What Is Pet milk and How Can I Use It?
Pet milk rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 5 recipes to cook with it.
Key Points
- PET is a long-running brand of canned evaporated milk, so "Pet milk" just means evaporated milk.
- Substitute any can of plain evaporated milk one-to-one for a recipe that calls for Pet milk.
- It is unsweetened; do not swap in sweetened condensed milk by mistake.
What is pet milk?
Pet milk is not a special kind of milk. PET is a long-running American brand of canned evaporated milk, and the name stuck so hard that in many old recipes "Pet milk" just means evaporated milk.
So if a handwritten family recipe calls for a can of Pet milk, reach for any can of plain evaporated milk. The brand changed hands over the years, but the product in the can is the same thing.
It is unsweetened. Do not swap in sweetened condensed milk by mistake.
Using it in a recipe
Treat it exactly like evaporated milk, because that is what it is. Use the same amount the recipe names, straight from the can for richness or thinned with water to mimic regular milk.
It shows up most in mid-century custards, fudge, pumpkin pies, and creamy sauces, where it adds body without cream. Any can of evaporated milk on the shelf does the same job.
For how it cooks, what it swaps for, and how to store it, see the full evaporated milk page. When a recipe just wants ordinary fresh milk, use plain milk instead.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 宠物牛奶
- British (UK) term
- Pet milk
- en français
- le lait animal
- en español
- leche mascota
Recipes using pet milk
There are 5 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Bob's Easy Chicken Enchiladas
Layered chicken enchilada casserole stacks torn corn tortillas with cream of chicken soup, green chiles, evaporated milk, and shredded Swiss cheese. Pantry-friendly weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Granny's Chocolate Pie
Granny's chocolate pie is an old-fashioned Southern stovetop cocoa custard pie with evaporated milk, finished with toasted meringue. The kind of pie that recipe-card heirlooms are made of.
Heavenly Topping
Rich homemade chocolate sauce made with unsweetened chocolate, butter, and evaporated milk. Smooth, glossy, and stores in the fridge for weeks.
Cajun Cake
Cajun cake with crushed pineapple batter and a boiled pecan-coconut icing. A simple Southern sheet cake where the pineapple keeps it moist and the sticky topping steals the show.
Pet Milk Coffee Cake
Pet milk coffee cake baked in a bundt pan with layers of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nut crumb topping swirled through a rich evaporated milk batter.
