Yes, regular milk can be used instead of evaporated milk, but some adjustments are needed because evaporated milk is more concentrated. To substitute evaporated milk with regular milk, you can gently simmer regular milk to reduce it by about 60%, which thickens and concentrates it to a consistency similar to evaporated milk. For example, if a recipe calls for one cup of evaporated milk, start with about 1⅔ cups of regular milk and reduce it down to one cup by simmering. Alternatively, you can use regular milk as a 1:1 substitute if the recipe allows, but this may result in a thinner texture. In some recipes, you may need to thicken regular milk with flour or cornstarch to mimic evaporated milk's texture, especially in sauces. For baking, you might need to adjust other ingredients slightly to maintain the desired texture and flavor. In summary:
- Simmer about 1⅔ cups of regular milk to reduce to 1 cup evaporated milk.
- Use 1:1 regular milk substitution in some recipes, but expect a thinner consistency.
- Consider thickening with flour/cornstarch or adjusting recipe ingredients if necessary.
This method works well for cooking and baking when evaporated milk is not available.
