🥫 Standard Evaporated Milk Can
⚠️ THIS IS NOT SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK!
Different product, different can size (12 oz vs 14 oz), NOT interchangeable!
See comparison below before you ruin your recipe.
🚨 Don't Confuse These Two Products!
Over 10,000 baking failures per month from this confusion! Here's the truth:
Quick Check: Does your recipe need sugar? If yes → probably wants condensed milk. Savory recipe? → probably evaporated milk. When in doubt, check here.
Complete Evaporated Milk Conversion Chart
| Amount | Grams | Ounces (weight) | Milliliters | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 tablespoons | 31g | 1.1 oz | 30ml | Coffee creamer |
| 1/4 cup | 63g | 2.2 oz | 59ml | Sauce thickener |
| 1/3 cup | 84g | 3 oz | 79ml | Small batch recipe |
| 1/2 cup | 126g | 4.4 oz | 118ml | Creamy soup |
| 2/3 cup | 168g | 5.9 oz | 158ml | Mac & cheese |
| 3/4 cup (half can) | 177g | 6 oz | 177ml | Half of 12 oz can |
| 1 cup | 252g | 8.9 oz | 237ml | Custard base |
| 1 can (12 oz) | 354g | 12 oz | 355ml | STANDARD CAN |
| 1.5 cups | 354g | 12 oz | 355ml | = 1 full can |
💧 How to Make Fresh Milk from Evaporated Milk
Why dilute? Evaporated milk is just milk with 60% of water removed. Add it back = fresh milk!
The Magic Ratio: 1:1
For 1 Cup Fresh Milk:
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk (126g)
• + 1/2 cup water (120ml)
= 1 cup whole milk substitute
For Skim Milk:
• 1 part evaporated milk
• + 1.5 parts water
= Skim milk consistency
For Extra Rich:
• Use undiluted!
• Perfect for creamy soups
• Coffee creamer substitute
💡 Pro Tip: Diluted evaporated milk keeps for 5-7 days in fridge. Make only what you need!
🎯 Best Uses for Evaporated Milk
🥧 Pumpkin Pie (Classic!)
Standard recipe needs:
Why? Thicker than regular milk, but not sweet like condensed milk. Creates perfect custard texture without extra sugar.
🧀 Mac & Cheese
For ultra-creamy sauce:
Secret of restaurant-quality mac & cheese! Evaporated milk won't curdle like regular milk when you add cheese.
🍜 Creamy Soups
For 4 servings:
Add at the end of cooking. Won't separate or curdle when heated. Perfect for potato soup, chowder, cream of mushroom.
☕ Coffee Creamer
Per cup of coffee:
Shelf-stable alternative to half & half. Keep a can in the pantry for emergencies. Adds richness without watering down coffee.
🆘 Don't Have Evaporated Milk?
Emergency Substitutes (Ranked by Accuracy):
✓ Best: Make Your Own
Heat 2.5 cups regular milk until reduced to 1.5 cups (about 20-25 minutes on medium). Cool before using. Exact match!
Works for: Everything. Takes time but perfect results.
✓ Good: Heavy Cream + Milk
Mix 1/2 cup heavy cream + 1 cup whole milk = 1.5 cups substitute
Works for: Soups, mac & cheese. Too rich for some pies.
⚠️ Okay: Half & Half
Use 1:1 ratio. Slightly thinner but works in a pinch.
Works for: Coffee, soups. Not ideal for pies (too thin).
✗ Don't: Condensed Milk
Completely different! Has 40% sugar. Will ruin savory recipes. See condensed milk guide for when to use it.
Storage & Shelf Life
📦 Unopened Can
- ✓ Pantry: 1-2 years
- ✓ No refrigeration needed
- ✓ Check expiration date
- ✓ Cool, dry storage
🥫 Opened Can
- ⚠️ Transfer to container
- ⚠️ Refrigerate immediately
- ⚠️ Use within 5-7 days
- ⚠️ Stir before using
❄️ Freezing?
- ✓ Yes, up to 6 months
- ⚠️ May separate when thawed
- ✓ Whisk to recombine
- ✓ Use for cooking (not coffee)
Your Evaporated Milk Questions
How many grams is a 12 oz can of evaporated milk?
A standard 12 oz can of evaporated milk contains 354 grams. This equals 1.5 cups or 355 milliliters. The 12 oz refers to weight, not fluid ounces. This is the most common size for evaporated milk in the US.
Can I substitute evaporated milk for regular milk?
Yes, with dilution! Mix equal parts evaporated milk and water. For example: 1/2 cup evaporated milk (126g) + 1/2 cup water = 1 cup regular milk equivalent. For undiluted use in recipes calling for "whole milk," expect richer, creamier results.
What's the difference between 12 oz and 14 oz cans?
12 oz can = evaporated milk (354g, unsweetened).
14 oz can = sweetened condensed milk (397g, 40% sugar).
Different products! Check the label carefully. Using the wrong one ruins recipes.
Why does my recipe call for evaporated milk specifically?
Three reasons: (1) Won't curdle when heated or mixed with acidic ingredients, (2) Creamier texture without needing cream, (3) Shelf-stable - can be stored at room temperature. Perfect for pumpkin pie, mac & cheese, and creamy soups.
How many cups is 354g of evaporated milk?
354g of evaporated milk = 1.5 cups (exactly one 12 oz can). Evaporated milk is denser than regular milk (252g per cup vs 240g), so 354g gives you 1.5 cups instead of 1.48 cups.
Can I use condensed milk instead of evaporated milk?
No! Condensed milk has 40-45% added sugar and is much thicker. Using it in savory recipes (soups, mac & cheese) will make them sickeningly sweet. For sweet recipes, you'd need to eliminate or drastically reduce other sugar. Better to just buy the right product!