Can regular milk be substituted for evaporated milk

Tip: Sweetened condensed milk is a thick, syrup-like mixture used to make sweet baked goods like cookies. It is not the same as evaporated milk and does not count as a Food Guide serving of milk.  

Buy it best

• At the store, look for evaporated milk in the grocery aisle with baking goods such as flour.
• Compare brands for the best price. 
• Buy extra on sale. Keep some on hand if you find it hard to go grocery shopping.
• Do not buy cans that are leaking, rusted, dented, cracked or have bulging lids. These are signs the food is spoiled and may not be safe to eat.
• Check the best-before date before you buy. 

Tips for storing evaporated milk

• Store unopened cans in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard. This helps prevent the can from rusting.
• For best quality, use by the best before date or within one year. Also try to use older cans first.
• Throw out cans that are: leaking, rusted, dented, cracked or have bulging lids.
• Put any unused evaporated milk into an air tight container. Store in the fridge. Use within 5 to 7 days.
• Do not freeze evaporated milk because it will become watery.

Tips for cooking with evaporated milk

1. Shake the can before opening. 
2. Use undiluted evaporated milk instead of cream in recipes - and still get a creamy taste.
3. Evaporated milk cannot be used to make whipping cream.
4. Use evaporated milk instead of fresh milk in recipes. Add an equal amount of water. For example, if a recipe lists 1 cup (250 mL) milk, add ½ cup water to ½ cup evaporated milk.
5. Try leftover canned milk in tea, coffee, omelets, soups, hot oatmeal or even spaghetti sauce. 

Five things to do with evaporated milk

Make creamy mashed carrots and potatoes.

• Cook potatoes and carrots until they are soft. Mash. Mix in enough evaporated milk to get the consistency you like. Enjoy these mashed vegetables on their own or as the topping for Shepherd’s Pie.

Make a white (béchamel) sauce and use in:

• Creamy pasta sauces (like Alfredo sauce)
• Macaroni and cheese
• Cheesy sauce over steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
• Creamy tuna, salmon or chicken casseroles.
• Moussaka (baked eggplant with ground meat and a white sauce)
• Add sliced cooked mushrooms for a creamy mushroom sauce.

Lighten up desserts.

• Cut fat from a recipe simply by replacing ½ cup (125 mL) of table cream (18% fat) with ½ cup (125 mL) undiluted evaporated 2% milk.

  Finding the best evaporated milk substitute could be key to the outcome of your delicious dessert, so be sure you find the right alternative! I have gathered 13 of the best substitutions for evaporated milk to help you out when you find yourself in a bind!

  

  A list of the best ingredients for replacing evaporated milk in any recipe!

  Evaporated milk is a super creamy milk product that has a variety of uses in the kitchen. It is a popular ingredient for making rich and decadent desserts. It is also used to make some of our favorite simple tasty treats!

  Due to its rich and creamy texture, it may also be used to help create a super creamy soup or sauce. While there are so many ways evaporated milk can be used, it often only gets highlighted during the holiday months, especially around Thanksgiving (it’s a key ingredient to pumpkin pie!).

  Jump to:
  • Dairy Substitutes for Evaporated Milk
  • 1. Regular Milk (DIY Evaporated Milk)
  • 2. Half-and-Half
  • 3. Heavy Cream
  • 4. Powdered Milk
  • Non-Dairy Substitutes for Evaporated Milk
  • 5. Vegan Evaporated Milk
  • 6. Soy Milk
  • 7. Almond Milk or Cashew Milk
  • 8. Light Coconut Milk
  • 9. Oat Milk
  • 10. Flaxseed Milk
  • 11. Hemp Milk
  • 12. Quinoa Milk
  • 13. Canned Coconut Milk
  • Choosing the Best Substitute
  • 📋 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

  So, you may forget about it throughout the rest of the year and find you need a substitute mid-cooking. Other reasons you may need an alternative are due to allergies or health choices.

  Even though evaporated milk comes in a can, it is still a milk product. Therefore, it contains lactose and is an animal byproduct. This makes it unsuitable for those who are lactose intolerant, have a milk allergy, or are vegan.

  If your only need for an evaporated milk substitute is due to not having any on hand, there are a handful of other great dairy substitutes you can use (yes, including regular milk). There are also plenty of non-dairy substitutes to choose from!

  Dairy Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

  1. Regular Milk (DIY Evaporated Milk)

  If you have regular milk in the refrigerator, you are halfway there to a perfect substitute. Straight out of the fridge, regular milk is not quite the right consistency for what you need, but with a few minutes on the stovetop, you can quickly make your own evaporated milk.

