Can I substitute evaporated milk for regular milk?
In this brief article, we are going to answer the question,”Can I substitute evaporated milk for regular milk?”, and discuss what evaporated milk is along with some other substitutes for evaporated and regular milk.
Can I substitute evaporated milk for regular milk?
Yes, you can substitute evaporated milk for regular milk. 1 part of evaporated milk is blended with 1 part of water when substituting for regular milk.
In other words, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a can of a12 ounces of evaporated milk should be combined with one and a half cups of water to equal 3 cups of regular milk.
Similar to fresh regular milk, evaporated milk also has a significant nutritional profile. It consists of calcium, proteins, and fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A and D.
A cup of milk consists of 150-160 calories, with 12 grams of carbs, 8 grams fat and 8 grams proteins. It consists of 28% RDI of calcium and 26% RDI of vitamin B-2.
What is evaporated milk?
Evaporated milk is a product of milk, formed by evaporating 60% water from the milk. It can be formed by both skimmed milk (from which a percentage of fat is removed) and whole milk (which contains fat).
The milk first undergoes the process of homogenization and then the water is evaporated at low heat.
The milk is then sealed in cans, and the cans are heated to kill bacteria which may be present in the milk. Evaporated milk can be used more or less like regular milk. This type of milk is also found as skimmed, non-fat and full fat in grocery stores.
The unopened cans can be stored for about 6 months and if the can is opened, it should be stored in tight cover containers to be used within 3-5 days.
What are the other substitutes for regular milk?
If you have neither evaporated milk nor regular milk, you can always utilise these other substitutes mentioned below.
Cream
Cream can be used to replace evaporated milk in dishes such as soups, fillings of pies, bakery items, casseroles, and custards. Use cream for evaporated milk in a 1 to 1 ratio.
Half and Half
It is actually a blend of 50% milk and the same percentage of cream. The texture however is thicker compared to evaporated milk and mostly used in the preparation of coffee.
Powdered milk
It is a type of milk from which water is completely removed and the milk is then dried. The moisture removal and the drying is done to improve the shelf life, same as evaporated milk. Powdered milk can also be used in dry recipes.
Soy milk
It is a non dairy alternative beneficial for people with lactose intolerance. It actually is healthier in terms that it is less in fat and calories, and cholesterol as it is plant based.
Soy milk is produced by soaking soybeans which have been dried, and they are then grinded in water , larger parts being filtered, to leave behind the milk of soy.
Rice milk
It is formed by soaking rice and then grinding the rice and water together to form a product which appears to be milk-like. Compared to evaporated milk, it is way low in fats and proteins, thereby contributing to fewer calories.
A major drawback, however, is that it has a high glycemic index and cannot be used by diabetic patients.
Nut milks
Milks obtained from various nuts such as almonds, cashews and hazelnuts are way healthier when looking into nutritional profile. Nut milk is produced by grinding nuts in water and then filtering the liquid leaving behind the clearer milk like solution.
Other types of milk
Similarly milk obtained from oats and flax seeds, as well as types of milk which include hemp milk and quinoa milk are also healthier alternatives to be used as replacements for evaporated milk or regular milk.
When choosing a substitute, one should keep in mind the calories the milk provides, the protein content of the substitute. It should also be noted if one has milk allergies, the amount of sugars present, the cooking methods, and the nutrient composition of milk.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we answered the question, ”Can I substitute evaporated milk for regular milk?”, and discussed what evaporated milk is along with some other substitutes for evaporated and regular milk.
