People cooking without dairy on a short stay
You’re preparing a few meals in a holiday rental kitchen, so both the ingredients in the product you buy and the quantity your recipes need matter.
Who is this advice for?
Travellers looking to avoid leftovers
If fridge space is limited or you’re due to leave soon, compare the pack size with how long the product keeps once opened.
People looking for a coconut plant-based drink
For cereal or a drink, you’ll want a plant-based drink rather than culinary coconut milk intended for sauces.
What should you check?
In a holiday rental, first decide whether you’ll use coconut for cooking or drinking. Then check the ingredients of the product you choose and how to store it once opened.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding dairy | Read the ingredients and any highlighted allergens on the packaging of the product you buy; don’t rely on the word ‘coconut’ alone. | If I need to avoid all dairy ingredients, the product name isn’t enough to tell me. Around 31% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Cooking | Tell culinary coconut milk apart from a plant-based drink, and compare their ingredients for the recipe you have planned. | For a curry or sauce, I’m looking for a cooking ingredient rather than a drink to pour over cereal; around 31% of consumers would put this distinction first. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the pack size with the meals you have planned and check the product’s storage instructions and use-by period once opened. | I’m leaving soon and don’t want to leave an opened pack in the rental. For around 23% of consumers, avoiding leftovers would be the main concern. |
| A breakfast drink | Choose a coconut plant-based drink; check its nutritional information and ingredients to make sure they suit your needs. | If I mainly want a breakfast drink, culinary coconut milk isn’t intended for the same use. Around 15% of consumers would make finding a drink their priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘dairy-free’
These labels don’t necessarily mean the same thing. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
If you need to avoid dairy completely, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy, even if it looks like a plant-based product.
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Using a coconut drink to make a sauce
The products described by Carrefour have different ingredients: Alpro’s unsweetened coconut drink contains 1.2 g of fat per 100 g, while Carrefour Sensation culinary coconut milk contains 18 g per 100 g. Don’t assume they’ll give the same results in a recipe.
Choose the right type for your planned use, then check the ingredients if the texture of the sauce matters.
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Opening a large pack for just one recipe
An opened pack takes up fridge space and needs to be used within the period stated for that product.
Before you buy, count the dishes you’re planning to make and compare smaller packs with 400 to 500 ml containers.
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Rejecting coconut milk just because it has separated
Real Thai says that the fat may separate in its 200 ml carton.
Check the date and storage instructions, then follow the shaking instructions on the product in question. Don’t assume the same applies to every product.
Brands to know when comparing products
Kara
Culinary coconut milk in cartons, including 200 ml and 500 ml sizes.
- Auchan’s product listing for the 200 ml organic coconut milk states that it contains 64% organic coconut extract and water.
- Ingredients vary by product: the 500 ml version described in the information reviewed contains xanthan and guar gums, among other ingredients. Also check the storage instructions once opened.
Real Thai
UHT culinary coconut milk sold in a 200 ml carton.
- Auchan’s listing for this product states that it contains 85% coconut extract and water.
- Real Thai says the contents may separate and advises kneading or shaking the carton. Once opened, keep it in the fridge and use within three days.
Alpro
Coconut plant-based drinks for drinking, unlike culinary coconut milk.
- Carrefour’s unsweetened coconut drink is fortified with calcium and vitamins B12 and D2.
- This product contains 14.1% coconut milk and 1.2 g of fat per 100 g. Don’t treat it as a cooking substitute that will necessarily give the same results as coconut milk for sauces.
Carrefour Sensation
Sterilised culinary coconut milk in a 400 ml container.
- Carrefour states that this product contains 85% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 g.
- The ingredients list includes guar gum. If you’ll be using the pack over several meals, check the storage instructions for once it’s opened.
Auchan
Semi-thick coconut milk in a 200 ml pack, intended for cooking.
- Auchan’s listing states that this product contains 88% coconut extract and 24 g of fat per 100 g.
- This product contains xanthan gum. Keep it in the fridge and use within 48 hours of opening.
Coconut milk and cream for cooking
These Joybuy products are for cooking: the 150 to 200 ml packs may suit a one-off dish, while you’ll need a plan for using the rest of the 400 ml pack. A coconut plant-based drink is intended for a different use.
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Kara organic UHT coconut milk, 17% fat, 200 ml
Worth considering for a one-off meal while you’re away for a short stay.
If you need to avoid dairy completely, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you buy, along with the storage instructions for once it’s opened.
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Kara organic UHT coconut cream, 24% fat, 200 ml
Worth considering if your recipe calls for coconut cream rather than a plant-based drink.
The fat content is stated in the name of this variant; check the packaging for its ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
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Chaokoh coconut milk, 18% PK, 150 ml
The smaller pack may suit you if you’re only cooking once in your rental.
Check the packaging to understand the ‘18%’ claim, confirm the ingredients and find out how long it keeps once opened.
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Wind Mill tinned coconut milk, 165 ml
This size is a handy way to buy a smaller amount for cooking during your stay.
Check the ingredients to make sure they meet your dairy-free requirements, and follow the storage instructions for the tin.
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Chaokoh tinned coconut milk, 400 ml
Consider this if you’re planning several portions or recipes rather than one small dish.
Plan how you’ll use the rest, and check the tin for the ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
Frequently asked questions
Is coconut milk always dairy-free?
No. Check the product you’re buying rather than relying on its name. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted. If you need to avoid dairy completely, read the ingredients list and allergen information.
Can a coconut plant-based drink replace coconut milk in a curry?
You can use one in a recipe that suits it, but don’t expect the same results. Carrefour’s product listings state that Alpro’s unsweetened coconut drink contains 1.2 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 18 g per 100 g for Carrefour Sensation culinary coconut milk. Choose according to the result you want from your recipe.
How long can you keep opened coconut milk while you’re away?
Follow the storage period on the pack you buy, and keep it in the fridge if the label says to. Auchan’s listings state that its semi-thick coconut milk keeps for 48 hours after opening, compared with three days for the Kara and Real Thai products reviewed. These instructions aren’t interchangeable.
Should you throw away coconut milk if it has separated?
Not for that reason alone: Real Thai says that separation may occur in its 200 ml carton and advises shaking or kneading it. Still, check the date, storage instructions and directions on the product you’re using.