Evaporated Milk Vs Half And Half: Difference And Comparison

Evaporated milk has fewer calories, less cholesterol, and less fat than regular milk. Plus, it has a richer, more intense flavour. Half and half, on the other hand, is just watered-down milk.

It's like drinking dishwater instead of the real thing. But what if you want to use half and half? That's when things get tricky.

Because most people don’t realize half and half don’t have milk at all, but rather a mixture of milk and water. So how do you tell the difference? 

Well, if you put a few drops of food colouring into either one, you’ll see that half and half will turn a bright yellow. Evaporated milk, on the other hand, will remain a white or off-white colour. 

So let’s find out the differences between evaporated milk and a half and half, so you can choose which one is right for you. 

We will also discuss things like- is evaporated milk high in cholesterol vs half and half, is it healthier or can we substitute it instead of half and half. 

What Is Evaporated Milk?

Evaporated milk is cream separated from whole milk. It’s heated to a temperature of 185 °F over several hours, which causes the water to evaporate so only the fat remains. 

The process is very similar to making butter, but unlike butter, evaporated milk undergoes pasteurization that kills any harmful bacteria that might be present in the milk. 

After this, sugar is added to provide flavour. Evaporated milk is most often used for baking and for making desserts. It’s also sometimes used as a coffee creamer, though this is becoming less common.

What Is Half-And-Half?

Half-and-half is a combination of skimmed milk and butterfat. In many cases, it’s also a mixture of cream and whey.

It’s a more highly processed but cheaper version of whole milk. It contains a lot of additives and preservatives to give it longer shelf life.

It is used for both cooking and serving, though it’s best known as a coffee creamer. Because half-and-half is watered-down milk, it has a less intense flavour than whole milk.

In half-and-half (10 to 12 percent), the amount of butterfat also has fewer calories than regular milk. 

Difference Between Evaporated Milk Vs Half And Half

Evaporated Milk Nutrition Facts

Evaporated milk has considerably more calories, fat, and cholesterol than regular milk. That’s because many of the vitamins present in milk get removed during the pasteurization process. However, it still has fewer calories, fat, and cholesterol than half-and-half.

• Calories: Evaporated milk has about 50 percent more calories per cup than regular milk.
• Fat: Evaporated milk contains 5 grams of fat per cup. That’s about the same amount of fat as regular skimmed milk.
• Cholesterol: Evaporated milk contains twice as much cholesterol as regular milk.
• Protein: Evaporated milk has about 15 grams per cup, which is slightly less than regular milk.
• Sodium: Like regular milk, evaporated milk contains about 30 milligrams of sodium per cup. However, since it’s a saturated fat food, it contains about 100 milligrams of cholesterol per cup. It means evaporated milk has more cholesterol than regular milk or half-and-half.

Half & Half Nutrition Facts

Half-and-half has fewer calories, less fat, and less cholesterol than regular milk. However, it also has less vitamin A, calcium, and protein.

• Calories: Half-and-half has about the same amount of calories per cup as regular milk.
• Fat: Half-and-half contains 12 grams of fat per cup. That makes half-and-half definitively fattier than skim milk (which contains no fat or butterfat). But half-and-half still has fewer fats per serving than whole milk.
• Cholesterol: Half-and-half contains about 105 milligrams of cholesterol per cup. That’s less than the amount in whole milk, containing approximately 129 milligrams of cholesterol per cup.
• Protein: Half-and-half has about the same amount of protein as regular milk. However, it still has less protein than skim or soy milk.
• Sodium: Half-and-half has only 30 milligrams of sodium per cup. That’s about as much as skim milk and a little less than soy milk.
• Carbohydrates: Half-and-half contains a little more carbohydrates than regular milk but still less than regular skim or soy milk. It means half-and-half has a slightly higher glycemic index (GI) value than regular milk. 
• The GI measures how rapidly a food can raise blood sugar. However, half-and-half is still low on the glycemic index compared to other types of dairy products.
• Mineral content: Half-and-half has the same essential mineral content as regular milk. Half-and-half contains about 150 milligrams of potassium per cup, which is more than regular milk. 

The potassium in half-and-half comes from added ingredients, not from the butterfat or whey proteins. 

