Evaporated and condensed milk are both examples of concentrated milk where water has been taken out under high temperatures. This gives both evaporated and condensed milk a longer shelf life dependant on their fat content. Condensed milk is fundamentally similar to evaporated milk it usually just has sugar added to it. Both types of canned milk are made for home cooks as well as for use in commercial baking. Because they are so alike, it can be difficult to tell what’s the difference between evaporated and condensed milk, but it can help to know when you come to using them in your recipes.
What is Evaporated Milk?
Like condensed milk, evaporated milk is similarly created by applying heat to the milk while waiting for around 60 percent of the milks water content to evaporate. The condensed milk will then go on to be sterilized and then canned. This process produces a thick, creamy concentrated milk which once canned can be safely stored for months. While is undergoes the high heat in its creation, this will give evaporated milk it’s characteristic caramelized flavor and a slightly darker look than normal milk.
Evaporated milk comes in both low-fat and whole milk assortments and is an extremely versatile product. Evaporated milk is often put into recipes which require a velvety texture, but no extra sweetness is added although it can be used in sweet or savoury dishes equally well.
What is Condensed Milk
Similar to evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk is made in a very similar way. This is concentrated milk where around 60 percent of milks water content will get taken out. But with condensed milk, sugar will be an additional ingredient added before canning the milk.
Condensed milk is an extremally popular product and it will be found in home kitchens everywhere. Most condensed milk comprises of around 40 percent sugar. Condensed milk is rich and dense, and it has a deep caramel sweet taste. Condensed milk is usually used in baking to create beautiful and creamy puddings and pies and it can even be used to sweeten your coffee.
Evaporated Milk vs Condensed Milk
Both of these types of concentrated milk are useful at different times. Condensed milk and evaporated milk both have the water content removed meaning that they can sit ready and waiting on your kitchen shelf. The big difference between the two is their sugar content; condensed milk, is always sweet, whereas evaporated milk is not. This means that evaporated and condensed milk should never be used in place of one another. You cannot substitute them as the result would turn out to be a recipe that is either much to sweet or one that has no flavor at all.
The sugar levels found in condensed milk turn out to be very concentrated, which gives it a caramelized flavor, but this is different to merging evaporated milk with sugar.
Both types of condensed milk tastes great and in the end last a long time. This makes them both a really useful product to have in your store cupboard especially when you run out of ordinary milk.
Source:
- What’s the Difference Between Evaporated and Condensed Milk? – Taste of Home
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