For porridge or pudding that needs a creamy consistency, choose culinary coconut milk. For cereal or a hot drink, look for coconut-based plant drinks instead. A lighter culinary version is another option to compare for a recipe, but neither ‘plant-based’ nor ‘light’ means you can skip checking the ingredients, nutrition information and any relevant allergy information.
For porridge, chia pudding or pancakes where coconut is an important part of the recipe, compare culinary coconut milks. Products listed by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain between 50% and 63% coconut extract, making them different from coconut-based plant drinks.
If you need to avoid a specific ingredient, check each product rather than relying on the ‘plant-based’ label alone. The DGCCRF states that allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Also check the packaging you buy for any precautionary ‘may contain’ statements.
If you mainly want something to pour or drink, distinguish a plant-based drink from culinary coconut milk, even a lighter version. The VEGE drink listed by E.Leclerc contains 3.2% coconut extract, while the culinary coconut milks mentioned above are more concentrated.
Start with what you plan to make, then check the exact product’s ingredients and nutritional information. If you’re choosing mainly based on an exclusion, a recipe, nutrition information or pack size, different factors will matter most.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and dietary exclusions | Read the ingredients list, check which allergens are highlighted and look for any precautionary ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging you buy. | If I need to avoid a specific ingredient, the word ‘plant-based’ isn’t enough to help me decide. Around 40% of consumers put this check at the top of their list. |
| Texture and recipe | Distinguish culinary coconut milk from a plant-based drink; compare the coconut extract content for the recipe you have in mind. | For my chia pudding, I’m looking for the right consistency without confusing the two categories. Getting the recipe right would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information | Compare fat and sugar content on the same basis, then take the portion you’ll use into account. | If I want to compare a lighter culinary version with other products, I look at the figures rather than relying on the product name alone. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this nutritional balance. |
| Pack size and storage | Check the volume and the instructions for refrigeration and use after opening. | For a single recipe, I’d rather not open a container if I won’t use the rest in time. The right pack size would be the main consideration for around 10% of consumers. |
The two categories have different formulations. For example, culinary coconut milks listed by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain between 50% and 63% coconut extract, compared with 3.2% in the VEGE drink listed by E.Leclerc.
Choose according to what you’re making: before replacing culinary coconut milk with a plant-based drink, check that it will work in your recipe.
These labels alone don’t tell you whether a product contains a specific allergen or may contain traces of one. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, read the label of the product you’re actually buying, including any relevant ‘may contain’ statements.
Instructions for use after opening vary between products. The Auchan product pages consulted advise using a 50 cl carton within 48 hours and Coco Cuisine within up to five days, following the storage instructions for each product.
Choose a pack size to suit the number of recipes you have planned, and follow the packaging instructions once opened.
The Auchan products mentioned here are for cooking: a resealable 50 cl carton and Coco Cuisine UHT 17% in a pack of three 20 cl cartons.
The products listed by E.Leclerc make it easy to distinguish Tables du Monde culinary coconut milk from the VEGE coconut and rice plant drink.
The Carrefour Sensation product mentioned here is sterilised coconut milk in a 400 ml can, listed as a cooking ingredient.
ALDI’s Asia Green Garden range includes coconut milk in different sizes, including 400 ml, 570 ml and 800 ml.
Here, Alpro features among the coconut-based plant drinks for coffee, rather than as a culinary coconut milk.
These products are for use in recipes, with different pack sizes and formulations to compare depending on what you’re making. If you’re mainly looking for something to pour over cereal or add to coffee, remember that this selection is different from coconut-based plant drinks.
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Worth considering for a recipe that calls for culinary coconut milk. If you’re looking for a product made only with coconut and water, check the ingredients for this one, which also contains guar gum.
The pack size is 400 ml. Check the packaging for ‘may contain’ statements and storage instructions after opening.
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Worth comparing if you want to use coconut milk in a recipe while considering a product labelled ‘Light’. Compare its fat content with other products on the same basis.
The pack size is 400 ml. Also check the ingredients list, any ‘may contain’ statements and the instructions for use after opening.
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The 200 ml size could suit a small breakfast recipe. The Auchan product page for Kara organic coconut milk describes a formulation made with organic coconut extract and water; check the ingredients list on the pack you buy.
Before comparing fat content, check the nutrition information on the packaging: the figures given for this product don’t match. Also check for any ‘may contain’ statements.
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This small pack is worth considering for a one-off recipe that needs culinary coconut milk. Before opening the can, check that the quantity is right for your recipe.
If you’re looking for a particular ingredients list or need to avoid an ingredient, check the composition and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging.
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A pack of six bottles could suit several recipes, as long as you’ll make use of that quantity. Follow the storage instructions for each bottle once opened.
The description for this product lists ‘Nuts’ among the allergens. If you need to avoid tree nuts or another allergen, don’t assume it’s suitable for you: check the French wording on the label and any ‘may contain’ statements before choosing.
No: ‘plant-based’ doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable if you need to avoid a specific ingredient. The DGCCRF states that allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted; check the full ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the product you buy.
Don’t expect the same result if you swap them without adjusting the recipe. The culinary coconut milks listed by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain between 50% and 63% coconut extract, compared with 3.2% in the VEGE drink listed by E.Leclerc. Check what your recipe calls for.
Follow the time and temperature guidance on the product you buy: there isn’t one set of instructions for all coconut milks. The Auchan product pages mentioned advise keeping the 50 cl carton in the fridge for 48 hours and Coco Cuisine for up to five days at between 0 °C and +6 °C.
No. The Kara Light product listed by Auchan contains xanthan gum and guar gum, among other ingredients; it also lists 12 g of saturated fat per 100 ml. Compare the ingredients list and nutrition information for the product you choose rather than relying on its name alone.