How to differentiate condensed milk from evaporated milk?

Both are used to make desserts and have very similar presentations, so it is not uncommon to find ourselves in front of the supermarket shelf not knowing which one we need for our recipe. Will sweetened condensed milk work the same as evaporated milk? Differentiating these types of milk is not complicated, but it can be confusing.Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are different in several aspects, although in some cases, they could be interchangeable. What they have in common is that both have their water content reduced by almost 60 percent.On the other hand, the main difference between evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk is the sugar content; sweetened condensed milk has a lot of sugar added, while evaporated milk does not.What is sweetened condensed milk? Sweetened condensed milk is a form of concentrated milk, as approximately 60 percent of its water content has been removed and then around 40 to 45 percent sugar is added before canning. It has a thick consistency, a caramel color, and a very sweet flavor.Sweetened condensed milk is commonly used in baking and desserts, such as gelatin cups with cream that are served at children's parties, cakes, puddings, ice creams, and as a sweetener in coffee and tea.What is evaporated milk?As its name indicates, evaporated milk is produced by heating milk until approximately 60 percent of the water it contains has evaporated. It is then homogenized, packaged, and sterilized. This is a dense, creamy, and highly concentrated milk that can be canned and stored for several months. It has a slightly caramelized flavor and a darker color than regular milk.There can be skimmed, low-fat, and whole evaporated milk, and this type of milk is used in dishes that seek a creamy texture but do not necessarily want to add a sweet touch, so it is used in both sweet and savory recipes, for example, horchata uses evaporated milk to make it creamier or white sauces in food often use it as well.In summary, sweetened condensed milk is basically evaporated milk, but sweetened with sugar, while evaporated milk contains no added sugar and is a very concentrated milk.Lastly, if you wonder whether you can use evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk, the answer is no, because sweetened condensed milk contains sugar, so it cannot directly substitute evaporated milk, especially in savory recipes.The next time you find yourself confused in the supermarket, think about whether your recipe is sweet or savory and take a look at the presentations; you will surely recognize some of the characteristics we have outlined here.Classic recipes with evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk:Rice puddingThree milk cakeCondensed milk trufflesShrimp cream