Mixers

Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is unsweetened whole milk with about half its water removed, tinned and sterilised. Carnation’s UK tin carries 9g of fat per 100g and only the milk’s own sugar. It gives body without the fat of cream or the sugar of condensed milk, which is its job in our Coquito, where one 355ml measure goes into the blender with the condensed milk.

Quick Facts

Legal categoryFood

OriginA tinned staple made in many countries; Carnation is the familiar UK name

Flavour Strengthlight medium

Our keeping timeSealed: to the printed date. Opened: a few days, refrigerated and covered.

Storage

Store sealed tins in the cupboard; once opened, decant to a covered container and refrigerate.

Allergens

Contains: milk.

The ingredient

About Evaporated Milk

Flavour Profile

Primary Flavours

milkycookedrichfaintly caramelised

Tasting Notes

Concentrated dairy with a gentle cooked-milk note from sterilising: rounder than fresh milk, without cream’s weight.

Half the water, none of the sugar

Evaporated milk is milk heated under reduced pressure until about half its water has gone, then tinned and sterilised in the can. Carnation’s UK tin lists whole milk, a stabiliser and vitamin D, and nothing sweet, which is what separates it from the sweetened condensed tin beside it on the shelf. Per 100g it carries 9g of fat and 12.2g of sugars, all of that sugar from the milk itself.

Tinned milks against fresh, per 100g

Whole milk, fresh

Fat: At least 3.5g
Sugars: Milk’s own
Kept by: Refrigeration
Opened: Days, as the bottle says

Evaporated milk (Carnation)

Fat: 9g
Sugars: 12.2g, milk’s own
Kept by: Sterilising in the tin
Opened: About three days refrigerated

Sweetened condensed milk (Carnation)

Fat: 8g
Sugars: 55g
Kept by: Its sugar
Opened: Days, refrigerated and covered

Double cream

Fat: At least 48g
Sugars: Milk’s own
Kept by: Refrigeration
Opened: As the pot says

Milk	Fat	Sugars	Kept by	Opened
Whole milk, fresh	At least 3.5g	Milk’s own	Refrigeration	Days, as the bottle says
Evaporated milk (Carnation)	9g	12.2g, milk’s own	Sterilising in the tin	About three days refrigerated
Sweetened condensed milk (Carnation)	8g	55g	Its sugar	Days, refrigerated and covered
Double cream	At least 48g	Milk’s own	Refrigeration	As the pot says

In Coquito it carries the body

Our Coquito blends 355ml of evaporated milk with coconut milk, cream of coconut, 400g of sweetened condensed milk, rum, vanilla and spice, then rests overnight. The condensed milk sweetens; the evaporated milk adds dairy weight without more sugar. Swapping one tin for the other wrecks the balance either way. Shake the bottle before each pour, since the milks settle as the batch rests.

Sealed it keeps; opened it does not

A sealed tin keeps to its date in the cupboard because it was sterilised after sealing. Once opened, nothing protects it, so move it to a lidded jar in the fridge and use it within the days the label gives. It settles, so shake the tin before opening. Leftovers suit coffee or a sauce the next day. For allergy purposes it is simply milk.

Using it

Using Evaporated Milk

Usage

Measured by the tin, 355ml in our Coquito, and run in a blender for 60 seconds with coconut milk, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum and spice. Shake or whisk the tin first, since it settles.

Pro Tip

Chill the tins before blending a Coquito. A cold base needs less time in the fridge before the first pour.

Top Tips

Check the label says evaporated, not condensed. The tins look alike and the drinks do not.
Shake the tin before opening, or whisk the contents, so the drink gets the thicker part too.
Move an opened tin’s contents to a lidded jar and chill it.
Let evaporated milk carry the body and leave the sweetening to the condensed milk.

Possible Substitutions

Whole Milk: whole, simmered down slightly, for a thinner result
Cream: single cream let down with a little milk

Production Method

Milk heated under reduced pressure to remove about half its water, homogenised, tinned and sterilised in the can. Nothing sweet is added, unlike sweetened condensed milk.

Go further

More to explore

Common Questions

Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk?

No. Both are milk with water removed, but sweetened condensed milk has sugar added, about 55g per 100g in Carnation’s tin, and evaporated has none. Evaporated is sterilised in the tin; condensed keeps because of its sugar. Our Coquito uses both, for different jobs.

Why does Coquito use evaporated milk?

For body without more sugar or fat. The condensed milk and cream of coconut already sweeten the batch, and the coconut milk brings fat. Evaporated milk adds dairy weight on top, so the drink is rich enough to pour over ice without tasting thin.

Can I use fresh milk instead of evaporated milk?

You can, and the Coquito comes out thinner, because fresh whole milk has about twice the water. Simmering it gently to reduce it closes part of the gap. Single cream let down with a little milk is the other route, with more fat.

Does evaporated milk contain sugar?

Only the milk’s own lactose. Carnation’s UK tin lists whole milk, a stabiliser and vitamin D, with 12.2g of sugars per 100g, all from the milk, against 55g in its condensed milk. It tastes faintly sweet and cooked, not sugary.

How long does evaporated milk keep once opened?

A sealed tin lasts to its printed date at room temperature. Once opened it behaves like fresh milk: pour it into a lidded jar, chill it and finish it within the days the label gives, about three for Carnation’s, per retailer listings.

Why does evaporated milk taste cooked?

Because it is cooked twice: the water is driven off with heat, then the sealed tin is sterilised. The heat browns the milk’s sugar slightly, which gives the faint caramel note that suits a spiced drink such as Coquito.

Make something

Made with Evaporated Milk

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Coquito

Often Used With

Guide by Jerry Can Spirits · Updated 11 October 2026

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