Question: I’ve heard you can make caramel by boiling an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk. Is this safe?
Answer: No, an unopened can should never be heated in boiling water or the oven. We last printed this precaution in the June 19, 1986, “You Asked About . . . “ column, so it’s no doubt time to remind people that although some consumers have used the method for a long time, it is hazardous.
Borden Inc., manufacturer of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk, has developed and tested the following three safe and convenient methods of caramelizing their product:
OVEN METHOD: Pour one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk into a 9-inch pie plate. Cover with foil; place in larger shallow pan. Fill larger pan with hot water to just below pie plate rim. Bake at 425 degrees 1 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel-colored. Beat until smooth.
STOVE-TOP METHOD: Pour one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk into top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer one to 1 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel-colored. Beat until smooth.
MICROWAVE METHOD: Pour one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk into a 2-quart glass measure. Cook on MEDIUM (50% power) 4 minutes, stirring briskly every two minutes until smooth. Cook on MEDIUM-LOW (30% power) 12 to 18 minutes or until very thick and caramel-colored, stirring briskly every two minutes until smooth.
To reheat in microwave: Place desired amount of caramel in a 1- or 2-cup glass measure. Heat on HIGH (100% power) 40 to 50 seconds or until warm, stirring after 20 seconds.
Note: Microwave ovens vary in wattage and power output; cooking times may need to be adjusted.
Borden suggests enjoying caramelized sweetened condensed milk in the following ways:
--As a pudding with whipped cream and shaved chocolate
--As a topping for ice cream, pound cake or angel food cake
--Combined with whipped cream to fill cream puffs or layer in parfaits
--As a frosting or filling for cookies, cakes and tortes
--Spooned over baked apples, poached pears, rice pudding, bread pudding
They also offer the following variations:
--For Spicy Caramel Topping: Caramelize one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk; stir in 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract; add water to desired consistency; mix well.
--For Nutty Caramel Topping: Caramelize one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk; stir in one teaspoon vanilla, 1/3 cup chopped toasted nuts and two tablespoons flaked coconut.
--For Chocolate Caramel Topping: Caramelize one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk; stir in one teaspoon vanilla, one (1-ounce) square unsweetened, melted chocolate and 1/3 cup chopped nuts, if desired. Mix well.
Address questions on food preparation to You Asked About ..., Food Section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. Personal replies cannot be given.
FAQs
Sweetened condensed milk is the perfect base for making a wet caramel. It is basically milk that has had more than half of its water content removed before being sweetened and packed in cans.
What does condensed milk turn into when heated? ›
Dulce de Leche is a heavenly substance. At first glance, it looks a little like caramel, but it's actually sweetened milk that's been heated long enough to cause a caramelizing to occur. That's the long-winded explanation, so here's the short one: It's creamy, dreamy substance used as an ingredient in so many desserts.
What is caramelized condensed milk called? ›
Dulce de leche (Spanish: [ˈdulse ðe ˈletʃe, ˈdulθe]), caramelized milk, milk candy, or milk jam is a confectionery popular in Latin America, France, Poland, and the Philippines prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk over several hours.
Can you buy caramelized sweetened condensed milk? ›
Now instead of heating up regular Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk to produce a rich caramelized sauce, you can easily add caramel flavor to your favorite recipes with our Eagle Brand Caramel Flavored Sweetened Condensed Milk. Easy to open lid. Rich & Creamy Caramel Flavor.
Why is my condensed milk caramel not thickening? ›
Inadequate heat. Maintain a steady heat during the baking process. If the heat is too low, caramelization may not occur, and the mixture won't thicken. Adjust the heat to achieve a gentle simmer in the water bath.
How do you harden caramel condensed milk? ›
The sweetened condensed milk makes this caramel drizzle a bit more luxurious than your average caramel -- and with the luxurious texture comes some hardening if you're not using it right away. It will get slightly harder within about an hour of sitting out and will get even harder in the refrigerator.
Can you harden condensed milk? ›
Put a can of sweetened condensed milk into a pot of simmering water deep enough to cover the can. Simmer for about 3 hours. When cool, it will be solid.
Is it OK to heat condensed milk? ›
No. For safety reasons, we do not recommend heating a can of our condensed milk, opened or unopened. The current can is not designed to withstand high temperatures. Instead, please follow these instructions for making Homemade Caramel.
What happens if you drink a can of condensed milk? ›
There could be gas, cramps, and stomach discomfort. Because condensed milk is more concentrated than the same volume of regular milk, it contains more lactose. Sweetened condensed milk includes a lot of calories, but it also has a lot of saturated fat, which is dangerous for people with diabetes and heart issues.
Is dulce de leche the same as caramel? ›
Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.
Nestle Carnation Caramel Condensed Milk - 6x397g.
How to turn condensed milk into caramel in the microwave? ›
It's easy, as long as you have a nice large bowl. Empty a can of condensed milk into a bowl and microwave it for 3 minutes. Take it out, stir it, and do it again, watching carefully.
Why does condensed milk turn into caramel? ›
When you add heat to your ingredients, they undergo a chemical reaction known as the “Maillard reaction.” This means that the sugar is cooked to the proper moisture level and caramelization occurs. You know when this happens as the mixture changes colour to a rich brown.
Is it safe to boil a can of condensed milk? ›
Is it safe to boil my can of sweetened condensed milk to make caramel sauce? No. For safety reasons, we do not recommend heating a can of our condensed milk, opened or unopened. The current can is not designed to withstand high temperatures.
What happens when you whip condensed milk? ›
Can condensed milk be whipped like cream? Yes, condensed milk can be whipped to create a creamy, fluffy texture similar to whipped cream. This makes it a great alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or looking for a dairy-free option.
Can you substitute condensed milk for caramel? ›
There are 2 ways to make this superb caramel made from a can of condensed milk. You can boil a can in a saucepan for 3 hours or do it in a slow cooker. As a can of Dulce de leche will happily keep unopened in the pantry for months (as if!), I like to do a big batch – 4-6 cans at a time.
How do you convert condensed milk? ›
If you add water to it (1:1 ratio) it can then be used as a replacement for whole milk. Keep in mind that it has close to half a cup of sugar added per cup of SCM so if you are mixing it with water for a recipe you should reduce the sugar you add by 1/4 cup per cup of milk needed.
