Homemade Evaporated Milk
Need evaporated milk for a recipe but don’t have a can on hand? Don’t worry—you can make it at home in minutes. In this post, I’ll show you two easy ways: the classic stovetop method with regular milk, and a quick 5-minute version using powdered milk (or even the microwave). Both give you the same creamy, rich texture you’d expect from canned evaporated milk, perfect for baking, desserts, sauces, and more.
Back when I was growing up, if a recipe called for evaporated milk, my mom didn’t reach for a can—she made it herself. There was no other option. For her, it wasn’t a big deal. Just another step in cooking, another thing to check off the list. She never questioned it, never thought of it as extra effort—it was just how things were done.
What Is Evaporated Milk?
it is regular milk that has been simmered to remove about 60% of its water content. What’s left is a thicker, slightly sweet-tasting milk with a rich texture and longer shelf life.
Unlike sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk contains no added sugar. It’s often used in:
- Custards and puddings
- Pumpkin pie
- Creamy sauces
- Coffee and tea
- Mac and cheese, casseroles, and soups
Why Make Evaporated Milk at Home?
- You’re out of canned EM
- You want a preservative-free version
- You want to make it from powdered milk
- You prefer to use organic or lactose-free milk
- You’re baking or cooking in bulk
Ingredients and Substitutes
For Traditional Stovetop Method:
- Whole milk – Full-fat milk gives the best texture. You can also use 2%, but it will be slightly thinner.
- Lactose-free milk – Works well but may require slightly more simmering.
- Plant-based milk (see notes) – Not recommended unless specified in a separate recipe (many don’t reduce well).
For Quick Powdered Milk Method:
- Powdered milk – Non-fat dry milk works best, but whole milk powder gives a creamier finish.
- Warm water – Mixes more smoothly than cold.
- Butter (optional) – Adds fat and richness if using non-fat milk powder.
Method 1 – How to Make Evaporated Milk from Regular Milk (Stovetop Method)
- Simmer the milk – Add 2¼ cups (540 ml) whole milk to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower heat and simmer uncovered.
- Reduce by half – Simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Scrape the sides and bottom every few minutes to prevent scorching.
- Check for volume – Once the milk has reduced to about 1 cup (240 ml), remove from heat.
- Strain (optional) – If any skin has formed, strain the milk through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
- Cool and store – Let it cool completely. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Method 2 – How to Make Evaporated Milk from Powdered Milk (Quick 5-Minute Method)
Yield = approx. 1 cup of evaporated milk substitute
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
- ⅔ cup (65 g) powdered milk
- 1 tsp melted butter (optional, for added richness)
Instructions:
- Mix warm water and powdered milk until smooth and lump-free.
- Stir in melted butter if using.
- Use immediately, or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can You Make Evaporated Milk in the Microwave?
Microwave Option – You can also dissolve powdered milk in warm water and microwave in 30-second bursts (stirring each time) until slightly thickened. It’s faster but less precise than stovetop, so use as a quick fix rather than your main method.
Tips for success
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent scorching during the stovetop method.
- Stir often in the last 10 minutes—this is when milk is most likely to burn.
- Don’t cover the pot; you want the moisture to evaporate.
- For a smoother finish, blend the cooled milk briefly before storing.
- You can double the recipe and freeze extra in ½ cup portions.
What can you do with evaporated milk
- Baking: It can be used in place of regular milk in baked goods such as cakes, cookies, muffins, and bread.
- Sauces and Soups: Creates creamy sauces and soups, such as Alfredo sauce and cheese sauce, cream of mushroom soup, potato soup and creamy pasta sauces. It adds richness and body to the dish without making it overly heavy. In curries to give them a creamy texture. It works particularly well in Thai and Indian curries.
- Creamy Desserts: It is a key ingredient in many creamy desserts, including custards, puddings, ice cream, kulfis, and semolina pudding. It adds a smooth texture and rich flavor to these desserts.
- Hot Beverages: EM can be used as a creamer in hot beverages such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
- Casseroles and Gratin: It can be used in savory dishes such as casseroles, gratins, and savory pies.
- Homemade Ice Cream: Use it as a base for homemade ice cream, either by itself or combined with other ingredients such as sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and flavorings.
