If you regularly cook several dishes with coconut milk, choose the total volume based on your recipes, then consider how many containers you’ll need to open. Carrefour lists a pack of two 1 L cartons, while Carrefour and Auchan also offer cooking formats from 20 to 50 cl. These packs aren’t as easy to manage after opening as a single 2 L container. Check the product description too: a 1 L coconut drink isn’t automatically a substitute for culinary coconut milk.
If you regularly cook curries, soups, sauces or desserts, compare a pack of two 1 L cartons with several 40 to 50 cl containers. The formats listed by Carrefour and Auchan make it easier to plan how much you need without opening every pack at once.
If each recipe uses only a small amount of coconut milk, 200 ml cartons make it easier to control how many units you open. Auchan, for example, describes its 200 ml format as a way to reduce waste.
If you’re looking for a 1 L carton, check what it’s intended for before adding it to your recipe ingredients. Carrefour lists culinary coconut milk separately from coconut drinks; the product description and ingredients can help you choose.
First, work out how much your recipes need and how many containers you’ll have to open. Then check that the product is suitable for your intended use and that you can follow its storage instructions once opened.
| Factor | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Volume and number of units | Compare the total volume, the size of each unit and how many cartons you’ll need to open. | If I’m making several dishes, I want enough coconut milk without having to open the whole amount at once. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise having enough volume. |
| Leftovers after opening | Check the size of each unit and the storage instructions after opening. | If there’s a gap between my recipes, I’d rather not leave a large amount open between cooking sessions. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise managing leftovers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list, the proportion of coconut extract where stated, and the nutritional information for the product you’re considering. | For a particular recipe, I want to choose coconut milk based on its ingredients, not just the carton size. Around 23% of consumers would put this first. |
| Cooking use | Check the product description and ingredients before choosing a 1 L carton. | If I’m looking for an ingredient to cook with, I don’t want to confuse coconut milk with a coconut drink. Around 15% of consumers would put this distinction first. |
The product listed by Carrefour as 2 L is actually two 1 L cartons. You can keep the second one sealed, but you’ll need to factor two units into your planning.
Before buying, check both the total volume and the capacity of each carton.
Carrefour lists culinary coconut milk separately from coconut drinks. The fact that they come in the same size doesn’t mean they’re suitable for the same uses.
Read the product description and ingredients list, then compare them with the recipe you plan to make.
The product listings for Auchan coconut milk in a 200 ml carton and E.Leclerc’s Tables du Monde coconut milk in a 200 ml carton state that they contain 50% and 63% coconut extract respectively. The ingredients listed also differ.
Compare the labels of the specific products, especially the ingredients and nutritional values. Don’t assume that the coconut extract percentage alone tells you how a product will perform in cooking.
Once opened, the printed date doesn’t replace the instructions for the product after opening. The DGCCRF recommends following the stated storage conditions or time limit for consumption after opening.
Plan your recipes around the individual units and follow the storage instructions on each pack.
The retailer lists culinary coconut milk in smaller formats, 1 L coconut drinks and an offer presented as a pack of two 1 L cartons of coconut milk.
The retailer lists culinary coconut milk in a 200 ml carton and a resealable 50 cl carton.
E.Leclerc lists a 200 ml carton of Tables du Monde culinary coconut milk.
The brand offers coconut drinks, including 1 L products listed by Carrefour.
These three coconut milks are sold in 1 L units for cooking. If you plan to use several units in your recipes, compare their product descriptions and labels. Each product shown is a 1 L unit, not a 2 L container.
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A 1 L unit to consider if you’re dividing coconut milk between several dishes. Check the ingredients and the bottle’s storage instructions before planning how to use it once opened.
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This 1 L format can be used for several recipes, but it doesn’t make up 2 L on its own. Check the label to understand the 17% claim and follow the instructions for use after opening.
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This 1 L unit is worth considering if you need coconut milk for several dishes. Its name states 17 to 19% fat; compare the ingredients and instructions for use after opening with your other options too.
Not automatically: Carrefour lists these products in separate categories. For a batch-cooking recipe, check the carton’s product description and ingredients, as well as the type of product the recipe calls for, rather than relying on the volume alone.
Start with the product description, ingredients, net quantity per unit and storage instructions. The DGCCRF also lists nutritional information as part of the labelling requirements for pre-packed food. This helps you compare specific products rather than assume all coconut milks have the same ingredients.
No. According to the DGCCRF, after opening you should follow the storage conditions or time limit given for the product once opened. If the packaging says to keep it refrigerated, follow that instruction. The Anses recommends returning foods that need refrigerating to the fridge promptly after use.