What Is Evaporated milk and How Can I Use It?

Evaporated milk is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 671 recipes to get you started.

What is evaporated milk?

Evaporated milk is fresh milk with about 60 percent of its water boiled off, then canned and sterilized so it keeps for months on the shelf. The result is thicker and a little richer than regular milk, with a faintly cooked, caramel-edged flavor from the heat.

It is unsweetened. That single fact is the most important thing to know about it, because the can that sits beside it on the shelf, sweetened condensed milk, is packed with sugar and behaves nothing alike.

Cooking with evaporated milk

It is forgiving. Think of it as concentrated milk you can pour straight from the can or thin back down. Stir in an equal amount of water and you have something close to regular milk for most cooking.

Used full strength, it brings body and a gentle richness without the cost of cream. It is the backbone of old-fashioned custards and rice puddings like Good Luck Rice Custard, and it enriches a tender crumb in cakes such as Toasted Almond Pound Cake.

Because the milk proteins are already concentrated and heat-stable, it resists curdling better than fresh milk. That makes it useful in dishes that simmer or sit on heat, where plain milk might break.

It also carries sweets. Cooked with sugar it builds the smooth base of fudge and pralines, as in Creamy Chocolate-Pecan Fudge, and it stands in for cream in many pumpkin pie and cheesecake fillings.

One trick worth knowing: well-chilled evaporated milk can be whipped into a light, soft foam. It will not hold like whipped cream, so use it right away, but it makes a quick lower-fat topping.

Evaporated versus sweetened condensed milk

This is the mix-up that ruins recipes, so it is worth slowing down on. Both come in similar cans in the same aisle, and both are milk with water removed. The difference is sugar.

Evaporated milk is plain, concentrated milk. Sweetened condensed milk has a large amount of sugar added, which makes it thick and intensely sweet, almost like candy syrup.

They are not interchangeable. Swap sweetened condensed into a savory sauce and it turns cloying; swap evaporated into a fudge or key lime pie that leans on condensed milk for both sweetness and set, and the dish never thickens.

Always check which one the recipe names before you open the can.

Substitutes

The simplest stand-in is regular milk reduced on the stove: simmer whole milk gently until it loses a bit more than half its volume, so 2 1⁄4 cups cooks down to about 1 cup of evaporated-style milk. Watch it and stir, since it scorches easily.

In a pinch, half-and-half or light cream works where you want the richness without the cooked note. For a thinner result, regular milk alone covers many baking jobs, just with less body.

To replace it the other way, dilute evaporated milk with an equal part water to mimic regular milk. Do not try to swap in sweetened condensed milk; the sugar makes it a different ingredient entirely.

Buying and storing

It lives with the canned goods rather than the dairy case, and keeps unopened for a year or more at room temperature.

Give the can a quick look and skip any that is bulging or dented along a seam.

Shake the can before opening, since the fat and solids settle. Once it is open, treat it like fresh milk: pour any leftover into a covered container in the fridge and use it within about five days.

Do not freeze it in the can or as-is for drinking, because thawing leaves it grainy and separated. It freezes fine for cooked dishes, where that change disappears into the sauce or batter.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find evaporated milk: Evaporated milk is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Evaporated milk is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

淡奶

British (UK) term

Evaporated milk

en français

lait évaporé

en español

leche evaporada

How much does evaporated milk weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using evaporated milk

There are 671 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cinnamon Brownies

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Peanut Butter Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting

Peanut Butter Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting recipe

Frosted Rich Brownies

Frosted rich brownies: low-fat brownies built on evaporated and powdered skim milk instead of butter, then crowned with a coffee-spiked cocoa frosting. Deeply chocolate without the heaviness.

Dave's Cream of Broccoli Soup

Lighter cream of broccoli soup using skim evaporated milk and sauteed leeks for body, finished with fresh basil and a hint of nutmeg. A leaner take on the diner classic.

Dave's Light Pumpkin Pie

Dave's light pumpkin pie uses artificial sweetener, skim milk, and nonfat evaporated milk for a holiday-classic flavor with significantly less fat and sugar. Thanksgiving dessert you can serve guilt-free.

Best Creamy Broccoli Soup

Velvety broccoli soup made from scratch with fresh broccoli florets and stems, potatoes for body, and evaporated milk for richness without heavy cream.