Frequently asked questions
Unopened canned EM can last for several months or even years when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within a few days. Similarly, this homemade recipe will last for about a week up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
It has a rich, creamy flavor with a very mild natural sweetness, but no added sugar.
In India, “evaporated milk” is usually referred to as “milk reduced on the stovetop” and is often substituted with “khoya/mawa” for desserts, though it’s not exactly the same.
Yes—just add sugar to evaporated milk and simmer until it thickens into a sweetened version.
Yes, but the result will be thinner. For best texture and flavor, use whole milk.
Absolutely! It adds a rich, creamy flavor without sweetness.
Yes. Cool it completely, store in airtight containers, and freeze for up to 3 months.
No. Condensed milk contains sugar, while evaporated milk is unsweetened.
It depends on the recipe you need to use it for. In some cases like soups, you can use regular milk instead of evaporated. Sometimes a combination of half milk and half cream works great.
No, traditional evaporated milk is made from cow’s milk. For dairy-free options, use a specific recipe with coconut or soy milk.
While condensed milk is often used in baking to make desserts such as pumpkin pie, rice pudding, cakes such as Tres leches cake, ice cream. Evaporated milk is perfect to use for soups, macaroni, pasta sauce, Mac and cheese, over cereals, and coffee or tea. Try evaporated milk instead of fresh milk the next time you make French toast, waffles, mashed potatoes, or Bechamel sauce. In fact, using evaporated instead as a substitute for cream adds more stability to the resulting product as compared to regular milk.
Homemade Evaporated Milk
Learn how to make evaporated milk at home with two simple methods: classic stovetop and a quick version using powdered milk. No additives, no fuss!
Video
Ingredients
- 540 ml (2½ cups) Milk full-fat
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 240 ml (1 cup) Whole milk
- 65 g (⅔ cup) Powdered Milk
- 15 g (2 tbsp) Melted butter (optional, for richer texture)
Method
- Pour the milk into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30–40 minutes. Stir occasionally and scrape the sides and bottom to prevent scorching.540 ml Milk , ¼ tsp Salt
- Continue until the volume is reduced to about half (approx. 240 ml). Optional: Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove any milk solids. Let cool completely before storing.
- Storage – Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze in small portions (ice cube trays or ½ cup containers) for up to 3 months.
- In a bowl or blender, combine warm water and powdered milk. Mix until fully dissolved. Stir in melted butter if using. Use immediately, or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.240 ml Whole milk, 65 g Powdered Milk , 15 g Melted butter
Notes
Tips for Success
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent scorching during the stovetop method.
- Stir often in the last 10 minutes—this is when milk is most likely to burn.
- Don’t cover the pot; you want the moisture to evaporate.
- For a smoother finish, blend the cooled evaporated milk briefly before storing.
- You can double the recipe and freeze extra in ½ cup portions.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Mention @veenaazmanov_kitchen or tag #veenaazmanovkitchen!- Homemade Caramel Sauce or Homemade Butterscotch Sauce
- Creme Caramel – flan
- Homemade Sour Cream – 3 Methods
- Homemade Whipped Cream or How to Make Stabilized Whipped Cream
Don’t lose this recipe! Save it for Later!
📌 Save this Recipe for later on Pinterest so you can easily find it again.
⭐ Add Veena Azmanov Kitchen to your Google Preferred Sources.
It helps Google show you more of our recipes.
📧 Subscribe for new recipes delivered to your inbox.
🎥 Follow us for more recipes
I have always wondered how to do this! Turned out so great! Will definitely be my go-to when I need evaporated milk. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Angela. So happy you found this recipe useful
I did the 5 minute method mixing milk with milk powder as per above instructions. It seems that if you cook it slightly too long you end up with unflavoured cheese. So anyone trying this, make sure it doesn’t go too thick while cooking.
Think I’ll try using water instead of milk next time.
Isobel, you don’t need to cook it down like the traditional method. Just until everything is well combined and dissolved. Overcooking will of course result is all the moisture evaporating completely. Thanks
I had never thought about making my own evaporated milk, but this seems so easy. I can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you, Kim. yes, it’s so easy and convenient
This is ingenious, evaporated milk is impossible to find here but milk powder is everywhere, works a treat too! Thank you
Thank you, Brian. Yes, it’s so delicious.
