What is the difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk?
Evaporated milk is milk with some water removed and no sweetener added. Sweetened condensed milk is made by removing water from milk mixed with sugar-type sweeteners. Under US FDA rules (21 CFR 131.130 and 131.120), evaporated milk needs at least 6.5% milkfat and sweetened condensed milk at least 8%.
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In this article
How does the FDA define evaporated milk?
The FDA calls evaporated milk “the liquid food obtained by partial removal of water only from milk.” It must contain at least 6.5% milkfat, at least 16.5% milk solids not fat and at least 23% total milk solids, by weight. Vitamin D is required at 25 International Units per fluid ounce. It is homogenized, sealed in a container and heat-processed to prevent spoilage.
How does the FDA define sweetened condensed milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is made by partial removal of water from a mixture of milk and safe and suitable nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners. The finished food must contain at least 8% milkfat and at least 28% total milk solids, by weight. The sweetener must be enough to prevent spoilage.
Evaporated vs condensed milk side by side
| Evaporated milk | Sweetened condensed milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Milk only | Milk plus sweeteners |
| Minimum milkfat | 6.5% | 8% |
| Minimum total milk solids | 23% | 28% |
| Sweetener required | No | Yes, enough to prevent spoilage |
Source for all figures: FDA regulations as published in the eCFR, read 5 Nov 2026.
Can you swap one for the other?
The legal definitions show why they are not the same: one has no added sweetener and the other is built around it. We found no official source that gives swap ratios, so check the recipe and the label before substituting.
People also ask
Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk?
No. Evaporated milk is milk with water partly removed and no required sweetener. Sweetened condensed milk is made from milk and sweeteners with water partly removed (FDA, 21 CFR 131.130 and 131.120).
How much milkfat must evaporated milk have?
At least 6.5% milkfat by weight and at least 23% total milk solids, per FDA 21 CFR 131.130.
How much milkfat must sweetened condensed milk have?
At least 8% milkfat by weight and at least 28% total milk solids, per FDA 21 CFR 131.120.
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