For a sauce or purée, choose culinary coconut milk rather than a coconut drink if you want a more concentrated base. The Tables du Monde and VEGE products listed by E.Leclerc contain 81% and 3.2% coconut extract respectively, although this figure alone won’t determine the texture of your dish. If you cook with coconut milk regularly, compare the volume of each container and the storage instructions after opening: Carrefour’s 2 L product is a pack of 2 × 1 L. If you have dysphagia, follow your healthcare professional’s advice on the texture of the complete dish.
For a thick soup, purée or blended sauce, check the product description and the proportion of coconut extract, then assess the consistency of the finished recipe. If you have dysphagia, follow the texture recommended by your healthcare professional.
If you’re planning several meals, a pack of separate containers lets you open only what you need. Carrefour’s product listed as 2 L contains two 1 L cartons: check the pack size and each product’s storage instructions after opening.
A carton of plant-based drink won’t necessarily work as a substitute for culinary coconut milk in a sauce. E.Leclerc’s product information lists 3.2% coconut extract for the 1 L VEGE drink, compared with 81% for the 400 ml Tables du Monde coconut milk.
For easy-to-chew meals, start with the recipe you’re making, then choose the right type of product and a size you can use as directed on the packaging. Culinary coconut milk and coconut drinks have different compositions. A large container or multipack also brings different considerations once opened.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture of the finished dish | Check the product description and the proportion of coconut extract, then assess the consistency of the dish after adding all the ingredients. If you have dysphagia, follow the recommended texture. | For a purée or blended sauce, I want a smooth result without assuming coconut milk alone will give me the texture I need; around 46% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Volume and storage | Compare the volume of each container with the total pack size, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | When I cook with coconut milk several times a week, I want to open an amount I can use in time. Nearly 36% of consumers would prioritise volume and storage in this way. |
| Culinary coconut milk or coconut drink | Check the product description, the percentage of coconut extract and the amount of liquid already specified in the recipe. | If I choose a carton for cooking, I want to avoid a coconut drink changing the expected consistency; around 18% of consumers would prioritise this distinction. |
E.Leclerc’s product information lists 3.2% coconut extract for the VEGE drink and 81% for Tables du Monde coconut milk. Swapping one for the other in the same quantity can change the consistency you’re aiming for in a sauce or purée.
Before cooking, compare the product description and ingredients. If you use a coconut drink, take the liquid it adds to the recipe into account.
Carrefour’s listing, “2 Litres (2 x 1 Litre)”, describes two separate units, not one 2 L bottle.
Before choosing a large pack, check the number of units, the volume of each one and the storage instructions after opening.
Also make sure you have enough space to store all the units in the pack.
The consistency of coconut milk doesn’t determine the texture of the finished meal. The Société Française de Déglutition et Dysphagie states that meals may need to be modified in consistency if you have a swallowing disorder.
If you have diagnosed dysphagia, follow your healthcare professional’s advice on the complete dish and how to check it, rather than relying on one ingredient alone.
Nutritional values vary by product. For example, E.Leclerc’s product information lists 16 g of saturated fatty acids per 100 ml for both Tables du Monde and Bio Village coconut milk.
Compare the nutritional information with the amount you’ll actually use in your recipe, especially if you follow individual dietary advice.
These products show some of the different compositions and formats available for cooking. The details below apply to the specific products listed, not to every product from each brand.
Organic culinary coconut milk in a 330 ml carton, listed by Carrefour.
Culinary coconut milk in a 400 ml tin, listed by E.Leclerc.
Organic coconut milk in a 200 ml carton for recipes that need a small amount.
A 400 ml coconut milk product listed by ALDI France.
These coconut milks are suited to cooking sauces, soups or several meals. Pack sizes range from multipacks of small units to a large container. Choose one based on how much you use each time you open it, and don’t assume it’s the same as a single 2 L bottle.
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For cooking with coconut milk while opening one small unit at a time.
A pack of 6 × 250 ml, giving 1.5 L in total, rather than one 2 L container. Check the label to see what the “18%” in the product name refers to.
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For households planning several dishes with coconut milk and able to use a 1 L container after opening.
The product name states that it contains 17–19% fat and comes in a 1 L size. Check the storage instructions on the packaging before choosing this format.
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For preparing a large quantity of food, provided the amount opened suits your household’s rate of use.
A 2.9 L container, with 18% fat stated in the product name. This is larger than the 2 L size you may be looking for; check the proportion of coconut extract and the storage instructions after opening on the label.
Not in the same quantity if you want the consistency that culinary coconut milk brings to the recipe. E.Leclerc’s product information lists 3.2% coconut extract and 0.9 g of fat per 100 ml for the VEGE drink, compared with 81% coconut extract and 17 g of fat per 100 ml for Tables du Monde coconut milk. If you use a coconut drink, reassess the amount of liquid in the dish.
No. You need to assess the texture of the complete dish, not the coconut milk on its own. The Société Française de Déglutition et Dysphagie notes that meals may need to be modified in consistency if you have a swallowing disorder. Follow your healthcare professional’s advice on the recommended texture and how to check it.
No, not necessarily. Carrefour’s product listing, “2 Litres (2 x 1 Litre)”, is a pack of two 1 L units. Check the number of containers and the capacity of each one if storage space or opening just one unit matters to you.
Compare a pack of small units with one large container, based on the recipes you plan to make after opening each one. For its 1 L carton, Carrefour recommends refrigerating it and using it within two days of opening. Always follow the instructions on the product you buy.