Understanding the Ingredients: What Are the Ingredients in Great Value Evaporated Milk?

Great Value evaporated milk is created by removing 60% of the water from regular cow's milk, which concentrates its flavor and extends its shelf life. If you've ever wondered what are the ingredients in Great Value evaporated milk that allow for this transformation and long-term storage, the list is surprisingly short and straightforward.

Quick Summary

Great Value evaporated milk's ingredients include milk, dipotassium phosphate, and fortified vitamins. Some varieties also contain carrageenan. The process concentrates the milk solids for a shelf-stable product.

Key Points

• Core Components: Great Value evaporated milk contains concentrated milk, stabilizers (dipotassium phosphate, carrageenan), and added vitamins (D3, A palmitate).

• Concentration and Sterilization: The product is made by removing 60% of the water from milk and then sterilizing it, which creates a creamy, shelf-stable item without added sugar.

• Not Sweetened: A key differentiator is that evaporated milk is unsweetened, unlike its sweeter counterpart, sweetened condensed milk.

• Versatile for Savory and Sweet: Its use is not limited to desserts; its concentrated richness is perfect for creamy savory dishes like soups and sauces.

• Heat-Stable for Cooking: The stabilizers in evaporated milk prevent it from curdling under high heat, making it an excellent addition to heated sauces and casseroles.

• Fortified with Nutrients: Added vitamins D and A boost the product's nutritional value, aiding in calcium absorption and overall health.

Core Ingredients of Great Value Evaporated Milk

Great Value evaporated milk, a Walmart private label, primarily consists of cow's milk that has had water removed. The standard version includes milk, dipotassium phosphate, carrageenan, and vitamin D3. The fat-free variety uses nonfat milk and may also contain vitamin A palmitate. These simple ingredients contribute to the product's function as a concentrated dairy item.

What Each Ingredient Does

• Milk: The foundation, with concentrated solids providing richer flavor and texture after water removal.
• Dipotassium Phosphate: A stabilizer preventing curdling during heating and storage, maintaining consistency.
• Carrageenan: A thickener and stabilizer from seaweed, it stops fat separation and ensures uniform texture.
• Vitamin D3: Added for fortification, supporting calcium absorption and bone health.
• Vitamin A Palmitate: Often added to fat-free versions to restore vitamin A lost with fat removal.

The Commercial Production Process

The creation of evaporated milk involves concentrating and sterilizing milk for a long shelf life. The key steps include:

1. Water Removal: Heating milk, often under vacuum, to reduce water content by about 60%.
2. Standardization: Adjusting fat and non-fat solids to meet standards and adding stabilizers.
3. Homogenization: Breaking down fat globules for even distribution and to prevent separation.
4. Sterilization and Canning: Sealing the milk in cans and heating to sterilize and ensure shelf-stability.

Great Value Evaporated Milk vs. Sweetened Condensed Milk

Evaporated milk is distinct from sweetened condensed milk due to the absence of added sugar. A comparison is provided below:

Feature	Great Value Evaporated Milk	Sweetened Condensed Milk
Sugar	No sugar added. Unsweetened.	Heavy amount of added sugar.
Flavor	Slightly caramelized, savory milk flavor.	Intensely sweet and sugary.
Consistency	Thicker and creamier than regular milk, but pourable.	Very thick, syrupy, and dense.
Common Uses	Creamy soups, sauces, casseroles, baked goods, coffee.	Desserts, candies, caramel sauces, sweet drinks.
Substitutability	Cannot be directly substituted for condensed milk without adding a significant amount of sugar.	Not a substitute for evaporated milk in savory dishes due to high sweetness.

Versatile Uses in the Kitchen

Great Value evaporated milk's composition makes it a versatile ingredient in both sweet and savory applications, offering a creamy texture and concentrated flavor. It can be used for:

• Velvety soups and sauces, preventing curdling under heat.
• Adding richness and moisture to baked goods.
• Creating smooth mashed potatoes.
• As a rich coffee creamer.
• Tenderizing meats in marinades.

