Canned milk is great to cook with
While you might not enjoy drinking evaporated milk directly from the can due to its distinct taste compared to regular milk, there are certainly compelling reasons to incorporate it into your cooking. Using canned milk can impart a subtle nutty, caramel flavor and a rich texture to various recipes, making them truly delectable and worth savoring. Its unique taste is particularly delightful in desserts like hot fudge and caramel turtle brownies, and it can even serve as a substitute for Cool Whip. To create this, simply whip some chilled evaporated milk and add dollops on top of your grandma's cherished apple pie recipe (or any dessert you prefer).
But its benefits extend beyond sweet dishes. Surprisingly, evaporated milk also acts as an effective meat tenderizer, thanks to the phosphates it contains. To achieve more tender and juicy steaks, just soak them in a milk marinade for a few hours before cooking. It’s that simple.
Lastly, canned milk can transform a mundane plate of corn chips into a mouthwatering platter of nachos topped with a special cheese sauce. Because it’s less likely to curdle than regular milk, your sauces will be creamier and less prone to scorching, thanks to the evaporation process. This process helps the soluble whey proteins envelop the casein in the milk, reducing the chances of separation when reheating. Less separation means less curdling, resulting in creamier cheese sauces for your nacho night.
Stocking canned milk and shopping your pantry
In addition to enhancing the flavor of your meals, keeping a supply of a dozen or more cans of evaporated milk in your pantry is particularly useful for those who like to shop from their cupboards. If you're not familiar with pantry shopping, it involves planning your meals based on what you already have at home rather than making frequent trips to the grocery store. This approach can be especially budget-friendly if you purchase canned goods in bulk when they’re on sale. Having canned milk on hand allows you to avoid the supermarket during times when food prices are high.
Canned milk typically comes in 12-ounce containers. Since it is condensed, you'll need to add water to achieve the consistency of regular milk. Generally, you should mix one and a half cans of water with each can of evaporated milk (you can simply refill the empty milk can with water for this measurement). A can of evaporated milk costs around $1.20, which yields nearly 4 cups of milk using this method. Even if a gallon of milk is slightly less expensive at the store, the long shelf life of evaporated milk can save you both time and money over time.
While you can certainly use evaporated milk in its concentrated form for cooking, the ability to dilute it with water allows you to stretch your budget further. This is an effective strategy to reduce your grocery expenses without compromising on flavor or texture.
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