Mac and Cheese SauceAside from 1/2 cup of half and half (of light cream and whole milk), I also added a can of evaporated milk (different from condensed milk) to add more creaminess and texture to my mac and cheese.
To reconstitute evaporated milk, combine equal amounts of milk and water. If, for example, a recipe calls for 1 cup fat-free milk, you'll need to combine 1/2 cup evaporated fat-free milk and 1/2 cup water. Mix the liquids thoroughly, then add to your recipe as directed.
Evaporated milk gives body to smoothies, thickens up and sweetens coffee, and adds nuance and richness to creamy soups and chowders, not to mention savory sauces and even oatmeal. If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, you can also use it in place of sweetened condensed milk in plenty of desserts.
Evaporated MilkEvaporated milk is best for recipes in which heavy cream is a liquid ingredient, such as in baked goods, since it will not provide the same thickness as heavy cream and does not whip as well. Substitute the heavy cream in your recipes with an equal amount of evaporated milk.
Does sweetened condensed milk go bad? Sweetened condensed milk will go bad eventually, but it will last a good year beyond any printed date. Eagle Brand puts a "best by" date on their cans for 2 years beyond production, but the product is good beyond this date.
Here are 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.
As the name suggests, sweetened condensed milk makes the pie sweeter and gives it a denser, creamier texture. Evaporated milk, on the other hand, yields a lighter, airier result.
If you have a can of evaporated milk in your pantry, you're already half way to sweetened condensed milk. Just combine one 12-oz can of evaporated milk and 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar in a sauce pan. Continue cooking, until the sugar dissolves, and the milk thickens slightly.
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the evaporated milk with the sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- If desired, whisk in the vanilla extract.
- Remove from the heat and let stand until cooled.
- Cover and refrigerate or use it in a recipe.
Many fudge recipes use sweetened evaporated milk, which is canned and considered shelf-stable without refrigeration. It stands to reason then, that fudge can be safely frozen without any loss of quality. We suggest not stacking the fudge as it can stick together when thawing, so a small batch per bag works best.
How do you thicken sweetened condensed milk? Boil milk and sugar on medium-high heat (stirring continuously) for about 15-20 mins. It will thicken. Add a pinch of baking soda after turning the flame off.
Whisk together milk and sweetener in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisking often, bring to a low simmer. Continue to simmer, whisking often, until milk has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Once reduced, remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
It sounds like your fudge simply wasn't heated enough. If it's overcooked (resulting in grainy fudge) or undercooked (resulting in poor setting) all you really need to do is add a bit of cream, reheat the fudge to the target temperature, and let it set again.
You can drink evaporated milk, either directly from the can or diluted with water. Evaporated milk is made from cow's milk and has a thick, creamy texture. The flavor is rich, caramelized, and slightly sweet. Although it is safe to drink on its own, evaporated milk is often used as an ingredient in recipes.
Once you open the can, the evaporated milk only lasts a few days. Some producers, like PET Milk recommend using their product within 2 to 3 days, while others, like Carnation, say it's good for up to 5 days. Generally speaking, you should either use all of it or freeze the leftovers within 5 days.
Many people take milk in their coffee. The answer would be: Yes, you can use evaporated milk in coffee. But because evaporated milk is creamier and thicker than regular milk or coffee creamer, you probably need less of it. Start with half the amount you would typically use, and add to taste.
What Does It Taste Like? Evaporated milk tastes like milk but with a thicker, less watery consistency. The process of heating the evaporated milk in the cans imparts a slightly sweet flavor to the milk and it's just a bit darker in color than ordinary milk.
I use evaporated milk because it incorporates more easily into the caramel so you are left with creamy caramel sauce every time. That being said, if you only have heavy cream on hand, then yes, you can definitely use it instead of evaporated milk.
To tell if condensed milk has gone bad, the easiest way is to check for any visual changes. Condensed milk is typically a pale creamy color (see photos), but will darken and become more yellow over time. The milk will also become quite thick. Condensed milk is typically thick, but can still be poured.
To substitute evaporated milk for fresh milk, one cup of whole milk is equivalent to 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water. However, you should only substitute for cooking, not for drinking. Evaporated milk can be substituted in equal amounts for cream or half-and-half in most recipes.
Condensed milk is whole milk which has been condensed to remove the majority of the water, and then sweetened with sugar. It's thicker and "creamier", but has not had sugar added. Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are essentially the same thing, and both must contain at least 36% or more milk fat.
