Other recipes, such as broccoli cheddar soup, may call for evaporated milk. And Castle says she sometimes uses it in her coffee.

Condensed milk, also called sweetened condensed milk or "Eagle brand" after the milk's most common brand, follows a different, sweeter process. "It is milk cooked with a whole lot of sugar, and it's cooked until it reduces and thickens to the consistency of pudding," Castle says. "It's very thick and tends to be used as a free-standing ingredient. It usually fills the role of the sweetener." One 14 ounce- (414-milliliter) can of condensed milk is the equivalent of 1 quart (0.94 liter) of whole milk plus 7 ounces (198 grams) of sugar reduced.

Condensed milk is a staple ingredient in one of Castle's favorite Southern recipes: key lime pie. "You can't make good key lime pie without a can of Eagle brand [condensed milk]," she says. It's also used in common desserts like seven-layer bars.

Can I substitute condensed milk for evaporated milk in a recipe?

Evaporated Milk Vs. 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.

Which is healthier evaporated or condensed milk?

As concentrated milk products, whole, reduced fat, and fat-free varieties of evaporated milk have a higher nutrient content than fresh cow's milk. Sweetened condensed milk has an even higher calorie concentration.