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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » 1 Ingredient DIY Evaporated Milk Recipe

    1 Ingredient DIY Evaporated Milk Recipe

    Jan 12, 2023 / by Salima Benkhalti / Leave a comment

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    a spoon scooping evaporated milk from a jar

    Learn how to make your own evaporated milk with just one ingredient and a few easy steps. This recipe is easy to make using any kind of traditional milk or vegan alternatives and comes together in less than 30 minutes. It's a useful ingredient to use as a thickener and sweetener in baked goods, savory dishes and more!

    a spoon scooping evaporated milk from a jar

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    Evaporated milk is a staple ingredient in cultures across the globe and in many of my favorite Puerto Rican recipes.

    Whether it's used as a creamy rich substitute for milk, like we do in this traditional flan recipe, or as a shelf stable milk alternative when canned properly, it's a delicious ingredient that has a lot to offer.

    a measuring cup of milk

    What is evaporated milk made of?

    To make your own you will need just 1 simple ingredient:

    • whole milk (or your favorite plant based milk)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    a can of organic evaporated milk on a counter

    Evaporated milk vs sweetened condensed milk

    Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are commonly mistaken for each other, and it's no surprise as the two have much in common.

    Both are forms of concentrated milk (often canned to be shelf stable) used as thickeners in many recipes both sweet and savory. And although they share similarities, they aren't the same and will not yield the same results in recipes.

    Sweetened condensed milk has added ingredients like sugar and heavy cream, whereas evaporated milk is usually made of only milk.

    How to make it

    milk in a pot

    Reduce milk. Add the whole milk to a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer before reducing to low. From there you can simmer for 20-30 minutes.

    Tip: Make sure to mix the milk occasionally to prevent burning and/or clumping with any solids.

    milk simmering in a pot

    You will know the milk is done when it has reduced by about half. It should feel thicker if you mix it with a spoon and the color should have a a rich beige shade to it.

    evaporated milk being run through a strainer

    Store. Carefully strain the milk through cheesecloth or a mesh strainer to remove any solids. Cool and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Do not freeze the evaporated milk.

    Straining the evaporated milk will remove any of the milk solids that form while reducing.

    Ratios

    Because this recipe is so simple in ingredients and steps, the most important rule to remember is how much milk you will need to start with, versus how much evaporated milk will be yielded.

    The ratio goes as follows: you will need to start with twice the amount of milk to make the appropriate amount of evaporated milk.

    In other words:

    • if you need 1 cup of evaporated milk, start with 2 cups of milk
    • if you need 2 cups of evaporated milk, start with 4 cups of milk
    • if you need 3 cups of evaporated milk, start with 6 cups of milk, and so on

    Alternative Milks (Vegan Options)

    While traditional evaporated milk recipes use whole milk, there are a few alternatives I have experimented that reduce well.

    Here are some ideas

    • Oat milk - while you can actually find evaporated oat milk at the store, it's an easy and neutral plant based alternative that can be made with the same ratio and instructions
    • Coconut milk - you can also use coconut milk to create an easy plant based evaporated milk (also available at many grocery stores). If you aren't into the flavor of coconut, try using any of your favorite plant based milks.
    • Reduced fat - if you don't have any whole milk on hand or prefer 2%, feel free to use that instead. The consistency won't be as thick or sweet, but it will still work.

    Where to Use Evaporated Milk

    This reduced milk is an amazing substitute for traditional milk that can be used in a variety of ways.

    Some examples include dishes like mac and cheese, chowders, soups, and of course desserts (two of my favorites being this traditional Puerto Rican flan and chocoflan).

    a jar of evaporated milk on a counter

    Special Tools

    To make this recipe you will need a good quality saucepan to reduce the milk and a mesh strainer to remove any solids from the milk before storing and using.

    Storage

    Unlike canned evaporated milk, this homemade version must be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will only keep for up to 5 days, so make sure to use soon after making it.

    This recipe doesn't stand up well to freezing.

    Enjoy,

    the name Salima
    Print

    1 Ingredient Evaporated Milk Recipe

    a spoon scooping evaporated milk from a jar
    Print Recipe

    Learn how to make your own evaporated milk with just one ingredient and a few easy steps. This recipe is easy to make using any kind of traditional milk or vegan alternatives and comes together in less than 30 minutes. It's a useful ingredient to use as a thickener and sweetener in baked goods, savory dishes and more!

    • Author: Salima Benkhalti
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cup 1x
    • Category: Sauce, Dessert
    • Method: Simmered
    • Cuisine: American, Puerto Rican
    • Diet: Gluten Free

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 cups whole milk (or your favorite plant based milk)

    Instructions

    1. Reduce milk. Add milk to a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer before reducing to low and simmering for 20-30 minutes. Mix occasionally. You will know it's done when it has reduced by about half and develops a rich beige color.milk simmering in a pot
    2. Store. Strain through cheesecloth or a mesh strainer to remove any solids. Cool and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.a jar of evaporated milk on a counter

    Notes

    The ratio goes as follows: you will need to start with twice the amount of milk to make the appropriate amount of evaporated milk.

    In other words:

    • if you need 1 cup of evaporated milk, start with 2 cups of milk
    • if you need 2 cups of evaporated milk, start with 4 cups of milk
    • if you need 3 cups of evaporated milk, start with 6 cups of milk, and so on

    Keywords: evaporated milk

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