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Home / Collections / How To's

How to Make Evaporated Milk

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Published:9/09/2020Updated:9/09/2020

Learn HOW TO MAKE EVAPORATED MILK on your own and achieve that distinct creamy taste, without the thickness and creaminess of a cream. Not just that, the process of making it is also a great way to prevent milk from spoilage! 

Evaporated Milk

What is Evaporated Milk?

If you cook milk and let almost 60% of its water content evaporate, its end result is called an Evaporated Milk. It comes in varieties like regular, low-fat, and fat-free or skimmed, and is also popularly known as canned milk.

Maybe you’re wondering how this all started. Like you, I did too. That’s why I made some research to share with you. 

According to history, it all started in 1852 when Gail Borden, a young dairy farmer, is wondering how to process and package milk to resist spoilage on long ocean voyages, while on his way home to the United States of America from the Great Exhibition in London.  

That’s when he began experimenting by boiling the water off the raw milk in an airtight pan. And from then on, evaporated milk is produced. 

Evaporated Milk

Evaporated Milk vs Heavy Cream vs Condensed Milk

Their similarity is so obvious – they are all made from milk. As a home cook, I am often asked about the purpose of every ingredient I use – especially whenever I use these 3 ingredients; the evaporated milk, heavy cream, and condensed milk. 

As I explained above, evaporated milk is cooked to remove 60% of its water content. Using it as an alternative to regular milk in your recipe will add richness to your dish.  

Meanwhile, heavy cream has more calories, and about 38 percent of butterfat – much higher than the contents of evaporated milk.  

It’s a good thing that you can use evaporated milk as a heavy cream substitute only if it is used as a liquid ingredient like in soups. However, it won’t be a good one for recipes that requires heavy cream to be whipped since evaporated milk isn’t as thick as a cream. 

Condensed milk had undergone the same process as evaporated milk – removing 60 percent of water content from milk. They only differ in their sugar content since condensed milk contains 40 to 45 percent of sugar. And that’s where its rich and thick consistency, with a caramel color and super-sweet flavor, came from.

How to Use Evaporated Milk

Aside from soups, you will be amazed at how useful evaporated milk is! I bet you wouldn’t realize that some of the food you eat used evaporated milk if I hadn’t told you. Just kidding! 

Did you know that you can try this Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese without making a flour-butter-milk bechamel sauce? All you need is to mix cornstarch with evaporated milk for that gooey mac & cheese! You’re welcome! 

How about impressing your family with Homemade Tortilla Chips and French fries movie night with this killer cheese sauce? Preparation is way too easyyy! Just combine your choice of cheese with a splash of evaporated milk and cornstarch for that finger-licking cheesy goodness. 

Aside from those, you can use your evaporated milk to enrich your favorite smoothies, coffee, and even in making your homemade ice cream! Too many options, right?  

What Can I Substitute For It?

Is evaporated milk not available on the grocery store near you? Or your health doesn’t permit you? Below are the possible substitutes for evaporated milk: 

Half & Half: Replace the measure of evaporated milk with its equal amount your recipe calls. 

Milk and Heavy Cream: Create half & half by mixing equal parts of milk and heavy cream. Then, substitute mixture to the equal amount of evaporated milk needed. 

Rice Milk, Soy Milk, and Nut Milk: Make your own dairy-free substitute using your favorite unflavored dairy-free milk. Cook 2-½ cups of milk until reduced by 60%, and you’re done!

Coconut Milk: Use it as an equal replacement to your evaporated milk, but choose what recipe you’ll add it to due to its coconut flavor. 

However, you can save a trip to the grocery store by making your own evaporated milk with just 1 ingredient – 4 cups of whole milk! 

How To Make Evaporated Milk

Evaporated Milk

Add milk in a wide heavy-bottom, non-stick pan to prevent milk residue from sticking at the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat to a simmer and cook while stirring continuously. Immediately break the film that forms up to allow water to evaporates quickly.

Simmer for about 1-½ hour or until the water from milk has evaporated and had reduced to about 1/3 of the milk’s volume. At this stage, the milk should be thick and looks creamy.

Sieve the milk using a fine strain. Pour the milk into a mason jar and let it cool completely. 

