How to Make Homemade Evaporated Milk and Sweetened Condensed Milk (the from nourishingjoy.com
Introduction
Evaporated milk is a versatile ingredient that's commonly used in recipes ranging from soups and sauces to desserts and beverages. It's a concentrated and slightly caramelized version of milk, with a thick consistency and a slightly sweet flavor. While you can buy evaporated milk at the store, it's also easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients and some patience.
Ingredients
To make evaporated milk at home, you'll need:
4 cups of whole milk
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
Instructions
Here's how to make evaporated milk at home:
Pour the whole milk and granulated sugar into a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and stir to combine the milk and sugar.
Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. This should take about 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer the milk, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by about half. This should take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
The milk will become thick and caramel-colored as it reduces. Once it's done, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the milk cool to room temperature.
Strain the evaporated milk through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps or impurities.
Pour the evaporated milk into a clean, airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition
Here's the nutrition information for 1/4 cup of homemade evaporated milk:
Calories: 135
Protein: 5g
Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 13g
Sugar: 13g
Fiber: 0g
Sodium: 56mg
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your homemade evaporated milk turns out perfectly:
Use Whole Milk
Whole milk is the best choice for making evaporated milk because of its higher fat content. This helps give the milk its thick consistency and rich flavor.
Keep an Eye on the Milk
As the milk simmers and reduces, it can easily scorch or burn if you're not careful. Make sure to stir it frequently and keep an eye on the heat.
Strain the Milk
Straining the evaporated milk through a fine-mesh sieve helps remove any lumps or impurities that may have formed during the cooking process. This will give you a smooth, creamy final product.
Store in an Airtight Container
To keep your evaporated milk fresh, make sure to store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will help prevent it from absorbing any odors or flavors from other foods in the fridge.
Recipes
Now that you've made your own evaporated milk, here are some delicious recipes you can try:
Pumpkin Pie
This classic fall dessert wouldn't be complete without a creamy, spiced filling made with homemade evaporated milk.
Chicken Pot Pie
Evaporated milk adds richness and creaminess to the filling of this classic comfort food.
Hot Chocolate
A splash of evaporated milk makes this hot chocolate extra creamy and decadent.
Caramel Flan
This silky-smooth dessert is made with homemade caramel and a rich custard made with evaporated milk.
Conclusion
Making your own evaporated milk is easy and rewarding. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can create a versatile ingredient that will add richness and depth to all sorts of recipes. Give it a try and see what delicious creations you can come up with!
