Substitutes for evaporated milk
Evaporated milk substitutes
Evaporated milk is milk with much of its water cooked off: creamy and slightly caramelised, with no added sugar. Pick a swap by how much body the dish needs.
What evaporated milk does
Evaporated milk is milk with about 60 percent of its water cooked off. It gives creamy body and a slightly caramelised flavour without added sugar.
Quick reference
| Substitute | Amount |
|---|---|
| Half-and-half | 1 cup half-and-halfper 1 cup evaporated milk |
| Whole milk | 1 cup whole milkper 1 cup evaporated milk |
| Milk simmered down Sources vary | 2 cup whole milkper 1 cup evaporated milk |
When the substitute matters
- Soups and sauces: half-and-half, cup for cup.
- In a pinch: whole milk, accepting a thinner result.
- Pies and custards that need body: simmer milk down by half.
- Never use sweetened condensed milk in its place.
The substitutes, in detail
Half-and-half
Amount: 1 cup half-and-half per 1 cup evaporated milk
Both sources give 1 cup for 1 cup. Food Network's substitution guide lists it for all uses except baking.
Best for
- soups
- sauces
- custards
- creamy dishes
What changes
Similar richness but less concentrated, and without the cooked flavour.
Whole milk
Amount: 1 cup whole milk per 1 cup evaporated milk
Both sources give 1 cup for 1 cup; Taste of Home calls it an in-a-pinch swap.
Best for
- soups
- casseroles
- sauces
Not for
- recipes that need evaporated milk's thickness, such as pumpkin pie
What changes
Thinner and less rich than evaporated milk.
Milk simmered down
Amount: 2 cup whole milk per 1 cup evaporated milk
Sources vary
Taste of Home reduces milk by half, so 2 cups make 1 cup. Food Network reduces further, a quart down to about 12 ounces (about 2 2/3 cups of milk per cup), for a thicker result.
- Simmer the milk gently in a heavy-bottomed pan, stirring often, until reduced by half.
- Cool before using.
Best for
- soups
- sauces
- custards
What changes
Closest to the canned kind in body and flavour, because it is the same process done at home.
Don't use
- Sweetened condensed milk
King Arthur says evaporated and condensed milk cannot be used interchangeably because of the sugar and consistency difference. Condensed in an evaporated recipe makes the dish way too sweet and thick.
How we source this
Each swap is backed by at least two independent sources, including a test kitchen, university extension service or product maker. The amounts replace one unit of the original ingredient and do not work in reverse. See the full source list.