Does sweetened condensed milk have lactose?

We all love dairy products, not only because of their great taste but also their nutritional content. Unfortunately, some people are lactose intolerant and will never get the chance to enjoy these products.

Today, we find out whether sweetened condensed milk has lactose. But first, let’s see how it is made; It is made by taking out a significant portion of water from the milk, leaving you with a thick liquid that’s sweetened and tinned. And while sweetened condensed milk is a milk product, it tastes and looks different from milk. It is thicker, darker, and sweeter with a creamy texture.

What’s more, it has a long shelf life, which is why it is a popular component in many dishes globally.

So, does sweetened condensed milk have lactose?

Yes. It is made from cow’s milk and has lactose and milk proteins. Hence, if you are lactose intolerant or have a milk protein allergy, then sweetened condensed milk is not the product for you.

On the other hand, some lactose-intolerant individuals can consume small lactose amounts daily. All the same, if you have these two allergies, keep in mind that sweetened condensed milk has a lot of lactose in smaller portions.

Evaporated milk Vs. condensed milk

These two dairy products are made in the same way; by taking out most of the water from milk. Hence, you can use them interchangeably, though they’re somewhat different.

The key variance is that sweetened condensed milk has sugar added as a preservative, which comes in handy in extending its shelf life. However, the evaporated milk is pasteurized, as opposed to adding sugar to extend its shelf life.

Since evaporated milk doesn’t have any extra ingredients, you can add water to it, and the result will be a product that is nutritionally and visually similar to cow’s milk. Due to the added sugar, sweetened condensed milk will be sweeter than regular milk, even when you add water.

Amount of sugar in sweetened condensed milk

Both sweetened and evaporated condensed milk have some sugar from the milk they’re made from. On the other hand, sweetened condensed milk is sweeter than its counterpart due to the added sugar.

For instance, 30ml of sweetened condensed milk has slightly more than 15g of sugar. However, its counterpart has 3g of sugar for 30 ml. Hence, evaporated condensed milk has approximately 1/5 times the amount of sugar as sweetened condensed milk.

Nutrition information

As seen, sweetened condensed milk has high sugar amounts. As it is made from cow’s milk, it has some fats, protein, and a broad scope of minerals and vitamins. Besides, it is packed with energizing ingredients. For instance, 30 ml of this product will have the following;

• 90 calories
• 2.2 grams of proteins
• 15.2 g of carbs
• 2.4 g of fat, just to mention a few.

Sugar is the biggest part of sweetened condensed milk. At the same time, it has minerals, vitamins, fat, and proteins.

Benefits of sweetened condensed milk

While some people don’t like sweetened condensed milk because it has many calories, it comes with a handful of benefits, including:

Extended shelf life

Sweetened condensed milk has added sugar; hence, it lasts longer than cow’s milk. You can store it in a can for a long time, even without refrigeration, and it will be good for up to one year.

That being said, once you open it, it would be best if you refrigerated it, though its shelf life reduces to not more than 14 days. To optimize freshness, make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Has extra protein and calories

Thanks to its increased calorie portion, sweetened condensed milk is an excellent place to begin if you’re trying to add some weight. For example, if you add a spoon or two of sweetened condensed milk to your morning cereal, you’ll have added 2g of protein and over 70 calories to your breakfast.

You no longer need sugar since sweetened condensed milk will add calories to your meals and offer many other minerals like phosphorus and calcium, fats, and proteins.

Downsides

While sweetened condensed milk comes with several benefits, it also presents a few disadvantages:

High-calorie content

The more calories in a small amount of sweetened condensed milk, the more pros and cons it presents, depending on what you need. This is an excellent product if you’re trying to add some weight. On the other hand, if you want to lose weight, sweet condensed milk might not come in handy.

Not for lactose or milk intolerant individuals

As mentioned previously, sweetened condensed milk contains lactose and milk proteins. For this reason, if you’re allergic to lactose and milk protein, then this product is not for you.

Weird taste

Even though some people love how sweetened condensed milk tastes, others might not. Usually, it’s too sweet to be a substitute for regular milk. However, it can be used for sweet dishes.

Uses

Sweetened condensed milk is very popular and is used globally for numerous purposes, like incorporating it in foods and drinks like coffee, baked goods, and many more! Its creamy and thick texture makes it ideal for desserts. For instance, it is used throughout Southeast Asia to sweeten coffee, whether cold or hot.

In Brazil, it comes in handy in making truffles, while in the UK and US, it’s an essential ingredient in fudge and lime pie. You can as well use it to make cakes and ice cream and add it to some sweet soups and stews to make them creamier. However, add it in small amounts as it might be too sweet to add to savory meals.

In conclusion

Sweetened condensed milk is prepared by taking out most of the water from the milk. It has high-calorie content and is sweeter than evaporated milk due to the added sugar. It can be used to flavor desserts, some stews, and coffee. However, it is not the ideal choice for lactose and milk-protein-tolerant individuals. So, does sweetened condensed milk have lactose? Yes. Though, for the lactose-intolerant people who can consume small lactose amounts daily, you can take a small amount.