TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sweetened condensed milk is made by evaporating the majority of the water content in cow milk. This process would leave a congested liquid, which will then be sweetened and canned.

Despite being a milk product, sweetened condensed milk is significantly different than regular cow milk, from its taste to its appearance. Below is a list of facts that you need to know about condensed milk:

1. It is dissimilar to cow milk

Citing Healthline, sweetened condensed milk is made by evaporating more than half of the air in cow milk, making it sweeter and significantly different than regular cow milk.

2. It is rich in sugar

Compared to evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk has a higher level of sugar. The process of making sweetened condensed milk uses a significant amount of additional sugar. Thus, condensed milk is not suitable for people with diabetes.

3. It has a long shelf time

Sweetened condensed milk has a longer shelf time due to its high level of sugar. Canned condensed milk can be shelved for up to a year even without refrigeration. However, after being exposed to air, canned condensed milk must be stored in the refrigerator, decreasing its shelf time significantly.

4. It is rich in calories

The calories contained in the sweetened condensed milk make it appropriate for people who want to gain weight. In two spoonfuls of condensed milk, you may gain 90 extra calories and 2 grams of protein.

5. Unsuitable substitute for milk

Quoted from Antara, the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority does not recommend sweetened condensed milk as a sole substitute for regular milk. Condensed milk has no less than 8 percent of fat and 6.5 percent of protein. Thus, sweetened condensed milk is more appropriate as a topping for food and beverages.

MALINI

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