Anyone making a coconut sauce
If the texture of your dish matters, distinguish coconut milk for cooking from a plant-based drink. To compare their composition, check the fat per 100 ml when both labels use this unit.
Who are these options for?
Anyone looking for a coconut drink
For coffee or porridge that doesn’t need a thick sauce, a coconut plant-based drink may suit your intended use. Check the ingredients list, as formulations vary.
Anyone adjusting how much they cook
Whether you’re making a one-off recipe or preparing several meals in advance, match the pack size to the amount you need and check the storage instructions once opened.
Which criteria should you look at first?
Coconut milk for cooking
Consider it: for a sauce, curry or gratin where a creamy texture matters.
Bear in mind: Carrefour Bio, Real Thai and Eco+ cooking coconut milk products have different compositions and fat content. Check the details of the product you choose and how much you’ll use.
Coconut plant-based drink
Consider it: for drinking, making coffee or adding coconut to a dish that doesn’t need a thick sauce.
Bear in mind: a coconut drink won’t automatically work as a substitute for coconut milk in a creamy recipe.
For a coconut-based lunch, first decide how you’ll use the product, then compare the labels and the amount your recipe needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional composition | Compare fat and saturated fat using the same units, then take into account how much you’ll pour. | If I’m keeping an eye on what goes into my lunch, I want to be able to relate the label values to the amount I use. Around 44% of consumers would put this comparison at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Dish texture | Read the product description, ingredients and any suggested uses for cooking. | If I’m making a sauce that needs to stay creamy, I don’t want to choose a coconut drink expecting the same result. Getting the right product for the recipe would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Match the pack size to the recipes you have planned and check the storage instructions once opened. | When I’m only cooking a small amount, I look for a pack that I can use up. Pack size would be the priority for around 23% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Mistaking a coconut drink for coconut milk for cooking
Products for different uses can all have the word “coconut” on the label. A plant-based drink may not give a sauce the thickness you expect.
Before you buy, check the product description, ingredients and suggested use.
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Assuming “light” or “no additives” means low in fat
These claims alone don’t tell you the nutritional values. The product listing for Bjorg fluid coconut milk, for example, states 15 g of fat and 14 g of saturated fat per 100 ml.
Check the nutrition table for the exact product and consider how much you plan to use in your dish.
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Choosing a large pack without planning how you’ll use it
A pack size suited to several recipes could leave you with a lot left over if you’re only making one meal.
Estimate how much you need and read the storage instructions for the product you buy.
Any leftovers not used within the stated time after opening could go to waste.
Brands to compare
Carrefour Bio
An organic cooking coconut milk option in a 330 ml carton.
- Carrefour’s product listing states that it contains 76% coconut extract and 17 g of fat per 100 ml.
- These figures apply to this product, not every Carrefour Bio product.
Bjorg
Cooking coconut milk that Bjorg describes as smooth and suitable for savoury or sweet dishes.
- Its smooth texture may be a useful feature if you’re looking to mix it into a recipe.
- “Smooth” doesn’t mean the product is low in fat, so check the nutritional information.
Real Thai
A cooking coconut milk product available in a 1 L carton.
- Carrefour’s product listing gives two ingredients: 85% coconut extract and water.
- It also states that the product contains 19 g of fat per 100 ml, so plan how you’ll use the large pack before buying.
Eco+
Cooking coconut milk in a 200 ml carton, listed by E.Leclerc.
- The smaller pack may suit a recipe that only needs a little coconut milk.
- E.Leclerc’s product listing states that it contains 14 g of fat and 13.2 g of saturated fat per 100 ml. Compare the label with your intended use.
Alpro
A coconut plant-based drink, which is different from coconut milk for cooking.
- The Coco Unsweetened product listed by Carrefour is intended as a drink.
- Don’t assume it will give a sauce the texture you expect; check the formulation of the product you choose.
Joybuy products for different uses
This selection includes cooking coconut milk in several pack sizes, as well as a coconut and soya drink designed for coffee. Choose according to your recipe rather than automatically swapping one category for the other.
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Vietcoco Coconut Milk 17-19% Fat 1L
A pack size to consider if several dishes you’re making call for coconut milk. Check that you’ll be able to use the litre within the stated storage period after opening.
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Wind Mill Coconut Milk, 165 ml tin
The smaller pack may suit a recipe that uses only a little coconut milk. The claim that it contains no additives, alongside E330 in the ingredients list, is a reason to check the packaging for full details.
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AROY-D Coconut Milk Cooking 19% Fat 400ml
Made for cooking, this pack may suit a recipe that needs more than a small amount. Its nutritional values are given per 100 g, so don’t compare them directly with values per 100 ml.
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Valle Del Sole Coconut Milk 6% 400ml
Worth considering for cooking if this pack size matches the amount you need. Compare nutritional information using the same units and check the storage instructions once opened.
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Alpro Coconut Barista 1L
This coconut and soya drink is intended for coffee, not as coconut milk for cooking. If soya is a dietary concern for you, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can a coconut drink replace coconut milk in a sauce?
Not automatically: products intended for drinking and cooking have different formulations, and a drink may make the sauce less thick. If texture is important, check the product description and the suggested use for the exact product.
How do you compare two coconut milk labels?
First, compare values given in the same units, per 100 g or per 100 ml, then consider how much you’ll use. The nutritional information lets you check fat, saturated fat and sugars, while the ingredients list helps you tell different formulations apart.
Is a large pack suitable for occasional use?
Only if you plan to use the remaining amount in line with the product’s instructions after opening. For a one-off recipe, compare the amount you need with the pack size before choosing.
Can you assume a coconut product suits every dietary requirement?
No: the word “coconut” doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s ingredients. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the product you choose, especially if it’s a drink that combines coconut with another plant.