What is a Substitute for Milk?

Looking for a Substitute for buttermilk? Or making a pie and need a substitute for evaporated milk? There are many different kinds of milk products these days, fresh, canned, powdered milk, evaporated milk and many other alternatives to dairy products.
Use this table to find a substitute for evaporated milk or any other milk called for in your recipes. Whichever type is called for you should find a suitable substitute for milk. You could also find a substitute for buttermilk, or learn how to make buttermilk or sour milk. If the milk substitute is just appropriate for baking, it is noted in the table of substitutes for milk.

Substitutes for Milk Products

Ingredient	Amount	Substitute
Buttermilk substitute	1 Cup	1 Tablespoon lemon juice OR white vinegar then add milk to make 1 cup, allow to thicken for 5 minutes before using
		OR 1 Cup Yogurt
Evaporated Milk substitute	1 Cup	1 Cup Light Cream
	12 oz can	OR 1&1/2 Cup Water +plus 1/2 Cup +plus 1 Tablespoon Powdered Milk (Blend this well)
Skim Milk substitute	1 Cup	4 Tablespoons non-fat powdered dry milk mixed with water to make 1 cup
Sweetened Condensed Milk substitute	1 Can	Heat 1/3 Cup + 2 Tablespoons of Evaporated Milk with 1 Cup Sugar and 3 Tablespoons of butter or margarine until all ingredients are dissolved.
Whole Milk substitute	1 Cup	1 Cup of non-fat dry milk mixed according to package directions and 2 Tablespoons of butter or margarine
		OR 1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk and 1/2 Cup Water
		OR 1 Cup Soy Milk
		OR 1 Cup Almond Milk
		OR *for baking only – 1&1/2 teaspoon of butter added to 1 Cup of Water
Coconut Milk substitute	1 Cup	1 Cup of whole milk

Please note that some substitutes may make a slight difference in the taste, texture, richness or moisture of your finished product. These milk substitute ideas are meant to save you a trip to the store before completing your recipe.

For information on the shelf life of milk visit our webpage on how long does milk last.