Le Cordon Bleu

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Appears in
Cuisine Foundations
Cuisine Foundations

By Le Cordon Bleu

Published 2010

  • About

While evaporated milk uses sterilization to extend its shelf life, sweetened condensed milk uses sugar. Sugar can be added before or after evaporation, but the final product should be 45 percent sugar. Like evaporated milk, it was created as a canned milk substitute for regions that did not have access to dairies. Due to the high concentration of sugar, condensed milk can be stored for up to 2 years without refrigeration.

People often confuse condensed and evaporated milk, but they have different properties and, thus, different uses. In the United States, evaporated milk does not contain any sugar, whereas evaporated milk produced elsewhere may have some sugar added. Due to the sugar content of condensed milk, recipes calling for it will take this into account. Always use the type of milk called for to ensure your recipe achieves the desired sweetness.