People making vegan curries and sauces
If the consistency of your dish is the priority, compare coconut milk and cream for cooking rather than choosing a plant-based drink simply because it says ‘coconut’.
Who are these options for?
People who pay attention to ingredients
When shopping for vegan food, check the ingredients of the exact product you’re considering. The product name can also help you distinguish between coconut milk for cooking, coconut cream and a plant-based drink.
People who cook with coconut occasionally
If your recipe only needs a small amount, the pack size and storage instructions after opening matter just as much as how you plan to use it.
What should you look at first?
First, choose between a cooking ingredient and a drink based on your recipe. Then decide on the concentration and pack size by checking the label of the product you’re considering.
Coconut milk for cooking
Best for: a curry, soup or sauce that needs a coconut base.
Keep in mind: concentration varies between products. Auchan lists 44% coconut extract for Racines Bio and 85% for the 400 ml Vietcoco.
Coconut cream
Best for: recipes that call for a thicker consistency.
Keep in mind: the 200 ml Kara cream featured by Auchan contains 90% coconut extract. It isn’t an automatic substitute for the milk specified in a recipe.
Coconut drink
Best for: drinking or pouring over cereal.
Keep in mind: the Alpro drink featured by Carrefour contains 8.6% coconut milk and rice. Don’t assume it will give you the same consistency as a cooking ingredient.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency of the dish | The product name and coconut extract percentage; check that they match the texture your recipe calls for. | For a curry or dessert, I want a suitable base without confusing cooking coconut milk with a drink. Around 33% of consumers put consistency first. |
| Ingredients | The full ingredients list for the product you’ve chosen, as well as any allergen information that may be relevant to you. | I want to make sure the ingredients meet my vegan criteria before I start cooking. Around 27% of consumers check this before anything else. |
| Pack size and storage | The amount your recipe needs and the instructions to follow after opening. | If I only use coconut milk now and then, I’d rather be able to finish the pack within the stated time. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Nutritional values | Nutritional information presented on the same basis, particularly fat and saturated fat per 100 ml. | When choosing between two products for cooking, I want to compare their nutritional values rather than infer their ingredients from the consistency alone. Around 20% of consumers put this first. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
-
Confusing a coconut drink with coconut milk for cooking
The Alpro drink described by Carrefour contains 8.6% coconut milk, while the Racines Bio and Vietcoco cooking coconut milks featured by Auchan contain 44% and 85% coconut extract respectively. They aren’t interchangeable without considering the recipe.
For a sauce or curry, first check the product name and the concentration stated on the packaging.
-
Assuming all coconut milks are the same
The Racines Bio and Vietcoco products mentioned by Auchan contain different proportions of coconut extract. Coconut cream is another option for cooking.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 ml of products intended for the same use, then choose one that gives you the consistency you’re after.
-
Choosing a pack without thinking about how you’ll use it
Storage instructions after opening vary. Auchan says to keep its 500 ml Kara milk refrigerated and use it within three days, while the Joybuy listing for 400 ml Vietcoco milk says to use it within 24 hours.
If you don’t cook with coconut milk often, choose a pack size that’s close to the amount your recipe needs and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
Any leftovers not used within the stated time could go to waste.
-
Judging the ingredients by the word ‘coconut’ alone
The product name is no substitute for the ingredients list. When shopping for vegan food, the ingredients of the specific product matter.
Read the ingredients on the packaging and check any allergen information separately if it’s relevant to you.
A few brands to know
These examples relate to specific products, not every product from each brand.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour includes an organic coconut milk for cooking in its range.
- The product described by Carrefour contains 76% organic coconut extract, water and guar gum.
- Check the size and ingredients of the pack you choose rather than assuming these details apply to the whole range.
Vietcoco
A 400 ml cooking coconut milk is among the products described by Auchan and Joybuy.
- Auchan lists 85% coconut extract for this 400 ml Vietcoco milk.
- The Joybuy listing for this product says to use it within 24 hours of opening. Follow the instructions on the product you buy.
Kara
The brand features here with a pourable coconut milk and a coconut cream. Choose between them according to your recipe.
- The 200 ml Kara cream featured by Auchan contains 90% coconut extract.
- For the 500 ml Kara pourable milk, Auchan says to refrigerate it and use it within three days of opening.
Alpro
The product mentioned is a coconut drink, which is different from coconut milk for cooking.
- The ingredients list published by Carrefour includes water, 8.6% coconut milk and rice.
- If your recipe calls for coconut milk or cream for cooking, check that a plant-based drink will work before using it as a substitute.
Coconut milk and cream on Joybuy
These products are coconut milk and cream intended for cooking. To compare them, start with the type your recipe calls for, then choose a pack size you can use in line with the storage instructions after opening.
Image unavailable
Kara organic UHT coconut cream, 24% fat, 200 ml
Worth considering for recipes that call for coconut cream rather than a thinner coconut milk.
- 200 ml pack; the product title states 24% fat.
- If you’re only using it occasionally, check the storage instructions before keeping any leftovers.
Image unavailable
Valcom organic coconut milk, 400 ml
A cooking coconut milk to consider when your recipe calls for milk rather than cream or a plant-based drink.
- 400 ml pack: compare this size with the amount your recipes need.
- Check the packaging for the ingredients and storage instructions after opening.
Image unavailable
Vietcoco coconut milk, 17 to 19% fat, 1 L
The one-litre pack is worth considering if you’re planning several recipes with coconut milk close together.
- The product title gives a fat content range of 17 to 19%.
- Plan how you’ll use the remaining amount, following the instructions after opening.
Image unavailable
Vietcoco coconut cream, 20 to 22% fat, 400 ml
This cream suits recipes that specifically call for coconut cream.
- 400 ml pack; the product title gives a fat content range of 20 to 22%.
- Plan to use it soon after opening and follow the instructions on the pack.
Image unavailable
Kara organic UHT coconut milk, 17%, 200 ml
The 200 ml size may suit a small recipe that calls for coconut milk for cooking.
- If fat content is important to you, compare the nutritional value on the packaging: the available information for this product varies.
- Follow the storage instructions after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a coconut drink instead of coconut milk for cooking in a curry?
Don’t expect the same consistency unless you adapt the recipe. The Alpro drink described by Carrefour contains 8.6% coconut milk, while the 400 ml Vietcoco cooking coconut milk featured by Auchan contains 85% coconut extract. Check the product name and ingredients of the one you’re using.
Is coconut milk automatically suitable for vegan shopping?
No. Read the ingredients list for each product rather than relying on its name. If you also have specific allergen requirements, check the relevant information on the packaging.
How long can you keep coconut milk once it’s open?
Follow the timeframe and storage instructions for the product you’ve bought. For these specific products, Auchan says to keep its 500 ml Kara milk refrigerated and use it within three days, while the Joybuy listing for 400 ml Vietcoco milk says to use it within 24 hours of opening.
How do you compare the nutritional values of two coconut milks?
Compare the nutritional information on the same basis, particularly per 100 ml, then consider how much you’ll use in your recipe. Check the fat and saturated fat content of the exact product: coconut extract percentage alone doesn’t tell you everything about its nutritional values.