Boiled condensed milk is one of the favorite treats familiar to everyone since childhood. But the purchased product is significantly different in taste and quality compared to home. Therefore, many are wondering how to cook and how much to cook condensed milk in a bank on time at home. To answer this question, you must first decide which condensed milk to choose and what to look for when buying, and then you can consider options and methods of preparation and use in cooking.
The appearance of condensed milk
Condensed milk was obtained in the middle of the 19th century by an American Gail Borden, who for many years had invented ways to extend the shelf life of various foods. As a result, the product was widely known. The inventor became famous, and an American city in the state of Texas was named after him.
In Russia, the production of condensed milk (or, more simply, condensed milk) first began in 1881 at a plant in Orenburg. Paradoxical as it sounds, condensed milk was not in demand, so the plant went bankrupt. During World War I, it became popular due to its long-term storage ability. As a strategic product, it was used for the needs of the army, as well as polar and Central Asian expeditions. Condensed milk was conveniently packaged in iron cans with a white and blue label, which is still relevant today.
In Soviet times, condensed milk was produced in strict accordance with GOST. In this regard, its quality was very high, and the composition was limited only to milk and sugar. Currently, condensed milk is produced by different technologies, so the taste and quality sometimes leave much to be desired.
How to choose condensed milk?
Before choosing condensed milk, you should pay attention to some features.
The composition of high-quality condensed milk should include the following components: cow's milk, sugar and cream. This is due, firstly, to safety requirements regarding the presence of food additives in some organisms that are not accepted by some organisms, and secondly, the inability to predict the reaction of these additives to an active long-term thermal effect. With a large amount of chemistry in the composition, when cooking, instead of the well-known boiled condensed milk, an incomprehensible exfoliated substance can be obtained.
It is very important to look at the name of condensed milk. The bank should indicate one of two variants of the name: “Condensed milk with sugar” or “Whole condensed milk with sugar”. If condensed milk has a different name, then this is an imitation.
Compliance with GOST
The bank must bear the marking "GOST". Products certified by GOST mainly contain animal components. If the bank has the marking “TU”, then palm oil is included in the composition, which will not allow condensed milk to thicken. Concerning condensed milk, GOST R 53436-2009 is currently in force.
When studying markings, it must be remembered that the letter “M” must be in front of it and the number 76 after the first two characters.
You should know that the maximum shelf life of condensed milk without additives is twelve months.
Bank Integrity
When choosing a jar, you need to check that it has an even shape without bruises and chips. A deformed can is more likely to get bacteria and germs inside. If there are no other options, then it should be cooked in a different container.
When studying the composition, you need to look so that milk fat in the composition of condensed milk is at least 8 percent. Then, when cooking, the mass will turn brown, with a dense and viscous consistency.
Cook condensed milk in a jar at home
Just before cooking, it is necessary to check the quality of the condensed milk itself. To do this, open the jar and mix the contents. If the consistency is uniform, without seals and lumps, without delamination and easily slides off a spoon, it can be safely cooked.
There are several ways to cook condensed milk in a jar at home. The most common of these are:
Cooking in the bank. To do this, remove the label from the can and place it in the pan. Then pour water there so that the can is completely covered with it. Put the pan on the stove, bring the water to a boil. After that, reduce the power and leave for about two to two and a half hours. In this case, you must ensure that the liquid does not boil completely, and periodically add it. Cover the pan is not necessary.
The problem with cooking in this way is that the can can explode and splatter everything around. In order to avoid massive pollution during the explosion, you need to cover the jar with something heavy. Although there is a risk that the same object in an explosion could injure someone who is standing nearby.
Alternative cooking methods
Water bath. This method is longer, but safe. You need to open the jar and pour the contents into a glass container with thick walls. Then the container with condensed milk must be put on a pot of water to get a water bath. Cook condensed milk for four to five hours.
Condensed milk in a pressure cooker. To do this, you need to put the jar in a pressure cooker, after removing the label from it. Then pour water there. Put the pressure cooker on the stove and turn on the maximum power. Fifteen minutes after the water boils, the stove can be turned off.
Condensed milk in the microwave. You need to open the jar and pour the contents into a special dish designed for use in the microwave. Put the container with condensed milk in medium mode for fifteen to twenty minutes.
How much to cook condensed milk in a jar until brown in time
The question seems to be simple, but still requires knowledge of certain nuances. To determine how long it takes to cook a can of condensed milk, you need to pay attention to two points: what percentage of fat it has and what consistency it needs. Experts assure that it is unrealistic to weld it to the desired consistency in less than an hour. Consider how long it takes to get what result.
Answering the question of how much to cook condensed milk in a jar until brown, it should be said that to get a thick, stretching and dense goodies such as toffee, it is necessary to cook condensed milk for at least 4–4.5 hours. After such a long heat treatment in a cooled form, it will become solid. Most often, such condensed milk is used as a filling for puffs, as well as the main ingredient in the preparation of homemade cakes and sweets.
Other options for boiled condensed milk
To get a treat of a shade of coffee with milk with a softer consistency, condensed milk in a jar needs to be boiled from two and a half to three hours. Then the mass will easily drain from a spoon, slowly harden, but maintain mobility when cooled. Condensed milk of this consistency is perfect as a fill for pie, toppings for waffles, etc.
To get a condensed condensed milk with a light caramel flavor and a touch that is easily diverging in warm water, you need to cook it for an hour and a half.
In general, it is possible to cook condensed milk in a jar in a pressure cooker in ten minutes, but they usually do not take into account how much time it takes to cool down. After all, before pulling out the jar, you must wait until the water cools down. Since the pressure cooker lid remains closed, the cooking time is extended to an hour.
The use of boiled condensed milk
The most common way to use boiled condensed milk since childhood is to eat with a spoon, while it is delicious to drink the sweetness of coffee or tea. However, boiled condensed milk has much more potential for use. For example, caramel treats can be used in the preparation of desserts, some are described below.
For example, the famous "nuts" are products from shortcrust pastry, the halves of which are filled and fastened with boiled condensed milk. Or wafer rolls, which after baking are filled with condensed milk and twisted. You can also make homemade “Twix”. To do this, bake the sand cake and divide it into sticks. Each of them should be poured with condensed milk and chocolate icing. Cool the prepared sticks. It will be a great substitute for a store treat. Boiled condensed milk can even be a part of such complex desserts as mousse, creme brulee, and cake. It can also be either one of the components of the impregnation or cream, or an independent ingredient. For example, you can make caramel cheesecakes. To do this, just mix the cottage cheese and flour with boiled condensed milk and fry as usual. It will turn out incredibly tasty!
Cold sweets include “cold” cakes. Their cooking does not take much time, and they do not require baking. To do this, mix boiled condensed milk with nuts and ground biscuit cookies. Formed cakes must be left in the refrigerator for several hours. The treat is ready.
In fact, the culinary masterpieces prepared using boiled condensed milk, a great many! These are cakes, custard cakes, and famous straws. The main thing is to turn on the imagination, and your favorite product can be applied anywhere!
Boiled condensed milk is an incomparable treat! Fans of this treat should remember that the choice of a quality product is the most important thing for cooking boiled condensed milk at home. The second and no less important factor is the correctness of the preparation. And if the result is exactly what was required, you can start the meal.