Oh, Veena, your recipe is a treasure! I always buy evaporated milk, but now I will make it in just 5 minutes. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much. Irina. So happy you found it useful
Well, now I know how to do it thanks to your recipe. No need to buy the store-bought kind. Pinned for later. Thank you!
Thank you, Genevieve.
Dear Veena,
Read your Story!! I was just speechless after reading it ..I mean how you must have managed through the last year!! I stay in India and was just searching for some videos to make homemade fondant and came across your website.
I just kept on reading it..i couldn’t stop myself from reading so many things on your website.
I am just intending to make cakes on my own and know how to prepare chocolate.
I also intend to start with my own workshops down line in next year , so was just doing some research work and came across your website .
You are such a strong willed and brave women..One can draw such great inspiration fom you ..as i even had a rough 2016 year.
I feel fortunate that i got my family back …i mean to say my husband back as i had left him due to his alcoholism…so even i had managed all the things on my own and did everything possible for my 11 year old Daughter Riya.
I am grateful for all i have right now.
Just felt that how i am just cribbing about the things and not working towards my set dreams .After reading your story , your profile felt , if you could do all these things , why not me ..
I should be and i will .
Thanks again for sharing and inspiring others.
I wish you A Very happy,Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2017 for your entire Family!!!
Warm regards,
Anuja Puranik
Pune,
Maharashtra,
India
Thank you so much Anuja.. it’s times like these when we know our true inner strength. It’s nice to see how you found my blog and so glad to hear that it’s been helping you. I wish you all the best.
Sorry to hear about your husband. I lost my father due to alcoholism! It took a serious toll on his liver, he was only 32 years old and I was a baby of two. So I was raised by a single mother with three children. Glad you back with your family now. Life without a father is not easy so I hope husband finds his path out of alcoholism for good, All the best. Thanks for you lovely comment.
Dearest Veena,
I want you to know that for every person who had a complaint about your blog, there are 100’s that love it. I don’t mind the ads and I like the combined blog, everything in one place.
I can certainly empathize with your situation. I have a small cake business that I run from my home as well as a daytime job working with and training dogs. Two years ago my husband suffered a heart attack while working in another city, two hours away. In that moment everything stopped. I have a wonderful family that stepped in to answer emails, fb messages, and a bridal tasting. I posted it right away, as soon as I knew my husband was going to be fine, so their would be no misunderstanding about where my priorities are.
This will actually bring things into focus for you. I wish you nothing but health and happiness in the New Year. I find you to be such an inspiration. God bless you and your lovely family.
Nance Fair-Kish
Thank you so much Nance – Thank you for your lovely comment and kinds words. Means so much. It’s friends like you that make me wanna do as much as I do on my blog. So sorry to hear about your husband I hope he is well and things are back to normal. Life can change in just and instant sometimes – just makes you realize how unimportant everything else is. Isnt’ it? Nothing means more than family sure. So happy to hear you have family to help. My family is in Bombay so unfortunately they cannot be of any help. Wish you a Happy New Year Nance.
Dear Veena, thank you so much for sharing your story. There is a personal life behind the smiles and positives we present on Facebook. You’re an amazing strong woman and certainly have had a challenging pressured year!! Your determined strength, perseverance and love for your family has pulled you through this. Yes, some more Veena time for 2017. I hope hubby is now fully recovered and wishing you all the very best for 2017!!
Thank you so much Calli – True this is the positive side we put up on Facebook and other social media. yes, more Veena time for me this year I hope. Thank you so much.
Veena, having just read your blog I can only applaud you for your strength in a terribly difficult (to put it mildly!) year. I am so sorry to hear this, I had no idea that you were having such an upsetting and worrying time. I do hope that your husband is on the mend and that your whole family have a wonderful New Year, you certainly deserve it. Pamela xx
Thank you so much Pamela!! yes it was a difficult year and Ziv is much better now!! Things are beginning to fall back in place and in the usual routine. Thank you so much and Happy New Year
Dear Veena what a difficult year. I know how that is, having a husband who is ill often and a special needs daughter it is similar here. But I know there is one thing so important. Take also care of yourself, when you are oké the people around you Will be oké too.
Have a wonderfull and healthy New year.
Greetings from the Netherlands
Marieke
Thank you so much Marieke. You are so right!! I do need to take a bit more of ME time. I need to give my own health the priority for sure.. If i’m healthy the family is healthy too!! Thank you so much – wish you a Happy New Year