What is the Difference Between Milk and Evaporated Milk?

The main difference between milk and evaporated milk lies in their water content and culinary applications. Here are the key differences:

1. Water content: Milk has a higher water content, while evaporated milk has undergone a cooking process to remove over half of its water content. This results in a thicker and creamier texture.
2. Sweetening: Evaporated milk is unsweetened, while condensed milk is sweetened.
3. Culinary applications: Due to its reduced water content, evaporated milk is often used in recipes to provide a richer, creamier texture and enhanced flavor. It serves as a shelf-stable milk product with reduced water content, making it a versatile ingredient for cooking, baking, and coffee. On the other hand, regular milk retains its natural state with essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.
4. Nutrition: Evaporated milk contains higher levels of protein, fat, and calories per serving compared to regular milk due to its concentrated nature. It also has more sugar.

In summary, while both milk and evaporated milk have their origins in cow's milk, the difference in their water content, sweetening, culinary applications, and nutritional profiles make them distinct ingredients with different uses in cooking and baking.

Comparative Table: Milk vs Evaporated Milk

Here is a table comparing the differences between milk and evaporated milk:

The main difference between milk and evaporated milk is that evaporated milk is processed by removing about 60% of its water content, resulting in a thicker and creamier texture with a richer flavor. Milk, on the other hand, has a mild and fresh taste with a thinner consistency.