Evaporated milk is a shelf-stable canned milk product with about 60% of the water removed from fresh milk. In the U.S., it is not sweetened. In other countries, such as Malaysia, it is sweetened.citation needed] It differs from condensed milk which contains sugar. Condensed milk requires less processing because the added sugar inhibits bacterial growth.
Evaporated milk was popular before refrigeration as a substitute for perishable fresh milk, because it could be reconstituted by adding water. In present times, household use is most often for desserts and baking. When mixed with an equal amount of water, it can be substituted for fresh milk in recipes.