Sweetened Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk is one of the most popular ingredients used in desserts and drinks all over the world. It has a thick, creamy texture, intense sweetness, and a unique flavor that sets it apart from other types of milk. But how does this sweet, sticky concoction make its way onto your dinner plate? Let’s take a closer look at the process of making and transporting sweetened condensed milk to your kitchen.

Creating Sweetened Condensed Milk

Making sweetened condensed milk begins with cow’s milk. According to the Encyclopedia of Food, the milk is heated to evaporate off water molecules and reduce the total amount of liquid. As this happens, the proteins and carbohydrates in the milk become more concentrated and develop a rich, creamy texture[1]. The resulting mixture has a thickness like that of heavy cream, though it contains less fat.

The heating process is followed by adding granulated sugar to the hot milk. This increased sweetness is necessary to make up for the loss of flavor during the evaporation process. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, most sweetened condensed milk recipes call for a combination of white sugar and brown sugar[2], which gives the product an even more complex flavor.

Once the sugar is added, the final step is to pasteurize the sweetened condensed milk. This process involves briefly heating the mixture to sterilize any bacteria or microorganisms that may have contaminated it. After pasteurization, the sweetened condensed milk is ready to be canned or packaged for sale to consumers.

Transporting Sweetened Condensed Milk

Once the sweetened condensed milk is created, the cans or bottles are transported to the stores. Usually, transport will depend upon the specific brand, region, and other factors. In the United States, it’s common for sweetened condensed milk to be shipped by truck or train from the manufacturer to various grocery stores and other retailers. If needed, the sweetened condensed milk may also be placed in cold storage containers to keep it preserved during transport.

Once the sweetened condensed milk arrives at its destination, it’s placed on the shelves ready for purchase. Depending on the product and the store, some sweetened condensed milk may also be stored in the refrigerators to preserve its quality.

Sweetened Condensed Milk in the Kitchen

When you purchase sweetened condensed milk, it can be stored in the pantry at room temperature until you’re ready to use it. However, if it isn’t used within a few days, it should be kept in the refrigerator or freezer to avoid spoilage.

When it’s time to prepare a dessert or drink recipe that calls for sweetened condensed milk, the product must be heated, stirred, and blended into the other ingredients. According to the Chicago Tribune, most recipes call for heating the sweetened condensed milk either on the stovetop or in the microwave[3]. At this stage, it’s important to make sure the milk doesn’t burn or become too thick.

Once it’s fully blended into the other ingredients and the recipe is complete, the sweetened condensed milk will appear as a thick, creamy, sweet component of the dish. You can enjoy it alone or in various recipes such as cheesecakes, ice cream, and hot chocolate.

Conclusion

Sweetened condensed milk is an important part of many desserts and drinks around the world. To get from the factory to our dinner plates, the milk is heated, sweetened, and pasteurized before being packaged and transported to stores. From there, it’s up to us to add this delicious ingredient to our favorite recipes and enjoy its unique flavor.

[1] “Sweetened Condensed Milk.” Encyclopedia of Food, 2019.

[2] “Sweetened Condensed Milk.” International Dairy Foods Association, 2015.

[3] Racine, Axie. “What is Sweetened Condensed Milk?” Chicago Tribune, 2017.