A 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk holds about 1 1/4 cups. Condensed milk is extremely thick — it pours slowly, like honey that has been in the fridge — so measuring it takes patience. The best way is to pour it into a measuring jug and wait for it to settle, or to spoon it into a cup measure and level it off. The can weighs 397 g in total, and because condensed milk is so dense with sugar, a cup of it weighs far more than a cup of ordinary milk. Do not try to convert it by weight using milk figures: condensed milk is a different ingredient entirely.
Sweetened condensed milk is the backbone of no-bake desserts, fudge, key lime pie and tres leches cake, and nearly every recipe that uses it calls for exactly one can. That is not a coincidence — the recipes were developed around the can, and the 1 1/4 cup figure is the bridge when a recipe is written in cups instead. A fudge recipe that calls for 1 1/4 cups of condensed milk wants one can; a recipe that calls for 2 1/2 cups wants two. Knowing the figure stops you opening a second can for a recipe that only needed one, and it stops you coming up short on a recipe that needed two.
Can of sweetened condensed milk conversion table
The table below breaks a 14 oz can into fractions. Condensed milk is thick and sticky, so spoon it into the measure and level it off rather than pouring and guessing.
| Amount | Cups (approx.) | Tablespoons | Fluid ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 can | 0.31 cups (about 1/4 cup) | 5.0 tbsp | 2.5 fl oz |
| 1/2 can | 0.62 cups (about 5/8 cup) | 10.0 tbsp | 5.0 fl oz |
| 3/4 can | 1 cups | 15.0 tbsp | 7.5 fl oz |
| Full can | 1.25 cups (about 1 1/4 cups) | 20.0 tbsp | 10.0 fl oz |
| 2 cans | 2.50 cups (about 2 1/2 cups) | 40.0 tbsp | 20.0 fl oz |
The can weighs 397 g in total (14 oz). Sweetened condensed milk is not in the ingredient density table, so no grams-per-cup figure is published here — measure by volume, and weigh it directly if your recipe works in grams.
Worked examples
Key lime pie for eight
A key lime pie for eight people uses one whole can of sweetened condensed milk — 1 1/4 cups — whisked with three egg yolks and 1/2 cup of lime juice, then poured into a biscuit crumb base and baked for fifteen minutes. The condensed milk is the entire filling: it provides the sweetness, the body and the creamy texture, and the lime juice thickens it as it sets. Do not reduce the condensed milk to make the pie less sweet — the filling will not set properly. Serve chilled with whipped cream.
Chocolate fudge for a gift box
A chocolate fudge recipe uses one can of sweetened condensed milk — 1 1/4 cups — melted with 2 cups of chocolate chips and a pinch of salt, then poured into a lined tin to set. The condensed milk is what makes the fudge set firm without boiling sugar to a precise temperature, which is why this is the easiest fudge recipe there is. Heat gently and stir constantly; if the mixture boils hard, the fudge can turn grainy. Let it set in the fridge for at least two hours before cutting.
Tres leches cake for twelve
A tres leches cake for twelve people uses one can of sweetened condensed milk — 1 1/4 cups — as one third of the milk soak, mixed with 1 cup of evaporated milk and 1 cup of whole milk. Poke holes all over the baked sponge with a fork and pour the mixture over slowly, letting it absorb before adding more. The cake needs at least four hours in the fridge, and overnight is better. The condensed milk is what makes the soak sweet and rich; without it, the cake would be milky but flat.
How the figure is worked out
There is no weighing involved in the headline answer — it is arithmetic on two published numbers. The package weight is a standard 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk. The cup weight comes from the ingredient table, and dividing one by the other gives the cups in the package. That is also why the answer is approximate: scoop a cup differently and the grams per cup change, so the cups per bag move with it. For anything where the amount truly matters, weigh the ingredient instead of counting cups.
Practical guidance
Getting condensed milk out of the can is half the job. It is thick and clings to the sides, so use a silicone spatula to scrape the can clean — there can be two or three tablespoons left clinging to the metal, and in a recipe that uses one can, that is a meaningful amount. If the milk has been in a cold cupboard, stand the unopened can in warm water for ten minutes first; it will pour much more easily. Never heat condensed milk in the can itself, and never put an unopened can in a microwave.
Do not confuse sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk. They sit next to each other on the shelf and the cans are similar, but evaporated milk is unsweetened and thin, while condensed milk is very sweet and thick. Using one in place of the other will ruin a recipe: a key lime pie made with evaporated milk will not set and will not be sweet enough, and a creamy soup made with condensed milk will be cloyingly sweet. Check the label every time. An opened can keeps for about a week in the fridge in a sealed container, and it can be frozen for up to three months.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a can of sweetened condensed milk?
The can weighs 397 g in total (14 oz). Sweetened condensed milk is not in the ingredient density table, so there is no published grams-per-cup figure. If your recipe works in grams, weigh the milk directly on a kitchen scale rather than converting from cups.
Can I use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk?
No. Evaporated milk is unsweetened and thin; condensed milk is very sweet and thick. They are different ingredients, and swapping them will ruin a recipe. A key lime pie made with evaporated milk will not set, and a soup made with condensed milk will be far too sweet.
How do I get all the condensed milk out of the can?
Use a silicone spatula to scrape the sides, and stand the unopened can in warm water for ten minutes before opening if it has been stored somewhere cold. The warmth thins the milk slightly and it pours much more easily. There are usually two to three tablespoons clinging to the can, so scraping is worth the effort.
How long does an opened can of condensed milk keep?
About a week in the fridge in a sealed container, or up to three months in the freezer. Transfer it out of the can as soon as you open it. Frozen condensed milk thaws overnight in the fridge and works exactly as before in cooking and baking.
Can I make sweetened condensed milk at home?
Yes, by simmering milk and sugar together until it reduces and thickens, but it takes about an hour and the result is rarely as smooth as the canned version. For most recipes the canned version is better and cheaper. Homemade condensed milk is worth trying only if you cannot buy it where you live.