What to Do with Your Leftover Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is a substance that is used in a variety of desserts, including fudge and cakes. It is a multipurpose substance that thickens sweets and adds a touch of sweetness.

However, leftover evaporated milk is a baker’s worst nightmare. Bakers often don’t know what to do with the remaining dregs after pouring out the proper quantity for a recipe.

Evaporated milk is often sold in cans, making it difficult to keep properly once opened. Considering all of these issues, it’s tempting to simply throw away leftover evaporated milk rather than deal with the hassle of utilizing it.

However, there is no need to throw away food. Even a few drops of leftover evaporated milk may change your supper.

How Long Can You Keep Evaporated Milk?

You don’t have to use the evaporated milk right away after opening the can. You just have a few days before it spoils.

Once opened, evaporated milk usually lasts three to four days. Unopened evaporated milk may be stored for up to a year.

Evaporated milk will keep longer if it is properly stored. Instead of storing it in the can, place it in an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator.

You may also keep evaporated milk in the freezer for a longer period of time. Fill a portion of an ice cube tray with evaporated milk for a quick fix whenever you need it.

Substitutions

If you don’t have a particular recipe in mind for which you want to use evaporated milk, you may use it in place of other dairy products in your normal recipes.

In most recipes, evaporated milk may be used in lieu of ordinary milk. The sole difference is that evaporated milk contains 60% less water than ordinary milk, thus the texture will be creamier.

Evaporated milk may also be used in lieu of cream in both sweet and savory dishes. Many individuals prefer evaporated milk over cream since it is less fattening and has a lower fat level.

If you don’t have sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk may be used in its stead. Just keep in mind that it is significantly less sweet.

Savory Recipes

While evaporated milk is most often used in sweet recipes, it does have a place in savory dishes as well. It may be used to create creamy sauces for supper, salad dressings for a light lunch, and more.

Breading: If you just have a little amount of evaporated milk left, you may use it to bread meat or fish. Simply combine a little milk and an egg for a smoother, richer coating before dipping it into the breadcrumbs as normal.

Evaporated milk is the ideal hidden ingredient for faultless mac and cheese. Instead of wasting time cooking a roux, make a beautiful, rich cheese sauce with a simple combination of evaporated milk and cornstarch.

If you don’t have ordinary milk on hand, or if you want to use up the last of your evaporated milk, you may use it to make mashed potatoes.

Pasta Sauce: In thick pasta sauces like alfredo or carbonara, evaporated milk may be used in lieu of cream. Simply add it at the end, just like cream, for a full-bodied sauce with a lower fat level than usual.

Salad Dressing: Believe it or not, evaporated milk may be used to make creamier salad dressings. Combine it with your preferred spices and vinegar, or use a recipe like this one.

Sauces: Evaporated milk may be used for more than simply pasta sauce. It may be used in lieu of cream or milk in sauces served with meat or fish main courses. Make a bechamel sauce with it and use it in spaghetti, moussaka, and a variety of other recipes.

Soup: To finish the soup and thicken the mixture, many soups, such as cream of mushroom soup, ask for a dash of cream. You may simply use evaporated milk for cream to get very similar results. To enhance the taste of handmade or canned soups, use evaporated milk.

Sweet Recipes

Even if you don’t have a whole can of evaporated milk, you can still create wonderful sweet desserts with the remainder. Find recipes that only call for a little amount of evaporated milk, substitute sweetened condensed milk or other dairy products, or try one of these ideas.

Drinks: Evaporated milk gives coffee, tea, and even hot chocolate a creamy richness. Simply replace your regular creamer with a dash of this and enjoy.

Ice Cream: To create ice cream, combine evaporated milk with ordinary milk or use it on its own. Ice cream produced with evaporated milk has a thicker texture, almost like fudge, and is less prone to creating ice crystals.

Oatmeal: A dash of evaporated milk in your oatmeal will make it creamier than ordinary milk.

While most pie fillings use the whole can of evaporated milk, some simply only a dash to thicken the contents. To get the desired texture, combine your leftover evaporated milk with another dairy product.

Scones: You may make scones using evaporated milk, like the ones in this recipe. Use it as is or thin it down with water to the consistency of ordinary milk.

Smoothies: For a speedy start to your day, add some evaporated milk to your smoothie, along with whatever fruit or flavour you like.

Whipped Cream: If you don’t have any heavy cream on hand, evaporated milk will suffice. It does not, however, beat as readily as heavy cream and does not maintain its form as well, so bear that in mind.

What If I Have Coconut Flavored Evaporated Milk?

Flavored evaporated milk is equally as flexible as regular evaporated milk. If you have coconut-flavored evaporated milk on hand, you may use it for coconut milk or cream in both sweet and savory meals.

Coconut-flavored evaporated milk may be used to thicken curries and sauces without adding the heaviness of full coconut milk. You may also combine it with peanut butter, sweet chili sauce, and soy sauce to produce a chicken skewer satay sauce.

Reconstituting Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is just ordinary milk with some of the water removed. By adding some liquid, you can transform evaporated milk back into milk.

In truth, evaporated milk was initially intended to be milk to which people would add water when they had the time and room. People just recently realized that it performed wonderfully well in recipes when evaporated.

You should usually avoid drinking reconstituted evaporated milk since it will taste inferior to ordinary milk. However, it may be used in situations where conventional evaporated milk would thicken the meal too much.

How to Tell If Evaporated Milk Has Gone Bad

Before using leftover (or even unopened) evaporated milk, check to see whether it has gone bad. Although evaporated milk has a significantly longer shelf life than other dairy products, it may still deteriorate.

Even if you have an unopened can of evaporated milk, be sure it is not over its expiry date. If the can is broken in any way or the lid is bulging, the milk may be spoilt and should not be consumed.

If you’re going to use leftover evaporated milk from the fridge, check the scent and flavor beforehand. You should avoid using it if it has lumps, a foul odor, or tastes weird.

If your leftovers have been lying in your refrigerator for more than a week, you should not utilize them. All dairy degrades quickly, and you should not put your health at danger.

What to Do with Leftover Evaporated Milk

Even if you just have a splash of evaporated milk left in your can, don’t throw it out since there are numerous recipes that call for it. In recipes, you may replace evaporated milk for other dairy products such as ordinary milk or cream, or you can discover recipes that just need a little amount of evaporated milk.

Evaporated milk may be used to produce savory main courses, sides, and snacks. It works well as a thickening in sauces, soups, and salads. It may also be used to make the foundation of a bechamel sauce.

Even a little amount of evaporated milk may brighten up your desserts. Use it in place of ordinary milk in pie fillings, scones, and other dishes. Alternatively, add a dash to your morning beverages, smoothies, and porridge.

Simply store your evaporated milk appropriately in an airtight, refrigerated container for no more than a week. Check to ensure that it is not ruined before using it, since spoilt evaporated milk, like any dairy, may have major health effects.

If you prefer not to waste food, don’t worry; there are several applications for leftover evaporated milk.