  To make your own evaporated milk, you need to start with more than what you need in your recipe. This is because you will be boiling the milk to make it thicker, which will reduce it in volume.

  The easiest thing to do is double what your recipe calls for. You may end up with a bit left over at the end, but it is better to have more than not enough.

  If you feel like you have too much, you can also continue to boil it down to a thicker consistency (reducing the volume even more). To make your own evaporated milk, add the regular milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim) to a saucepan and bring to a boil.

  Reduce the heat to medium and let the milk simmer until it begins to thicken and reduces in volume. When it looks like it has reduced by about half, remove the pan from the heat and let the milk cool.

  Use the now evaporated milk in your recipe exactly as it calls for.

  2. Half-and-Half

  While regular milk isn’t quite the right consistency straight out of the fridge, half-and-half is! Half-and-half has just enough extra fat to make it a thicker consistency that resembles evaporated milk.

  Due to the extra fat in half-and-half, it will provide a richer overall flavor to your dish. It is unlikely anyone will complain about that though!

  Make an easy 1:1 exchange of half-and-half for evaporated milk in any of your recipes.

  3. Heavy Cream

  A bit thicker than half-and-half, heavy cream also has a great consistency that can easily and quickly replace evaporated milk in a recipe. Heavy cream does have a much richer taste than evaporated milk, but this will only add to the overall decadence of your dish.

  Heavy cream can be used in any recipe as a simple 1:1 substitution for evaporated milk. If you don’t want your recipe to be quite so rich, dilute the cream with water before measuring.

  Simply mix equal parts heavy cream and water to equal the amount of evaporated milk needed for the recipe.   

  4. Powdered Milk

  Powdered milk is one of those ingredients that is less common to have on hand than evaporated milk. Therefore, you may not have this lying around as a quick substitute.

  If you stocked up on some for your food storage though, then it is the best substitute for evaporated milk. It is super easy to use as well.

  Read the directions for rehydrating the powdered milk, then use only 60% of the water called for in reconstituting the milk. Once you have liquid milk, use it in a 1:1 exchange for the evaporated milk.

  Non-Dairy Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

  5. Vegan Evaporated Milk

  There are some brands of vegan evaporated milk on the market. Depending on where you live though, they may be harder to find.

  Consider checking online or a specialty health food store. If you find vegan evaporated milk, then use it in a simple 1:1 substitution in any recipe.

  If you can’t find vegan evaporated milk to buy, you can make your own!

  DIY Dairy-Free Evaporated Milk

  Many plant-based milks that you already enjoy can be made into vegan evaporated milk by following the same process above for reducing the water content in cow milk.

  One thing to consider when using plant-based milks is that they have a higher water content than cow’s milk. Therefore, even when you reduce it over the heat it may not be quite as thick as needed for certain recipes.

  If making your own dairy-free evaporated milk for a soup or sauce that you want to have a thicker consistency, consider adding a thickening agent like cornstarch (or a cornstarch substitute) to get the desired thickness.

  When using dairy-free evaporated milk in baking, you do not need to add a thickening agent. Just reducing the water content over the heat will be good enough.

  6. Soy Milk

  Soy milk is the best option for making non-dairy evaporated milk because it has the closest texture to regular milk. It also provides the most neutral flavor.

  7. Almond Milk or Cashew Milk

  If you have a soy allergy, then you will need to choose a different plant-based milk. Almond milk and cashew milk both have milder tastes than other nut milks.

  This makes them the best options for both sweet and savory dishes.

  8. Light Coconut Milk

  While canned coconut milk can be used in a 1:1 exchange, the coconut milk that comes in a carton (light coconut milk) has a higher water content. Therefore, it needs to be reduced over the heat before using.

  9. Oat Milk

  Oat milk is becoming more popular by the minute! A delicious dairy alternative, it can be used in the same way plant and nut milks are used.

  Just follow the same directions for reducing it over the heat and then use it in your favorite dishes.

  One thing to be mindful of with oat milk, and other non-dairy milks, is that many of them have sweetener added. Therefore, make sure you are using a non-sweetened variety.

  10. Flaxseed Milk

  Flaxseed milk is less popular than the other milk alternatives above. When it comes to neutral non-dairy milk though, this is a great option!

  Follow the same directions for reducing the water content and then use in a 1:1 exchange for evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes.

  11. Hemp Milk

  Hemp milk is a delicious and creamy plant-based milk that has a slightly sweeter flavor. It can be used in the same way as these other milks, but it is better suited for baking (due to its sweetness).

