SaucepanLog inDownload

Evaporated milk substitute

Dairy, cream and fats · Checked against 2 sources · Updated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

Simmer 1 and a half cups of milk over medium-high heat until it reduces to 1 cup. Stir often so it does not scorch. For more than 1 cup, start with 60 percent more milk than the recipe asks for. Half-and-half also works 1 for 1 in cooking.

How much do you need?

Fractions work: 1 1/2, ¾, 0.5. The amounts below update as you type.

Show only options that are

What to use

  1. Simmered-down milk

    • Gluten-free
    • Nut-free
    • Egg-free
    • 1 ½ cups 365 g milk
    How
    Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until it has reduced to the amount you need. Cool before using.
    Best for
    Pumpkin pie, fudge, soups, casseroles.
    What changes
    Slightly less concentrated than canned, with fresher flavor.

  2. Half-and-half

    • Gluten-free
    • Nut-free
    • Egg-free
    • 1 cup 235 ml half-and-half
    Best for
    Soups and sauces.
    What changes
    Richer and a bit thinner than canned evaporated milk. Skips the cooked flavor.
    Skip it when
    Recipes that need the canned flavor, like some fudge and pies.

Diet labels describe the ingredients as normally made. Check packages for gluten and allergens. Some refined sugar is filtered with bone char, which matters if you eat vegan.

Which swap for which job

UsePickWhy
Pies, custards, fudgeSimmered-down milkConcentrated milk solids.
Soups and saucesHalf-and-halfNo simmering needed.

Do not substitute here

  • Sweetened condensed milk recipes. Evaporated milk alone. It is not sweetened.

Questions

Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk?

No. Condensed milk is sweetened and thick. Evaporated milk is not sweetened.

Sources

Ratios come from these sources, in our words. Where they disagree, we say so or pick the amount that matches tested results. Ratios are a starting point. Taste and adjust.