Yummy Sourdough Pancakes

Sourdough pancakes made with active starter, baking soda, an egg and evaporated milk. Tangy, light, and lacy-edged. A great way to use up sourdough discard for breakfast.

Double Bran Bread - Bread Machine

This bran bread machine recipe is a fiber powerhouse, utilizing both crunchy bran flakes and fine wheat bran.

Delicious Thanksging Pumpkin Pie

Classic Thanksgiving pumpkin pie with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves bound by evaporated milk and eggs in a flaky shell. The straightforward holiday standard, two pies from one batch.

Tom's Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

Old-fashioned pumpkin pie with molasses, evaporated milk, and the four classic spices: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The grandmother-style holiday pie with a deep, dark filling.

Mother's Pumpkin Pie

Classic homemade pumpkin pie with a from-scratch shortening crust and a custard filling spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Real evaporated milk and whole eggs, no shortcuts.

Jason's Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie deepened with brown sugar and a warming hit of mace, ginger, and clove. Evaporated milk gives the custard its silky, sliceable set, while a hot oven start locks in that classic glossy top.

Easy Creamy Pumpkin Pie

Easy creamy pumpkin pie made with brown sugar, evaporated milk, and a simple cinnamon-allspice-ginger spice blend. A no-fuss Thanksgiving classic that mixes in one bowl.

Eggs Florentine Ham & Cheese Cups

These Eggs Florentine Cheese Cups are a satisfying, savory breakfast treat that combines the richness of cheddar and cottage cheese with the hearty flavors of spinach and ham. Freeze and reheat for a quick breakfast during the week.

No Bake Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

These no-bake caramel oatmeal cookies combine the rich, buttery flavor of butterscotch with hearty oats for a quick, chewy treat. No oven required, making them ideal for warm days or when you need a fast dessert. The recipe is straightforward but requires careful attention to boiling and mixing to achieve the perfect texture.

Pleasure's Pumpkin Pie

Pleasure's Pumpkin Pie: a lighter Thanksgiving pie made with whipped egg whites and skim evaporated milk, packed with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice for classic fall warmth.

Buttery Broccoli Soup

Buttery broccoli soup simmers chopped broccoli with sauteed onions, chicken broth, and rich evaporated milk for a creamy 6-ingredient soup. Puree for smooth, leave chunky for rustic.

Twinkies

Homemade Twinkies made with pound cake mix baked in DIY foil molds and filled with a fluffy vanilla cream. A fun copycat recipe that tastes fresher and better than the store-bought original.

Chocolate Ice Cream

Old-fashioned chocolate ice cream for a hand-crank or electric churn. Cornstarch-thickened custard with semi-sweet chocolate, evaporated milk, whipping cream, and vanilla. Big batch built for porch socials.

Very Moist Pumpkin Pie

A very moist, custardy pumpkin pie spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove. Lightened up with sugar substitute and skim milk for a lighter slice on the Thanksgiving table.

Holley's Cheesecake

Holley's classic cheesecake with a graham crust, dense sour cream filling, tangy sour cream topping, and a Grand Marnier-spiked hot fudge sauce. The crowd-pleasing dessert that tastes like a celebration.

Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Cookie Crust

Pumpkin pie with ginger cookie crust trades pastry for crushed gingersnaps and lightens the filling with applesauce, maple syrup, and egg whites. A holiday pie with serious spice and a leaner profile.

Silky Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Silky pumpkin mousse pie made with whipped egg whites, evaporated skim milk, and a hint of orange zest. A no-bake holiday dessert that's lighter than traditional pumpkin pie.

All purpose Ice-cream

A basic ice-cream recipe that is so delicious on its own, but can be modified to make literally all kinds of flavors and ice-cream ideas!

Favorite Peach Ice Cream

Fresh peach ice cream with ripe summer peaches blended into a cornstarch-thickened evaporated milk base. No eggs to temper, no custard to fuss with, just churn and freeze.

Extra-Rich Chocolate Pecan Pie

Extra-rich chocolate pecan pie: classic Southern pecan pie reimagined with melted semi-sweet chocolate and evaporated milk for a denser, fudgier filling. The Thanksgiving showpiece your table needs.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts

Homemade pumpkin spice doughnuts fried golden from a pumpkin puree dough warm with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, then dipped in a maple glaze. Cake-style donuts for fall mornings and Thanksgiving dessert.

