A “small can” of evaporated milk is generally 5 fluid ounces.

Standard small can size

  • Many packaging guides and cooking resources list a small can of evaporated milk as 5 fl oz, compared with the more common 12 fl oz “regular” can.
  • So if an older recipe says “1 small can evaporated milk,” using 5 fl oz (about 2/3 cup) is usually the right match.

Why this matters for recipes

  • A 12 fl oz can equals about 1½ cups, so using that instead of a 5 fl oz can would more than double the intended amount and can throw off texture in pies, fudge, or custards.
  • When in doubt and only a 12 oz can is on hand, measure out 5 fl oz (or about 2/3 cup) and save the rest for another recipe.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.