These Evaporated Milk Substitutes May Already Be in Your Fridge (2024)

Try these easy swaps for evaporated milk—they may already be in your refrigerator.

By

Sheena Chihak, RD

These Evaporated Milk Substitutes May Already Be in Your Fridge (1)

Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 17 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital.

Updated on October 14, 2022

Evaporated milk is often called for in custards, tres leches cake, silky sauces like this hot fudge sauce, and pie recipes such as a classic pumpkin pie. You can find it in the baking aisle next to other pantry staples. Because it's so readily available, it's possible you never considered just what evaporated milk is. If you pause for a minute to think about the name, you can pretty easily deduce what evaporated milk is and how it's made. Canned evaporated milk is cow's milk that has been cooked down to reduce its water content by 60%. After evaporation, the result is a thicker milk product with a slightly caramelized flavor that's hard to duplicate. That uniqueness can leave you asking, "what can I substitute for evaporated milk that will offer a similar result?" This list offers ideas of what you can substitute for evaporated milk in a pinch that will yield tasty results.

These Evaporated Milk Substitutes May Already Be in Your Fridge (2)

Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

These substitutions will work in most recipes (including the most asked about substitute for evaporated milk in pumpkin pie), though the flavor will differ using the straight one-to-one swaps at the top of the list.

For 1 cup of evaporated milk substitute:

  • 1 cup whole milk or 2% milk
  • 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
  • 1 cup homemade evaporated milk
    • To make your own evaporated milk, heat 2¼ cups of whatever milk is in your fridge (2% is commonly used) over medium-high heat until just boiling and reduce heat to medium or medium-low. Continue to cook and stir about 25 minutes until it cooks down to 1 cup. Use as called for in your recipe.
    • Test Kitchen Tip: Stir your homemade evaporated milk frequently to avoid a skin forming on top. And if some milk gets cooked on your pan, soak it right away for the easiest cleanup.

Vegan Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

If you need a vegan or dairy-free substitute for evaporated milk, simply adjust the ideas mentioned above to use your favorite soymilk, nut milk, oat milk, or other nondairy milk.

Evaporated Milk Vs. Sweetened Condensed Milk

Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk come in similar size cans and are usually found next to each other on grocery store shelves. 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. Always double-check which can you grabbed off the grocery store shelf to be sure it's the ingredient you're looking for.

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These Evaporated Milk Substitutes May Already Be in Your Fridge (2024)

FAQs

These Evaporated Milk Substitutes May Already Be in Your Fridge? ›

Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

What can be a substitute for evaporated milk? ›

We have 6 different suggestions for evaporated milk substitutions.
  • Regular Milk (whole, 2% or skim) ...
  • Heavy Cream. ...
  • Half-and-Half. ...
  • Powdered Milk. ...
  • Regular Non-Dairy Milk (almond, oat, etc) ...
  • Coconut Milk.
Feb 28, 2023

Should evaporated milk be refrigerated? ›

Tips. Evaporated milk can be stored in the pantry for 1 year. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 4-5 days.

What is a substitute for evaporated milk in tres leches cake? ›

Can't find those small cans of evaporated milk? You can substitute 1 1/2 cups (340g) half-and-half (or a 12-ounce can of evaporated milk), a 14-ounce can of condensed milk, and 1/2 cup (113g) heavy or whipping cream.

What happens if I use sweetened condensed milk instead of evaporated milk in fudge? ›

Don't Substitute One for the Other

Thus, using condensed milk in a recipe that requires evaporated milk will yield an overly sweet dish.

What can I use to substitute milk? ›

Milk in most recipes hydrates the dry ingredients and adds flavor, and there are plenty of substitutes that can do just that without compromising the final result.
  • Half and half. ...
  • Heavy cream. ...
  • Nondairy milks, like soy and almond. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Evaporated milk. ...
  • Canned coconut milk. ...
  • Water.
Dec 3, 2021

How to make evaporated milk at home? ›

DIY Evaporated Milk

Make evaporated milk by heating 2 ¼ cups of regular milk and gently boiling it down until it reduces to 1 cup. This exact method is used to make evaporated milk for commercial retail. Evaporated milk is most commonly made with 2 percent milk, but whole milk, 1 percent, or skim will also work.

When should you not use evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk comes in three varieties based on the amount of fat: whole milk, low-fat and skim. 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.

How to know if evaporated milk has gone bad? ›

Besides looking inside the can to evaluate the milk's color, you can also give it a quick sniff test. If the smell is off, that's yet another sign the can has spoiled. Also, short of tasting it, you can stir the contents to make sure the milk is still smooth. If it's lumpy, it's time to toss.

Is evaporated milk healthy? ›

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.

Can I bake with evaporated milk instead of milk? ›

Nestlé states that Carnation evaporated milk can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for regular whole milk. To test this claim, we opened a few cans to make sponge cake, vanilla pudding, and Parker House rolls, and compared the results with the same recipes made with regular whole milk.

What's the difference between dulce de leche and evaporated milk? ›

Evaporated milk has no added sugar, thus heating it in a crock pot will NOT result in a caramel of any kind. Sweetened condensed milk is exactly that- sugar is added and it is cooked down, leaving less water and more milk and sugar, which is why it is so delicious in coffee.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk for cheesecake? ›

No! Condensed milk is very thick and sweet, so if you just use a can of evaporated milk in its place your recipe will not taste the same. The best substitute for condensed milk is heavy cream plus some sugar, depending on how much condensed milk your recipe calls for.

What is a good substitute for evaporated milk? ›

Dairy alternatives to evaporated milk include whole milk, cream, and half-and-half, while nondairy options include soy milk, nut milk, and quinoa milk.

What is the secret to great fudge? ›

Valuable tips for successful fudge
  • Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
  • Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
  • Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
  • Beat the mixture.

Can I use half-and-half instead of evaporated milk? ›

Half-and-half has less protein and more fat than evaporated milk, but you can substitute the same amount of half-and-half for evaporated milk in a recipe. You won't get the same note of caramelized flavor that you would from evaporated milk, but the creamy consistency makes this an excellent substitute.

Is sweetened condensed milk the same as evaporated 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.

Can I use sour cream instead of evaporated milk? ›

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.

Can you substitute butter milk for evaporated milk? ›

Both milks here are great for adding a creaminess to different recipes, so you can use them interchangeably in that regard. However, their different flavors can really affect a dish, with buttermilk's tangy flavor being a staple in many different recipes and bakes.

Is evaporated milk regular milk? ›

Evaporated milk is fresh milk that has been heated so that around 60% of the water content evaporates. After it's evaporated, it's hom*ogenized, canned and then goes through a heat sterilization treatment that is part of the canning process.

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