The Best Substitutes For Evaporated Milk

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If you’re looking for a substitute for evaporated milk in your recipes, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will show you how to make evaporated milk substitutes using regular milk or cream.

What is Evaporated Milk?

Before we get to the substitute for evaporated milk, let’s learn what evaporated milk is. 

Evaporated dairy is highly concentrated, canned milk that is shelf-stable and usually contains 2 percent fat. It is often used in recipes such as pumpkin pie or tres leches cake. The product is made from 60% of cow’s milk.

After that, the liquid is canned and heat-sterilized. This makes the milk stable for several months, sometimes even years. Technically, one half of evaporated milk can be made into regular milk by adding 1 1/2 cups water.

How is Evaporated Milk Made?

Fresh homogenized milk is heated until at least 60% of the water has been dissolved to make evaporated milk. The result is thicker, richer liquid that has a slightly caramelized flavor. It doesn’t contain any added sugar, but it does usually have vitamins.

Evaporated milk is most popular in November due to one reason: It’s the default milk in the pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, and other Thanksgiving dishes. It can also be used in many recipes, such as soups, sauces, and casseroles. Click To Tweet

Evaporated Milk Substitutes

You’re done with your grocery shopping for the week but just realized that you forgot to buy evaporated milk. It’s not hard to make a substitute for evaporated dairy milk. Ours is keto-friendly, and it’s dairy-free!

It doesn’t really matter how many times your grocery list is double-checked. There will always be at least one thing that you forget to grab! It happens to all of us! Here’s the thing. You don’t need to run to the store everytime you are missing an ingredient!

We have found that almost anything can be substituted. This post will help you remember what to do if you need to substitute evaporated milk. You’ll be ready!

Make Your Own

It is possible to make your own evaporated milk if you don’t have any. It is easy to make a homemade version of this recipe. All you need is 2 1/4 cups regular milk.

Place the cups in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it boil for one minute.

This method is used to make commercial evaporated milk. It uses 2% milk but you can also use whole milk, skimmed or 1% milk. This method can also be used to cater for those who are lactose-free.

Powdered Milk

Powdered milk can be used to make a nutritious substitute if you have it. This milk is made from evaporated regular dairy milk that has been completely dried, which gives it a powdery texture.

It can be used in recipes as a dry alternative for evaporated milk. However, you can mix one cup with 1 1/2 cups warm water to make it taste a lot like evaporated milk.

It will be thicker than evaporated milk. Before adding it to your recipe, make sure it is thoroughly mixed to remove any powdery bits.

Soy Milk

Soy milk, a plant-based milk product, has a similar nutritional profile to evaporated milk.

Soy milk must be simmered in a saucepan for around 60 minutes. This will make a substitute that looks exactly like evaporated milk.

After heating, 3 cups of soymilk are approximately equivalent to 1 cup of evaporated milk.

It can be used in a variety of dishes, and although it tastes different to evaporated milk it is very unlikely that you will notice any difference once it has been added.

It is important to remember that this may not be an effective replacement for people with allergies. This is something it is worth considering.

Rice Milk

Rice milk may be an option for those who are allergic to soy or regular milk. Rice milk can be easily made at home by using soaked rice and water.

Although it doesn’t have the same high fat content as milk, it can still be used in most desserts or baking recipes.

To make rice milk more like evaporated milk, you can heat it. Rice milk is not as thick as evaporated milk, so you might need to add other ingredients.

The rice milk will then become thicker.

You can also use sweetened milk powder, milk powder, and in some cases whipping cream.

Half and Half

Half and half is a mixture of milk and cream in equal amounts. You should use the same amount of evaporated milk as the recipe calls for.

It will have a thicker consistency than evaporated milk and a slightly richer flavor, but it is likely to be sufficient when used in most recipes. It has a higher fat content and lower protein.

This substitute can be made in a matter of seconds if you have both the ingredients. You may need half and half mixed with 3/4 cups of wholemilk in some recipes. You will need to review the requirements of your recipe to determine if this is necessary.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream can be substituted for many dishes. Although heavy cream has a higher fat percentage, it is not the healthiest option. However, it has a similar thick consistency to evaporated dairy milk.

It can be substituted in soups, sauces, and baked recipes. Heavy cream can also have a richer flavor, which can be noticeable in certain recipes. It is worth keeping this in mind before you add it.

It can be used as a substitute for most dishes that use evaporated milk.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is another dairy-free option. This can be used in most recipes that require evaporated milk.

You can either buy it at your local shop, or make your own. Oat milk made at home has a higher nutritional content than those purchased in shops.

If you want to make your own, all you need to do is combine one cup of oats and water and then blend it together.

The exact measurements will depend on your recipe and the amount evaporated milk required.

Oat milk is thinner than evaporated milk so you will need to thicken it before using. You can heat it or whip it. The oat milk will likely be the same consistency as evaporated milk.

Sour Cream

Sour cream can seem strangely substituted for milk, but it is used in many recipes that require it.

Sour cream will give your baked dishes a creamier texture due to its acidity. You will need to mix it with baking powder, and then add equal amounts according to your recipe.

This is a great replacement for evaporated milk. It can also be used to make buttermilk or whole milk.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk can be substituted for evaporated milk in a 1:1 ratio. It has a thick texture that is very similar to evaporated milk.

Coconut milk can be substituted in many recipes. However, it is important to note that it can have a distinct coconut flavor that could alter the taste of your recipe.

You should ask yourself if the change in taste will affect your final dish before you decide to go for it. You may want to choose a substitute with a neutral flavor if this is the case.

What to Avoid

You’d think that any milk product could replace evaporated milk. It’s not exactly. It is not possible to start any fermented or soured dairy products such as cottage cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and cottage cheese. Click To Tweet

Remember that evaporated milk was meant to be used as a substitute for fresh milk. Use fresh milk products instead.

Now that you are familiar with substitutes, you can make these delicious recipes with evaporated milk even if you don’t have any!

Time To Evaporate!

If you’re looking for a substitute for evaporated milk in your recipes, you’ve come to the right place. Now you are sure to make evaporated milk substitutes using regular milk or cream.