Is It Safe to let condensed milk boiling in can? One of my favorite desserts is caramel! Throughout my baking career, I’ve always wondered how to make the perfect caramel. I was wondering if it was safe to boil a can of sweetened condensed milk to make the caramel while learning how to make it.
In general, boiling a can of condensed milk is safe, but only if done correctly. Place a can of condensed milk in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Following all of the safety precautions can keep the condensed milk can from exploding.
While boiling condensed milk is safe, it is important to know how to do it correctly. Understanding these safety precautions will also help you achieve the desired consistency in your caramel! This and other questions about boiling a can of condensed milk will be addressed in this article.
Is it Safe to Let Condensed Milk Boiling in Can?
If done correctly, boiling a can of condensed milk is generally safe. However, because heat causes expansion, a closed can of condensed milk can explode after being boiled for an extended period of time. This could be avoided by completely submerging the can in water while it is boiling.
Personally, I boiled many cans of condensed milk without incident every time I wanted to make myself some delicious caramel.
WARNING!
To keep my condensed milk cans from exploding, I boil them in my double boiler to keep direct heat away from the cans. I have no trouble placing the cans on the top pot of water.
Can Boiling A Can Of Condensed Milk Cause It To Explode?
Boiling a can of condensed milk, in general, has a very low risk of exploding. Condensed milk (a high-fat, low-moisture substance) has a higher boiling point than water. So, even if you immerse a can of condensed milk in boiling water, it is unlikely to explode.
As you may already know, heat causes things to expand. Boiling a can of condensed milk for an extended period of time may cause the can to explode.
Before boiling, add a can of condensed milk!
If you’re going to boil a can of condensed milk, do it slowly and for a short period of time. This will help to reduce the likelihood of an explosion.
On the other hand, if the milk contains moisture, the can may explode when placed in boiling water. As you know, heat causes moisture to expand, and thus the can explode.
What Happens When You Boil Condensed Milk?
When a can of sweetened condensed milk is boiled, it produces dulce de leche or caramelized milk. Slowly adding heat to condensed milk breaks down its sugars, causing it to caramelize and thicken. When the condensed milk turns brown, the caramel is ready.
This is what happens:
According to Baking Nook, sweetened condensed milk contains approximately 45% added sugar. When slowly heated in boiling water, the heat begins to slowly but ineffectively break down the sugars.
When condensed milk is boiled, it caramelizes into brown!
The milk will begin to caramelize and thicken after a few hours. The high sugar content keeps it from overheating or scorching. Dulce de leche is sweetened condensed milk that has been boiled for a long time until it thickens, darkens, and becomes a spreadable caramel.
Some people even refer to it as milk jam!
It can also be eaten raw, without being boiled. However, if you must boil it, take the necessary precautions to avoid the can exploding.
What Happens When You Boil Condensed Milk?
Because sweetened condensed milk contains approximately 45% sugar, slowly adding heat caramelizes and thickens the condensed milk, transforming it into a thick spreadable paste. Boiling also thins the milk, increases its sweetness, and turns it brown in color.
The end result is dulce de leche, or condensed milk jam, a delicious treat that can be eaten on toast, pancakes, or waffles. It can also be found in a variety of recipes.
*Side Note: You might also be interested in learning How To Make Caramelized Sweetened Condensed Milk. I recently published an article about it, which you can read!
To Sum Up…
In my experience, boiling a can of condensed milk in water has never been a problem. Following the proper precautions allowed me to safely boil a can of condensed milk by completely covering it with water.
So, while boiling a can of sweetened condensed milk is safe, you should always take precautions just in case. Hopefully, this article has helped you determine whether or not it is safe to boil a can of sweetened condensed milk.