Conclusion

Great Value evaporated milk is a simple product primarily composed of concentrated milk, stabilizers, and vitamins. Its creation process involves removing water and sterilization, resulting in a shelf-stable, unsweetened ingredient. This makes it a highly versatile pantry staple for numerous culinary uses, both sweet and savory.

Key Takeaways

• Core Components: Great Value evaporated milk contains concentrated milk, stabilizers (dipotassium phosphate, carrageenan), and added vitamins (D3, A palmitate).
• Concentration Process: Evaporated milk is made by removing about 60% of the water from regular milk, resulting in a more concentrated flavor and a thicker consistency.
• Stabilizers are Key: Dipotassium phosphate and carrageenan are added to prevent curdling during sterilization and to keep milkfat from separating over long-term storage.
• Fortification for Nutrition: Vitamins A and D are added to enrich the product, boosting its nutritional value for consumers.
• Versatile Kitchen Staple: Evaporated milk's creamy, unsweetened profile makes it suitable for a wide range of savory and sweet recipes, from creamy soups and sauces to baked goods.
• Not Sweetened Condensed Milk: Unlike its syrupy counterpart, evaporated milk is unsweetened and should not be used interchangeably with sweetened condensed milk.

FAQs

Question: Is Great Value evaporated milk real milk? Answer: Yes, Great Value evaporated milk is made from real cow's milk. The only difference is that a portion of the water has been removed, and it has been sterilized for a longer shelf life.

Question: How is evaporated milk different from regular milk? Answer: Evaporated milk has approximately 60% of its water removed, making it more concentrated, creamier, and slightly caramelized in flavor compared to regular milk. It is also heat-sterilized for a long shelf life.

Question: Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk? Answer: No, the two are not the same. Evaporated milk is unsweetened, while sweetened condensed milk contains a large amount of added sugar. They are not interchangeable in recipes.

Question: Can I use Great Value evaporated milk in place of heavy cream? Answer: In many savory recipes like soups and sauces, you can use evaporated milk as a lower-fat alternative to heavy cream to achieve a creamy texture. However, it will not whip like heavy cream.

Question: What does dipotassium phosphate do in evaporated milk? Answer: Dipotassium phosphate acts as a stabilizer. It prevents the milk from curdling when it undergoes the high heat sterilization process, ensuring a smooth, consistent product.

Question: Why is carrageenan in evaporated milk? Answer: Carrageenan is a stabilizer and thickener added to prevent the milkfat from separating from the liquid during its long storage time. This ensures the consistency remains uniform.

Question: Does evaporated milk have a long shelf life? Answer: Yes, because it is sterilized and canned, evaporated milk is shelf-stable and can be stored in the pantry for months or even years. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Great Value evaporated milk real milk?

Yes, Great Value evaporated milk is made from real cow's milk. The only difference is that a portion of the water has been removed, and it has been sterilized for a longer shelf life.

How is evaporated milk different from regular milk?

Evaporated milk has approximately 60% of its water removed, making it more concentrated, creamier, and slightly caramelized in flavor compared to regular milk. It is also heat-sterilized for a long shelf life.

Is evaporated milk the same as condensed milk?

No, the two are not the same. Evaporated milk is unsweetened, while sweetened condensed milk contains a large amount of added sugar. They are not interchangeable in recipes.

Can I use Great Value evaporated milk in place of heavy cream?

In many savory recipes like soups and sauces, you can use evaporated milk as a lower-fat alternative to heavy cream to achieve a creamy texture. However, it will not whip like heavy cream.

What does dipotassium phosphate do in evaporated milk?

Dipotassium phosphate acts as a stabilizer. It prevents the milk from curdling when it undergoes the high heat sterilization process, ensuring a smooth, consistent product.

Why is carrageenan in evaporated milk?

Carrageenan is a stabilizer and thickener added to prevent the milkfat from separating from the liquid during its long storage time. This ensures the consistency remains uniform.

Does evaporated milk have a long shelf life?

Yes, because it is sterilized and canned, evaporated milk is shelf-stable and can be stored in the pantry for months or even years. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within a few days.