Homemade Condensed Milk

A coffee fudge popsicle recipe asked for condensed milk that I didn't have on hand, but I did have a few cans of evaporated milk sitting in the pantry. Then I made my very first condensed milk, it came out surprisingly delicious, and those coffee fudge popsicles were absolutely the best on this planet.

Yummy Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Pumpkin chiffon pie folds whipped egg whites and cream into a spiced pumpkin custard for a light, mousse-like Thanksgiving classic. Cloud-soft texture with all the warm pumpkin pie flavor.

Best Barbecue Meatballs

Barbecue meatballs in a sweet-tangy ketchup and chili sauce glaze, baked until sticky and caramelized. Family-style comfort food great over rice, pasta or with toothpicks for parties.

DIY Cream of Tomato Soup

Homemade cream of tomato soup made from fresh tomatoes, celery, and onion blended smooth and finished with evaporated milk. The from-scratch answer to the canned red can on the pantry shelf.

Famous Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Classic homemade pumpkin pie with canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a flaky crust. The traditional Thanksgiving recipe done right.

Broccoli Rice Casserole

This hearty casserole is my favorite dish to make for a potluck. With the green of the broccoli and the rich cheese sauce, it's pretty to serve, and it makes a tasty side dish for almost any kind of main dish.

Fresh Apricot Ice Cream

Fresh apricot ice cream made with diced ripe apricots, apricot nectar, evaporated milk, and tangy yogurt. A cooler, lighter summer ice cream with bright stone-fruit flavor and no eggs.

Coffee Liqueur Ice Cream

Coffee liqueur ice cream churns a rich evaporated milk custard infused with instant coffee and a half cup of Kahlúa for a creamy, grown-up frozen dessert. Boozy enough to soften past freezing, smooth enough to scoop on demand.

Barbara's Pumpkin Pie

I tried this pumpkin pie last week, it turned out delicious. At Thanksgiving I will make this pumpkin pie for my family, I bet they will love it.

German Chocolate Cake

Three-layer German chocolate cake with coconut-pecan frosting, rich cocoa layers, and drizzled chocolate topping. Classic American dessert for birthdays and celebrations.

Mom's Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge

Chocolate marshmallow fudge made the old-school way with evaporated milk, butter, sugar, chocolate, and marshmallow cream. Cooked to soft-ball stage for that classic dense, smooth fudge texture.

Maja Blanca

This sweet coconut pudding is a wonderful treat. The recipe gets its roots in the Philippines and is traditionally served on the holidays and special occasions. Coconut milk provides you with a healthy amount of Vitamins C, E, and B. It has minerals that will promote healthy teeth and the creation of red blood cells. Don’t be concerned about the condensed milk. As long as it is enjoyed in moderation you should be ok and unsweetened versions are available. Condensed milk does offer some health benefits like calcium, potassium, and Vitamin A. So go ahead and enjoy this recipe at your next special occasion.

Super Tasty Fudge

Make your own savory fudge with this simple recipe that is tasty and 100% stress free!

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge

Creamy peanut butter fudge with marshmallow cream for guaranteed-smooth texture, no graininess, no failed batches. A full pound of peanut butter per pan delivers rich, melt-in-mouth squares.

Robb's Low-Cholesterol Pumpkin Pie with Oil Pastry

Robb's Low-Cholesterol Pumpkin Pie with Oil Pastry recipe

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes for Two

Made these whole wheat pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, and they were delicious and packed with goodness. Served these yummy pancakes with maple syrup and orange juice, our palate and bellies were all well satisfied :)

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Six Can Casserole

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Good Morning Pumpkin Pancakes

Quick, easy and tasty pancakes are perfect for breakfast.

No Crust Blueberry Pie

Light and fluffy kinda like a mousee :) A bit of bisquick mix avoids making a pie crust.

Fantasy Fudge

Find out what your fantasy is with this delicious fudge recipe that's easy to understand and follow.

Appalachia Mountain Fudge

Appalachia Mountain fudge boils sugar, butter, and evaporated milk for exactly 13 minutes, then beats the syrup over chocolate chips, milk chocolate bars, and marshmallow cream until thick and glossy.

Billion Dollar Chocolate Bar

Billion dollar chocolate bars, a homemade candy bar in four layers: a chocolate-peanut butter base, fluffy peanut nougat, gooey caramel, and a chocolate top. Like a candy-shop Snickers, made at home.

All 671 recipes