Most of us have seen recipes that call for either canned condensed or evaporated milk before, but have you ever gotten the two confused or wondered what the difference between them is? If so, you're not alone! Here's the difference between evaporated milk vs. condensed milk.
Evaporated milk and condensed milk are both shelf-stable canned milks that are easily found at most grocery stores. The main difference is that condensed milk is very sweet, and evaporated milk is unsweetened. So, if you confused the two in a recipe you'll get a big surprise when, say, your macaroni and cheese turns out super sweet (yuck!) because you used condensed milk instead of evaporated milk, or your sweet custard pie suddenly has no sweetness because you mistakenly used evaporated milk instead of condensed milk.
Ree Dummond has some deliciously sweet recipes that contain condensed milk, so grab a can and try her easy peppermint fudge or homemade dulce de leche this weekend! Condensed milk is also a key ingredient in Vietnamese coffee and classic key lime pie.
Nestle Carnation Evaporated MilkIf you're looking for recipes to used your evaporated milk in, try this super easy Instant Pot mac and cheese or
Crock-Pot mac and cheese, they're sure to be a huge hit with any mac and cheese lovers! Plus, Ree's delicious
tres leches cake uses both condensed milk and evaporated milk!
Can you use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk?
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.
Magnolia Sweetened Condensed MilkWhat is thicker: evaporated milk or condensed milk?
Condensed milk is much thicker than evaporated milk, since it contains less water and much more sugar than evaporated milk. A can of evaporated milk has about the same consistency as half-and-half.
Does evaporated milk taste the same as condensed milk?
No, evaporated milk does not taste the same as condensed milk. Evaporated milk is milk that has been heated so that about 60% of the water evaporates. It is then canned and can be used as you would half-and-half, since it is extra creamy! Condensed milk is made in a similar way, but sugar is added to it so that about 45% of its content is sugar. Because of this, condensed milk is very sweet and thick, while evaporated milk is unsweetened.
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And, more importantly, how to milk them for all they're worth
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.