The Quickest Substitute: Using Evaporated Milk
If you have a can of evaporated milk on hand, you are already halfway there. This method is the most efficient because the water has already been removed from the milk for you. It yields a texture and sweetness very similar to the commercial canned product.
- Ingredients: 1 cup evaporated milk, 1-1/4 cups sugar
- Method: Combine the milk and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat while stirring constantly.
- Goal: You want the sugar to dissolve completely. Do not let it boil vigorously. Once the sugar is dissolved, let the mixture cool. It will thicken as it cools.
The From-Scratch Method: Using Regular Milk
If you do not have evaporated milk, you can use standard dairy milk, but the process takes significantly longer. You essentially have to make your own evaporated milk first by removing the water content yourself.
- Simmer: Pour milk (whole milk works best) into a saucepan.
- Reduce: Slowly simmer the milk over low heat. You need to reduce the liquid volume by about 60%. This removes the water.
- Sweeten: Once the milk has reduced, add the sugar (use the same ratio relative to your reduced liquid, or adjust to taste). Stir until dissolved and let cool.
Note: This process can be tedious. Milk scorches easily, so you must keep the heat low and stir frequently to prevent a burnt layer from forming on the bottom of the pan.
Storage and Shelf Life Tips
While these substitutes work well in a pinch, they do not have the same preservation methods as the canned variety. Store any homemade condensed milk in the refrigerator.
Commercial sweetened condensed milk is famous for its incredible shelf life. If you decide to stock up on cans to avoid this extra work in the future, keep them in a cool, dry place. A helpful tip for long-term storage is to flip the cans over every two months. This helps keep the sugar evenly dispersed throughout the milk so it does not settle at the bottom.