Here’s the scoop on making caramel at home

Did you know that making caramel sauce at home only requires one ingredient, and heat?

You can make caramel by heating a 14-oz. can of sweetened condensed milk in three different ways. Here’s how:

Safety tip: Never heat sweetened condensed milk in the can. There are numerous recipes found online that instruct users to submerge an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a crockpot, but this method is not safe. Always open the can and pour the sweetened condensed milk into another container before heating.

In the oven

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Pour sweetened condensed milk into pie plate (8-inch or 9-inch).
3. Cover pie plate with foil and place in a larger shallow pan.
4. Create a water both by pouring hot water into larger shallow pan.
5. Bake until milk is thick and turns a light caramel color, about 60-90 minutes. Add more hot water if necessary during baking if water evaporates.
6. Take foil off of pie plate, then let cool.

On the stovetop

1. Pour sweetened condensed milk into top of double boiler and cover.
2. Place over boiling water.
3. Simmer until milk is thick and turns a light caramel color, about 60-90 minutes.
4. Optional: Beat caramel until smooth.
5. Let cool.

In the microwave

1. Pour can of sweetened condensed milk into 8-cup glass measuring bowl.
2. Cook for 4 minutes on medium heat. Stir after 2 minutes.
3. Cook on medium low heat until milk is thick and turns a light caramel color, about 12 to 16 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes until caramel is smooth.
4. Let cool.

Store leftover caramel in refrigerator for up to one week.

Sources: Eagle Brand