Understanding the Different Between Condensed and Evaporated Milk

I usually have a can or two of evaporated milk and condensed milk in my cupboard as a home baker. You’ve come to the perfect site if you’ve ever wanted to know the difference between the two and when you may replace one for the other!

The fundamental difference between condensed milk and evaporated milk is sugar. Condensed milk has a significant quantity of sugar, but evaporated milk contains no added sugar. Condensed milk is much richer and thicker than evaporated milk.

Here, I’ll discuss the distinctions between the two, as well as a few additional things to keep in mind when incorporating them into your own recipes.

What Is the Difference Between Condensed and Evaporated Milk?

At first appearance, evaporated milk and condensed milk seem to be quite similar. Based on the can, you’d think they’d be interchangeable.

Nevertheless, when you open them up and examine them side by side, you will discover that there are some significant changes.

To begin with, evaporated milk will seem lighter in color. Evaporated milk is normally white, but darker than ordinary milk.

This is most likely owing to the fact that the majority of the water was removed during processing.

Condensed milk is deeper, more yellow, or even slightly brownish. Although condensed milk has the same quantity of water as regular milk, sugar is added to give it a sweet, creamy flavor. This sugar will cause the milk to darken slightly, giving it its distinctive color.

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You may create caramel by slowly heating a can of condensed milk in a double boiler. The sugar in a can of condensed milk caramelizes when it is heated.

What Exactly Is Condensed Milk?

Condensed milk, in general, is a concentrated type of milk. Evaporation has removed around half of the original water content of most kinds of milk. It is used to enhance the sweetness and creaminess of baked goods, drinks, desserts, and beverages.

Condensed milk is milk that has had around forty to fifty percent of its water content removed by evaporation. Sugar is also added throughout this process, giving it a sweet, creamy texture.

Because of the additional sugar, condensed milk is generally yellow or slightly brownish in hue.

Condensed milk is a great sweetener for coffee and tea, as well as baked products like fudge and even ice cream.

Another delicious method to utilize condensed milk is to pour it over a dish of fresh fruit, such as strawberries and bananas.

Although while condensed milk has a lengthy shelf life, it will ultimately go rancid. If you open a can of condensed milk that has been lying in the cupboard for a long and it is really dark yellow or brownish in color, simply throw it out and grab another can!

*Side Note: You may also be interested in learning How To Make Condensed Milk Into Caramel. I just published A Comprehensive How-to Guide on Turning Condescend Milk Into Caramel, which you can read here!

What Exactly Is Evaporated Milk?

Evaporated milk is a kind of concentrated milk that has had about half of its water content removed. It’s a terrific technique to provide a creamy feel without adding fat. Evaporated milk has a nutty taste and is used in baking, soups, and certain kinds of pastries.

Evaporated milk is essentially concentrated milk in a can that has had about half of its water content drained by an evaporation process. Evaporated milk is often used as a soup foundation, but it may also be used in sweet and savory dishes.

Since evaporated milk includes no added sugar and has a nutty flavor, it lacks the sweetness that condensed milk is renowned for.

The hue of evaporated milk is substantially lighter than that of condensed milk. When sugar is not added throughout the preparation, it keeps more of its milky white tint.

The viscosity is quite similar to condensed milk; however, owing to the additional sugar, condensed milk is somewhat creamier.

Overall, evaporated milk is useful in the kitchen since it lacks sugar and may be used in a variety of dishes. Sugar is generally added to it before using it in a dessert dish.

It’s also fantastic for giving soups and other meals a nuttiness.

*Also, I just published a post on How To Microwave Condensed Milk To Create Caramel. This article will teach you all you need to know about producing caramel from condensed milk in the microwave. This article may be found here!

Can I use evaporated milk for condensed milk?

In certain circumstances, evaporated milk may be substituted for condensed milk; however, it will lack the sweetness. While creating fudge, evaporated milk cannot be substituted for condensed milk without some slight alterations. It lacks the fudge’s sugar content and texture.

