Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a recipe that calls for evaporated milk, only to realize that you don’t have any in your home? And you started worrying about what I can use instead of evaporated milk?
Don’t worry; you are not alone! Whether you’re lactose intolerant, trying to cut back on dairy, or just looking for a substitute, there are plenty of evaporated milk alternatives that can work just as well in your recipes.
Today, I’ll explore some of the best substitutes for evaporated milk, so you can keep cooking without missing a beat.
So let’s dive in to learn more!
What is evaporated milk?
Evaporated milk is a milk product that has had most of its water content removed through evaporation.
It is made by heating regular milk until about 60% of its water content evaporates, resulting in thicker, creamier, and more concentrated milk.
The process of evaporation gives the milk a slightly caramelized flavor and a light golden color.
This handy ingredient is perfect when it comes to making creamy and delicious dishes.
Because of its concentrated nature, it adds richness to recipes without adding extra fat. That makes it a great option if you are watching your calorie intake.
Plus, its long shelf life means you can always have a can or two on hand for those last-minute recipe needs.
But what if you have run out of it or are lactose intolerant? Then, my friend, that is what this post is all about finding the best substitute for evaporated milk.
The best substitutes for evaporated milk
When it comes to using evaporated milk substitutes in your recipes, there are several options to choose from that can give you a similar result.
One of the most common substitutes is regular milk, which you can use in a 1:1 ratio with the evaporated milk called for in your recipe. If you’re looking for a non-dairy option, you can try using coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk, which can all add a rich, creamy texture to your dishes.
Another alternative is to make your own evaporated milk by simmering regular milk until it has reduced by half. And if you’re in a pinch and don’t have any of these options on hand, you can also use heavy cream or half-and-half as a substitute.
With these options at your disposal, you can easily swap out evaporated milk in any recipe without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Substitutes for Evaporated Milk
1. Regular milk
Regular milk straight from the fridge isn’t quite the right consistency for what you need. But you can easily make your own evaporated milk in just a few minutes.
You can reduce the volume of the milk by boiling it to make it thicker.
The simplest thing to do is double the amount specified in the recipe. Even if there is some leftover at the end, having more is preferable to having insufficient.
You can further reduce the volume by boiling it until it has a thicker consistency if you think you have too much. Bring the regular milk (whole, 2%, 1%, or skim) to a boil in a saucepan to make your own evaporated milk.
The milk should simmer until it starts to thicken and loses volume after the heat is reduced to medium. Remove the pan from the heat when it appears to have reduced to about half, then allow the milk to cool.
If you have boiled milk before, you know that the milk overflows. One trick to prevent this from happening is putting a spoon on the pan you are boiling the milk on. My grandmother taught me that, and I can tell you it does work.
Utilize the newly evaporated milk in your recipe as directed.
2. Half-And-Half
Half-and-half has the perfect consistency right out of the fridge, while regular milk doesn’t quite.
It will give your dish a richer overall flavor because of the additional fat in it. However, it is unlikely that anyone will object to that!
In any of your recipes, you can easily swap half-and-half for evaporated milk in a 1:1 ratio.
3. Heavy Cream
Heavy cream, which is a little bit thicker than half-and-half, also has a great consistency and can quickly and easily replace evaporated milk in a recipe.
Although evaporated milk has a much richer flavor than heavy cream, this will only increase the dish’s overall taste.
Before measuring the cream, thin it out with water or milk if you don’t want your recipe to be as thick.
To make the equivalent amount of evaporated milk required for the recipe, simply combine heavy cream and water in equal parts.
4. Powdered Milk
Compared to evaporated milk, powdered milk is one of those ingredients that is less usual to keep on hand. As a result, you might not always have this on your kitchen as a quick replacement.
However, if you have some on hand for your food storage, it is the best alternative to evaporated milk. It is also incredibly simple to use.