Allergies And Interactions With Medication:

Evaporated milk contains lactose (sugar) and may contain traces of milk protein, which can cause allergic reactions in some people with lactose intolerance or a milk allergy. 

People taking drugs that react with fatty foods or dairy products should check with their doctors before consuming evaporated milk.

Which Is Better – Half And Half Or Evaporated Milk?

Drinking half-and-half is best for you if you’re trying to lose weight. The fat content in evaporated milk is higher, which means it will have a higher calorie count.

Furthermore, using half-and-half as a coffee creamer adds more calories to your daily intake, making it harder for you to lose weight. 

FAQs

Is Evaporated Milk Healthy?

Evaporated milk contains a significant amount of saturated fat. If you’re looking to improve your diet, it’s a much better alternative than using cream or butter to enrich the coffee flavour. 

However, use it sparingly. You should also look for an evaporated milk product with no added sugars or preservatives, as these will only add additional calories to your coffee.

The colour changed…

Evaporated milk is separated fat and has a distinctively different colour than regular milk (similar to Tang). However, we found that the colour change was not as noticeable as we first expected.

It is partly because the coffee gets a shade darker after it’s poured and partly due to the foam on the top of your latte or cappuccino.

One thing you might want to do with evaporated milk is to buy a can of “powdered coffee whitener.” You can find this product in the tea aisle at most grocery stores. Just add a small amount to your milk before adding it to your coffee.

Can You Use Half And Half As A Coffee Creamer?

Yes. It’s a great way to get extra calcium in your coffee without adding any extra calories. Just be sure to use it sparingly since half-and-half has more saturated fat than skim milk or soy milk considerably. 

What Is A Good Substitute For Half And Half Creamer In A Coffee?

We don’t recommend consuming half-and-half as a coffee creamer. The fat content in half-and-half is much higher than that of skim milk or soy milk.

So if you notice an adverse reaction to the fat content in half-and-half, it's best to avoid drinking coffee with it.

When To Use Half And Half In Your Coffee?

Half-and-half is a great way to add some extra creaminess when you’re making lattes or cappuccinos, but it may be too high in saturated fat for everyday use. 

On the other hand, the taste of half-and-half is somewhat similar to that of whole milk, so you could always add a little bit to your coffee in place of low-fat or skim milk.

When To Use Evaporated Milk In Your Coffee?

Evaporated milk is an excellent alternative to regular milk when you’re making a latte or cappuccino. It’s a great way to add a lot of extra creaminess without too much fat since it has nearly the exact amounts of fat as skim milk and soy milk.

Is evaporated milk healthier than half and half?

Due to the cream content of half-and-half, we recommend that you use it sparingly. Also, suppose you’re making coffee for just one person. 

In that case, the extra fat and the possibility of an allergic reaction may outweigh any health benefits that may be present in evaporated milk. 

If you’re looking to add a little bit of extra creaminess to your coffee without adding any extra calories, consider using evaporated milk instead of half-and-half. 

Can i use evaporated milk instead of half and half?

Absolutely. It’s thicker and creamier than half-and-half. It’s also lower in fat, with 1 gram per tablespoon compared with 4 to 5 grams for similar amounts of the other product.

Is evaporated milk high in cholesterol vs half and half?

No. Evaporated milk contains less cholesterol than half-and-half. Half-and-half contains 11 milligrams of cholesterol per tablespoon, compared with 1 milligram in a similar amount of evaporated milk.

Can you substitute evaporated milk for half and half?

The products labeled as evaporated milk and half-and-half are two different things. The latter is a combination of skim milk, the protein casein, and butterfat.

Where as the former is just skim milk. When it comes to taste, they're identical; however, because evaporated milk is unsweetened, it will not have that creamy taste that half & half provides. 

Conclusion: Evaporated milk vs Half and Half

In conclusion, when you’re making a latte at home, you can save money by using evaporated milk instead of half-and-half.

Just add a little bit to your coffee in place of low-fat or skim milk. I hope all your questions about evaporated milk vs Half and Half and you know what milk to substitute instead of half and half. 

You also learned which one is healthier for you. So, which one do you prefer using? Do you think evaporated milk vs Half and Half is way better than the other one?

Which one is your favorite to use in the morning or afternoon when making latte? Let me know down below in the comment section. Thank you for reading this article!