Who are these options for?

Parents making a sauce

For a family sauce or curry, you’ll need liquid coconut milk. The coconut content, ingredients list and pack size can help you choose the right product for your recipe.

People who need to check for dairy ingredients

The word ‘milk’ in ‘coconut milk’ doesn’t tell you what’s in the product you’re buying. Check its ingredients list and any allergens highlighted on the packaging, as the DGCCRF advises for pre-packed foods.

People looking for a dry ingredient

If the recipe calls for a coconut topping, look for desiccated coconut rather than a liquid for a sauce. Carrefour, for example, sells a 125 g bag of desiccated coconut.

What to look for

For a family dinner, start with the form required by the recipe, then check the chosen product’s label and how much you’ll use.

What to check Look for Who it matters to
Form and use Read the product description and check whether the recipe calls for a liquid cooking ingredient or desiccated coconut. For a sauce, I’m looking for a liquid ingredient; for a topping, I need a dry product. Around 40% of consumers would put this distinction first.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients list and any allergens highlighted on the packaging of the product you’re buying. If I need to avoid an ingredient, I can’t rely on the name ‘coconut milk’ alone or on the ingredients in a different product. Around 30% of consumers would make this their top priority.
Pack size and storage Compare the amount needed for the recipe with the pack size, then read the storage instructions for after opening. For a single dinner, I’d rather plan what to do with any leftovers than choose a pack that’s too large for my needs. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise pack size and storage.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Mixing up coconut milk, coconut drink and desiccated coconut

    These products have different forms and uses. The cooking coconut milk products shown by Auchan are liquid, while Carrefour also sells dry desiccated coconut. The Alpro coconut drink contains 14.1% coconut milk, so it isn’t interchangeable with a cooking product.

    First, check what the recipe calls for. Then compare ingredients and pack sizes across products made for the same purpose.

  • Assuming what allergens a product contains from the word ‘milk’

    The ingredients lists published for Auchan and Carrefour Sensation cooking products include coconut, water and a thickener or stabiliser, but don’t list cow’s milk. However, the ingredients in one product don’t necessarily apply to another.

    If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the exact product’s label and allergen information every time you buy it.

  • Choosing a pack size without planning for after opening

    A small carton, a multipack of cartons and a tin won’t necessarily leave you with the same amount after preparing a meal. Storage instructions also differ between the Kara and Auchan products shown on Auchan’s website.

    Compare the amount required by the recipe with the size of each pack, and follow the after-opening storage period shown on the one you buy.

Brands and products to know

Carrefour Sensation

Carrefour describes its 400 ml sterilised coconut milk as a plant-based cooking ingredient.

  • The product information lists 85% coconut extract, water and guar gum.
  • This information applies to the product shown. Check the packaging of the one you choose if you need to avoid an ingredient.

Auchan

Auchan offers its 17% UHT Coco Cuisine in a multipack of three 20 cl cartons, for sweet or savoury dishes.

  • The product information lists 57% coconut extract, water and xanthan gum.
  • The instructions for this product, including using it within five days of opening, don’t automatically apply to other Auchan products.

Kara

The Kara product shown by Auchan is a 20 cl carton of organic coconut milk, sold as a cooking ingredient.

  • The product information lists 64% organic coconut extract and water.
  • After opening, Auchan advises keeping this product in the fridge and using it within three days.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does coconut milk always contain cow’s milk?

No. The published ingredients for Carrefour Sensation and Auchan Coco Cuisine cooking products don’t list cow’s milk. To check a particular product, read its own ingredients list and allergen information rather than relying on its name.

What should I check on the label if I need to avoid an allergen?

Check the ingredients and any allergens highlighted on the packaging of the specific product. The DGCCRF advises that allergens are highlighted on pre-packed foods. Don’t assume that the ingredients in coconut milk also apply to a coconut drink, desiccated coconut or grated cheese.

How long can I keep coconut milk after opening?

Follow the storage conditions and time limit shown for the product you buy. Auchan’s product information for its 20 cl Kara carton says to keep it in the fridge and use it within three days. Its information for Auchan Coco Cuisine 3 × 20 cl says to store it between 0 °C and +6 °C and use it within five days.

Can I use desiccated coconut instead of coconut milk in a sauce?

Not as a direct replacement: the desiccated coconut sold by Carrefour is a dry ingredient, whereas cooking coconut milk provides the liquid a sauce needs. If a recipe calls for desiccated coconut, follow the ingredients and quantities it specifies.