Navigating the dairy section at the grocery store is one thing, but when it comes to the canned stuff, how much do you know about the difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk?

These two nonperishable dairy products usually sit right next to each other on the grocery shelf, and with holiday baking season fast approaching, they’ll both be crucial elements in pies, cookies, bars, and much more. And while evaporated and condensed milk are easy to confuse, they’re very different products: using one when you meant to use the other is a hard pill (or pie) or swallow. To clear the confusion, we’re here to share everything you need to know about these canned milk ingredients, their differences, and how to use them.

The difference between evaporated and condensed milk

Before we discuss what sets evaporated milk apart from condensed milk, it’s important to discuss their similarities.…