What can I use instead of Evaporated milk?

Whole milk, simmered down: Simmer 2 cups whole milk gently to 1 cup. Heavy cream: 1 cup heavy cream (richer result).

What changes when you substitute Evaporated milk?

Richer, dairy-sweet. Same result; takes 30-40 min.

Substitute for Evaporated milk

What it does in a recipe: Concentrated milk (60% water removed): creamy without cream.

2 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.

Heavy cream

per 1 cup evaporated milk

US1 cup heavy cream (richer result)

Metric240 ml

CommonBaking-safe ✓Gluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-freeContains dairy

Cream is simply fattier.

What changes: Richer, dairy-sweet

Best for: Mac and cheese, pumpkin pie

Whole milk, simmered down

per 1 cup evaporated milk

USSimmer 2 cups whole milk gently to 1 cup

Metric480 ml → 240 ml

Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓Gluten-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-freeAlcohol-freeContains dairy

You are making evaporated milk from scratch.

What changes: Same result; takes 30-40 min

Best for: Anything

Related swaps

Common questions

What can I use instead of Evaporated milk?: Whole milk, simmered down: Simmer 2 cups whole milk gently to 1 cup. Heavy cream: 1 cup heavy cream (richer result).
What is the exact ratio to substitute Evaporated milk?: Whole milk, simmered down (per 1 cup evaporated milk) — US: Simmer 2 cups whole milk gently to 1 cup. Metric: 480 ml → 240 ml.
What changes when you substitute Evaporated milk?: Richer, dairy-sweet. Same result; takes 30-40 min.

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