For cooks who want coconut to be part of the recipe
Whether you’re making coconut batter, a filling or an accompaniment, compare cooking coconut milks by their ingredients and fat content, rather than relying on the word « coconut » alone.
Which option is right for you?
For households that regularly use coconut products
If you want to buy enough for several uses, check the size of each carton as well as the total pack size. Storage instructions after opening should also factor into your choice.
For anyone looking for a plant-based liquid for the batter
A 1 L coconut drink serves a different purpose from cooking coconut milk. Check the product name and ingredients before using it in a recipe designed for the other type.
What should you look for when making crêpes?
Cooking coconut milk
Worth considering: if coconut is used in the batter or filling. Two 200 ml Auchan products list 50% and 88% coconut extract respectively.
Bear in mind: you may need to adjust the quantities if the recipe was written for a plant-based drink.
Coconut drink
Worth considering: if you mainly need a plant-based liquid for the batter, particularly in a 1 L carton.
Bear in mind: the Alpro drink listed by Carrefour contains 8,6 % coconut milk; don’t automatically swap it for cooking coconut milk in the same quantity.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients for the recipe | The product name, percentage of coconut extract and fat content, taking the stated units into account. | If coconut is an important part of the batter or filling, I want to choose a product based on its ingredients rather than its name. Around 45% of consumers prioritise this when choosing a product for cooking. |
| Pack size and storage | The size of each carton, the number of cartons and storage instructions after opening. | If I use coconut products often, I want to buy enough without opening more cartons than I can use. Pack size and storage are the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Plant-based liquid for the batter | The « plant-based drink » description, the ingredients list and the recipe instructions. | If I mainly need a plant-based liquid for the batter, I want to tell the difference between a coconut drink and cooking coconut milk. This is the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
What to avoid
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Confusing coconut drink with cooking coconut milk
The ingredients can vary considerably: the Alpro drink listed by Carrefour contains 8,6 % coconut milk, while some Auchan cooking products contain 50% or 88% coconut extract. Swapping one for the other in the same quantity could therefore change the recipe.
Before deciding whether to adapt the recipe, check the product name, ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen.
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Assuming « 2 litres » means one bottle
A product listed by Carrefour with a total volume of 2 litres comes in 2 × 1 L cartons. So the total volume doesn’t necessarily tell you what type of container you’ll be opening.
Before buying, check both the volume per unit and the number of units in the pack.
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Buying a large pack without planning how you’ll use the rest
Storage times after opening vary by product: an Auchan coconut milk listing says to use within 48 hours, while an Alpro drink listing says five days in the fridge at a maximum of 7 °C.
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy, and choose containers you can finish within the stated time.
Brands and retailers to compare
Carrefour
A retailer where you can compare cooking coconut milks and coconut drinks, without treating them as the same type of product.
- The Carrefour Sensation 400 ml listing states 85% coconut extract; an Alpro drink is sold in a 1 L carton.
- For a product listed with a total volume of 2 litres, check the pack format: one Carrefour listing specifies 2 × 1 L.
Auchan
A retailer to browse for cooking formats suited to a one-off recipe.
- Two 200 ml coconut milk listings state 50% and 88% coconut extract respectively; the range also includes a 500 ml format.
- For the products mentioned, bear in mind the instruction to use within 48 hours of opening.
E.Leclerc
A retailer to check for a smaller format of cooking coconut milk.
- The 200 ml Eco+ listing states 51,8 % coconut extract.
- Check with your chosen E.Leclerc store to see whether this product is available.
Alpro
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a 1 L coconut drink rather than cooking coconut milk.
- The Alpro drink listing shown by Carrefour states that it contains 8,6 % coconut milk.
- For this product, the listing says to keep it in the fridge for five days after opening at a maximum of 7 °C; check the instructions on the carton you buy.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you replace cooking coconut milk with a coconut drink in crêpe batter?
Not automatically in the same quantity: check the recipe before making the swap. The Alpro drink listed by Carrefour contains 8,6 % coconut milk, while two Auchan cooking coconut milks list 50% or 88% coconut extract, depending on the product. Their ingredients are not equivalent.
How long can you keep a coconut product after opening?
Follow the storage time and conditions on the pack you buy. An Auchan coconut milk listing says 48 hours after opening, while an Alpro drink listing says five days in the fridge at a maximum of 7 °C. There isn’t one storage time that applies to all these products.
What should you check on the label before serving crêpes to guests?
Read the product name and ingredients list, as well as any information about allergens and storage. If you’re cooking for guests, check these details for every ingredient you actually use rather than assuming that two coconut products have the same ingredients.