  12. Quinoa Milk

  This is a new one on the market, so you may not have even heard of it! Like its fellow plant-based milks, this is made from processing quinoa with milk to create a milk-like beverage.

  Unlike the others mentioned above, quinoa milk tends to be a bit thicker. Therefore, if you happen to find this you may want to give it a try.

  If you find the right brand you may not need to reduce it over the heat to get the right consistency.

  13. Canned Coconut Milk

  Canned coconut milk has a higher fat content than other plant-based milks. This makes it an easy substitute for evaporated milk because you don’t need to reduce the water over the heat.

  Due to coconut milk’s distinct flavor profile, it works best in baked goods that pair well with a hint of coconut. It is also a delightful choice for many savory dishes, especially Indian and Thai-inspired dishes.

  Use canned coconut milk in an equal 1:1 substitution for evaporated milk in any recipe.

  Choosing the Best Substitute

  Choosing the best substitute for evaporated milk depends on your preferences and what you have available. If you don’t have a reason to avoid dairy, then one of the other dairy options will provide you with the closest final dish to the original recipe.

  If you prefer a non-dairy option, be mindful of what type of recipe you are making. Remember that most non-dairy alternatives have their own distinct flavor, so choose a milk alternative with a flavor profile that will complement the dish you are making.

  Cooking SubstitutesHerb & Spice SubstitutesBaking SubstitutesApple Cider VinegarBay LeafTapioca StarchSesame OilRosemary (Fresh & Dried)CornmealMarsala WineTurmericPotato StarchDijon MustardCelery SaltCoconut SugarHorseradishTarragonButtermilkRed Wine VinegarCardamomBrown SugarMasa HarinaPaprikaArrowroot PowderCream CheeseChili PowderCornflourCreme FraicheCilantroShorteningWorcestershire SauceVanilla ExtractShallotsLemon ExtractMore useful substitutions to use in the kitchen!

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  5 from 3 reviews

  Evaporated Milk Substitute: Homemade Evaporated Milk

  Finding the best evaporated milk substitute could be key to the outcome of your delicious dessert, so be sure you find the right alternative! I have gathered 13 of the best substitutions for evaporated milk to help you out when you find yourself in a bind!

  Author | Angela

  Servings: 1 serving

  Calories: 298kcal

  Prep 2 minutes

  Cooking 25 minutes

  Total Time 27 minutes

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  Ingredients US CustomaryMetric

  1x2x3x

  • ▢2 cups milk (whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, or skim milk)
  • ▢dairy-free milk (alternatively, for dairy-free evaporated milk use soy milk or your favorite nut milk)

  Instructions

  • Pour your milk (or dairy-free milk) into a heavy-bottomed non-stick saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

    2 cups milk, dairy-free milk

  • Continue simmering and stirring until the milk is reduced in half, about 20-25 minutes.

  • Once reduced until the milk is thickened and creamy in color, remove from heat and strain through a sieve or chinois to remove any skin that formed while simmering.

  • Use just as you would evaporated milk in any recipe.

  Equipment You May Need

  Measuring Cups

  Saucepan

  Spatula

  Notes

  • Store your DIY evaporated milk in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

  Nutrition

  Calories: 298kcal (15%) | Carbohydrates: 23g (8%) | Protein: 15g (30%) | Fat: 16g (25%) | Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 49mg (16%) | Sodium: 210mg (9%) | Potassium: 644mg (18%) | Sugar: 25g (28%) | Vitamin A: 791IU (16%) | Calcium: 551mg (55%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

  Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

  Evaporated Milk Substitute, homemade evaporated milk

  Course Substitutions

  Cuisine American

  

  Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

  Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

  What can I use as a substitute for evaporated milk?

  Five substitutes for evaporated milk.

  Regular Milk. Unsurprisingly, the milk you already have in the fridge will be a fine substitute for evaporated milk—with a bit of tinkering. ... .

  Non-Dairy Milk. ... .

  Half and Half. ... .

  Heavy Cream. ... .

  Powdered Milk. ... .

  18 Comments..

  How much milk can I substitute for evaporated milk?

  For 1 cup of evaporated milk, use 3/4 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup half-and-half. Use this rule for sweet potato casserole or dessert recipes like our Tres Leches Cake and Chocolate-Dipped Tacos if you find yourself without evaporated milk on hand.

  What happens if you use regular milk instead of evaporated?

  As milk has a higher water content than evaporated milk, it is thinner and not as sweet. If using milk as a substitute in sauces, you may need to use something to thicken it, such as flour or cornflour. In baking, you may need more dry ingredients and a bit more sugar to achieve the same flavor and texture.

  How do you make evaporated milk from regular 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.