For better taste, store your homemade evaporated milk in an airtight container inside your fridge for up to 5 days. 

Recipes Using Evaporated Milk

Don’t make your homemade evaporated milk stay on the fridge for 5 days! Use it on the recipes below and impress your loved ones. 

  • Fettuccine Alfredo 
  • Cassava Cake 
  • Cream of Mushroom Soup 
  • Homemade Eggnog 
  • Fish Fillet in Cream Sauce 

More Kitchen How-tos

Improve your cooking and baking skills with these easy to follow kitchen how-tos: 

  • Buttermilk 
  • Homemade Whipped Cream 
  • Mayonnaise 
  • Garlic Butter 

Evaporated Milk

Watch How To Make It

Evaporated Milk
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

How to Make Evaporated Milk

Learn HOW TO MAKE EVAPORATED MILK on your own and achieve that distinct creamy taste, without the thickness and creaminess of a cream. Not just that, the process of making it is also a great way to prevent milk from spoilage! 
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time1 hr 40 mins
Total Time1 hr 45 mins
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to make evaporated milk
Servings: 1 cup
Author: Imma

Equipment

  • Wide heavy-bottom non-stick pan
  • Fine strain.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups whole milk

Instructions

  • Add milk in a wide heavy-bottom, non-stick pan to prevent milk residue from sticking at the bottom of the pan.
  • Bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat to a simmer and cook while stirring continuously. Immediately break the film that forms up to allow water to evaporates quickly.
  • Simmer for about 1-½ hour or until the water from milk has evaporated and had reduced to about ⅓ of the milk's volume.
  • At this stage, the milk should be thick and looks creamy.
  • Sieve the milk using a fine strain.
  • Pour the milk into a mason jar and let it cool completely. 

 

Evaporated Milk
Evaporated Milk
How To Make Evaporated Milk

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Comments & Reviews
  1. Steph says

    Posted on 4/6 at 12:49AM

    We live in Switzerland which has abundant baked goodies but little access to fresh made donuts. My kids helped me make this recipe and it was fantastic. We topped them with the glaze, cinnamon and sugar, powdered sugar and then added chocolate to the glaze… they were so pleased with how they turned out. Now they are using their sugar rush to walk/deliver the leftover donuts to friends. Cooking not the dough is super sticky and you’ll be tempted to add flour… don’t they are perfect they way they are!

    Reply
    • Immaculate Bites says

      Posted on 4/6 at 9:02PM

      That is awesome and sounds yum! Thank you for sharing, Steph!

      Reply
  2. Daniel Reuben says

    Posted on 3/31 at 9:09AM

    is it the same as condensed milk?

    Reply
    • Immaculate Bites says

      Posted on 3/31 at 2:48PM

      Hi Daniel! No, condensed milk is thicker and has more sugar content than evaporated milk.

      Reply
  3. Sonu says

    Posted on 9/24 at 11:48PM

    Loved the recipe will definitely try it

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 9/26 at 4:59AM

      Great! Let me know how it works out for you.

      Reply
  4. Mentress Chukwuma says

    Posted on 9/9 at 6:21PM

    Easy. Ambitious n requires patience though. Thanks for posting

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 9/12 at 9:59AM

      Yes it does .

      Reply
  5. Cynthia A Robinson says

    Posted on 9/9 at 2:34AM

    Can’t wait to give this a try… been looking for this very recipe…!

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 9/9 at 9:03PM

      I’m so excited for you to try this. Please do let me know how it works for you.

      Reply
  6. Ijay says

    Posted on 9/9 at 1:00AM

    How do you know to keep the temperature under 100 Celsius to prevent denaturing the protein found in milk?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 9/12 at 2:32PM

      I just keep it on simmer or very low heat and stir frequently. It will produce bits of protein after the milk has been reduced down.Sift at the end . Don’t sweat it out.

      Reply
  7. Bri says

    Posted on 9/8 at 6:39PM

    Love the new website!

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 9/9 at 9:04PM

      Thank you! It was quite a process. =)

      Reply
  8. Penny says

    Posted on 9/8 at 7:17AM

    Hi Imma, I make ideal milk by putting 2cups of cremora into 1 cup of boiling water. Works well.

    Reply

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