This is definitely one of the most often asked questions I’ve heard over the years. Evaporated milk and condensed milk look and feel so similar that they must always be interchangeable, right?

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and I’ve discovered that it actually depends on the recipe.

Condensed milk, for example, gives fudge its unique sweetness and texture. The extra sugar enhances the taste and creates that creamy, luscious tongue feel that we all know and adore!

But, if you make fudge using evaporated milk, you will see that it has a similar texture but lacks the sweetness.

If you need to create fudge but only have a can of evaporated milk on hand, you’ll need to make a few alterations before adding it to your recipe.

Then, pour the evaporated milk can into a large pot and add roughly a cup and a half of sugar. This will provide a sweet taste to your evaporated milk that it now lacks.

Then, heat your burner to medium and stir carefully until it begins to boil. As you heat your combination, the sugar dissolves and mixes with the evaporated milk.

Let it to simmer for 10 minutes, or until it begins to thicken, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

After cooling, your combination should resemble and taste like sweetened condensed milk.

Then proceed with your recipe as normal. This tip can come in handy if you run out of condensed milk when preparing fudge or any other dessert that asks for it!

*Side Note: I just published an article on How to Properly Boil a Can of Condensed Milk. This article will walk you through the process of boiling a can properly. This article may be found here!

Can I use condensed milk for evaporated milk?

Condensed milk may occasionally be substituted for evaporated milk in recipes. Nevertheless, condensed milk is significantly sweeter than evaporated milk, and this must be considered based on the recipe. It’s a superior option for sweets but not for savory foods.

Condensed milk has a substantially higher sugar content than evaporated milk. Although you can transform evaporated milk into a condensed milk alternative by adding sugar, you can’t actually remove the sweetness from condensed milk to make it suited for savory recipes.

Thus, if you want to make a savory soup but don’t have evaporated milk on hand, condensed milk isn’t a good option since it adds a sweet taste to the soup that may clash with the other flavors.

Whenever I require a can of evaporated milk for a recipe, I’ve discovered that half-and-half is a great substitution since it’s creamy and thick, plus it typically has little to no added sugar.

*By the way, I have published a detailed post on How to Safely Boil a Can of Condensed Milk. This article discusses what you must do to ensure that the can of condensed milk does not burst when boiled. This article may be found here!

How Do I Make Condensed Milk From Evaporated Milk?

In general, a twelve-ounce can of evaporated milk may be transformed to condensed milk by adding one and a half cups of sugar. To thicken the mixture, gently bring it to a boil in a saucepan. This will provide the necessary sweetness that condensed milk provides.

It’s simple to convert evaporated milk to condensed milk!

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Condensed milk is just evaporated milk with sugar added. Just pour the evaporated milk can into a saucepan. Make sure your pan is deep enough so that it does not overflow while boiling!

If you’re using one 12-ounce can of evaporated milk, combine it with one and a half cups of sugar and bring it to a boil.

Let it to boil for 10 minutes while stirring. Then remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool. You may then use this combination for condensed milk in your recipe!

Which is better for you: condensed milk or evaporated milk?

It is dependent on sugar content, thus evaporated milk is healthier than condensed milk. Two teaspoons of condensed milk provide 140 calories, whereas two tablespoons of evaporated milk contain forty calories. Evaporated milk is healthier since it has no added sugars.

When it comes to nutritional value, evaporated milk outperforms condensed milk. Although condensed milk is tasty, it has a lot more sugar.

Evaporated milk is high in calcium and protein, both of which are beneficial to bone density and development.

Evaporated milk also includes vitamins A and D, which aid in calcium absorption. Although condensed milk has certain minerals, it is substantially higher in calories.

Condensed milk and evaporated milk are both essential ingredients to have on hand for baking, but it’s crucial to understand the difference between the two.

Knowing when and how to use them can help you become more productive in the kitchen, allowing you to make more tasty delicacies to share with your friends and family!