14 Greatest Substitutes for Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is an old-school yet very adaptable pantry essential that has been and will continue to be a pantry staple for years to come. Its creamy texture and somewhat sweet, caramel-like flavor give richness to baked goods, desserts, macaroni and cheese, casseroles, sauces, and soups.

Some people use it in coffee and tea as a low-fat cream alternative. Evaporated milk is fresh milk that has had around 60% of its water removed. It’s unsweetened, less expensive than milk, and has a long shelf life.

If you run out or don’t like the flavor, you may use a dairy-free evaporated milk replacement. Dairy-free options are available for vegans and others who avoid dairy owing to lactose intolerance, milk allergies, or any other cause.

If you don’t want your meal to be too sweet, use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk, which is a sweeter variant of canned concentrated milk.

Dairy Evaporated Milk Alternatives

Regular Milk

Normal milk may be used in place of evaporated milk, but it includes more water, which reduces the richness of the dish that asks for evaporated milk. In this instance, you could opt to make your own homemade evaporated milk.

2 cups ordinary milk is required for 1 cup of evaporated milk. Pour the milk into a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, or until the volume is reduced by little more than half. Remember to whisk the milk every now and then.

The finished product will have the same creamy texture and naturally sweet taste as store-bought evaporated milk. Let the milk to cool before using it in the recipe.

In soups and sauces, you may thicken the milk using cornstarch or flour, but in baking, you may need to add a little sugar to simulate the sweet flavor of evaporated milk.

Powdered Milk

Powdered milk is milk that has been dehydrated to make it last longer. You may use it as a substitute for evaporated milk by reconstituting it with water or adding it as a dry ingredient to specific recipes such as pancakes and cookies.

Use less water than usual to get a thick consistency comparable to evaporated milk.

To substitute powdered milk for evaporated milk, just decrease the quantity of water you would typically add. This produces a thicker product that may be used in the same manner as evaporated milk is.

You may play around with the quantity of water you use. Begin by combining 1 cup warm water and 1 cup dry milk and stirring until the powder is completely dissolved. Typically, this ratio produces a thick enough texture to mimic evaporated milk.

In terms of nutrition, evaporated milk is fairly comparable to powdered milk.

Half-and-Half

Half-and-half is a dairy drink made up of equal parts milk and cream. It has a greater fat content and a somewhat thicker texture than evaporated milk. Half and half is widely used as a coffee creamer, but it may also be used in any recipe that asks for evaporated milk or cream as a 1:1 substitute.

While some people have very sensitive palates and can taste the difference in a beverage, it is quite difficult to distinguish half-and-half in yam casseroles, chowder soup, or baked sweet bread.

Moreover, both evaporated milk and half-and-half work well in pumpkin pie.

Heavy Cream

The cream includes more calories and fat than evaporated milk, making it an unattractive option for persons trying to lose weight or avoiding high-fat meals for health reasons.

Heavy cream, on the other hand, is quite comparable in consistency and taste, making it an ideal 1:1 substitute for savory meals like mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, soups, casseroles, and sauces.

Moreover, it is suitable for baking, custards, and sweet desserts, although the flavor will be softer than the caramel-like flavor of evaporated milk. The dish will also be richer as a result of the greater fat content. To avoid this, blend half ordinary milk and half cream instead of only cream as a replacement, and you’ll be fine.

Lactose-Free Evaporated Milk

If you are lactose intolerant, you may use lactose-free milk to make lactose-free evaporated milk in the same manner that we made evaporated milk by boiling ordinary milk above.

If you want a speedier option, you may use store-bought lactose-free evaporated milk.

Non-Dairy Substitutes

Soy Milk

Soy milk may be used as a dairy-free evaporated milk substitute after being cooked down to decrease 60% of its water content, as previously mentioned. Then, in a 1:1 ratio, use it in lieu of evaporated milk.

Nevertheless, the finished product will be thinner, so you may choose to thicken it with cornflour or another thickening.

Soy milk has more protein than other nondairy milks, making it ideal for baking items that need a lot of structure, such as cakes and bread. Its mild neutral taste makes it a decent option for savory dishes but not so much for sweet recipes that need the sweet flavor of evaporated milk.

Rice Milk

Rice milk’s taste is more similar to evaporated milk’s natural sweetness, making it a better option for sweet dessert dishes. Because of its thin nature, it also works well in light soups and sauces. Since rice milk is heavy in carbs, it is not a good choice for diabetics.

When replacing it with dairy evaporated milk, taste changes are to be anticipated.

Oat Milk

Oat milk has a comparable consistency and taste to cow dairy milk. It’s simple to make and a healthy option in baking and cooking. Because of its capacity to foam, it is also excellent in coffee.

Since it is nut-free, oat milk is generally the first option of those who are sensitive to nuts, but it is also a popular choice for vegans and others who avoid dairy.

Coconut Milk

The viscosity of coconut milk is quite similar to that of evaporated milk. You may substitute it in a 1:1 ratio as long as the coconut taste complements your dish. Coconut milk is an unquestionably excellent option for sweet cake fillings and Indian curries.

Because of its high fat content, it may also be whipped like evaporated milk.

Other Dairy-Free Alternatives Include:

Almond milk, cashew milk, flaxseed milk, quinoa milk, hazelnut milk, hemp milk.