Read the instructions for reconstituting the powdered milk, then use only 60% of the recommended amount of water. Once you have liquid milk, replace the evaporated milk with it in a 1:1 ratio.
I use this evaporated milk substitute to make flan recipes, a Cuban dessert that is typically made with evaporated milk.
Non-Dairy Evaporated Milk Substitutes
5. Vegan Evaporated Milk
In the market, there are only a few brands of vegan evaporated milk. However, they might be more challenging to locate depending on where you live.
Take a look online or at a specialized health food store. If you come across vegan evaporated milk, simply replace it 1:1 in any recipe.
You can make your own vegan evaporated milk if you can’t find any to buy.
6. DIY Evaporated Milk
By using the same method outlined above to lessen the water content of cow milk, much plant-based milk that you already enjoy can be converted into vegan evaporated milk.
The fact that plant-based milk contains more water than cow’s milk should be taken into account when using them.
Thus, even after being heated and reduced, it might not be quite thick enough for some recipes.
To achieve the desired thickness when making your dairy-free evaporated milk for a soup or sauce that you want to be thicker, think about adding a thickening agent like cornstarch.
A thickening agent is not necessary when using dairy-free evaporated milk in baking. It will do well to simply heat the water content down.
7. Soy Milk
The closest alternative to regular milk in terms of texture is soy milk, which is the best choice when making non-dairy evaporated milk.
8. Cashew Or Almond Milk
You must choose a different plant-based milk if you are allergic to soy. Compared to other nut milk, almond milk and cashew milk both have milder flavors.
They are, therefore, the best choices for both savory and sweet dishes.
8. Flavorful Coconut Milk
The coconut milk that comes in a carton (light coconut milk) has a higher water content even though canned coconut milk can be substituted 1:1. Thus, it must be reduced over heat before being used.
9. Oat Milk
Every minute, oat milk’s popularity grows! It is a delectable dairy substitute that functions similarly to plant and nut milk.
Simply reduce it over heat according to the same instructions before using it in your favorite dishes.
One thing to keep in mind is that many non-dairy milks, including oat milk, have added sweeteners. As a result, be sure to choose an unsweetened variety.
10. Milk Of Flaxseed
Fewer people consume flaxseed milk than the other milk substitutes listed above. However, it is a fantastic choice, though, for neutral non-dairy milk!
Use in sweet and savory dishes in place of evaporated milk using the same instructions for reducing the water content.
11. Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is a delicious, creamy, and slightly sweeter plant-based milk. It can be used in the same ways as these other milk, but because of its sweetness, it is better suited for baking.
12. Milk From Quinoa
You might not even be aware of this because it is a brand-new product on the market! This is also plant-based milk produced by combining milk and quinoa to produce a beverage that resembles milk.
Quinoa milk typically has a bit more body than the other drinks I’ve already mentioned. So, if you come across this, you might want to give it a shot.
If you choose the right brand, you might not even need to heat it to reduce it to the proper consistency.
Absolutely! We can use condensed milk as a substitute for evaporated milk in most recipes. However, keep in mind that condensed milk is much sweeter and thicker than evaporated milk, so you may need to adjust the amount of sugar and liquid in the recipe accordingly.
There are several substitutes for evaporated milk in pumpkin pie. You can try using regular milk, cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk. Just keep in mind that the texture and flavor of the pie may be slightly different depending on the substitute you choose.
Yes, you can use evaporated milk instead of regular milk in most recipes. However, keep in mind that evaporated milk is much richer and creamier than regular milk, so you may need to adjust the amount you use in the recipe.
Coconut milk can be used as a substitute for evaporated milk in some recipes, but keep in mind that it has a distinct flavor that may not be suitable for all dishes. You may also need to adjust the amount of sugar and liquid in the recipe to compensate for the thickness and sweetness of coconut milk.
Yes, you can use substitutions for evaporated milk for regular milk in baking. Use the formula I have outlined here to reduce the milk to achieve a similar consistency to evaporated milk.
