Parents making several homemade treats
If you’re planning to make several cakes, desserts or savoury dishes over the holidays, choose the amount of cooking coconut milk to suit your recipes rather than relying on the word ‘coconut’ alone.
Who is this guide for?
Households looking to minimise leftovers
For one recipe at a time, a small carton or portioned units mean you only need to open as much as you need. Storage instructions after opening vary by product, so check them before choosing a larger pack.
Anyone unsure whether to choose a coconut drink or cooking coconut milk
If you’re looking for an ingredient for baking, make sure you distinguish it from a plant-based drink intended for drinking or adding to a smoothie. The product name and nutritional information can help you compare products for the way you plan to use them.
What should you look for?
For holiday treats, start with the recipes you’re planning and the amount needed for each one. Then compare the product type, packaging and instructions for after opening.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Leftovers after opening | Amount needed for the recipe and storage instructions for the opened product. | If I’m only making a small batch, I’d rather open 200 ml than have a large amount left over. Around 21% of consumers may put minimising leftovers first. |
| Ingredients for your recipe | Product name, ingredients and fat content per 100 g or per 100 ml, taking care not to confuse the two measures. | If a custard or sauce recipe calls for cooking coconut milk, I want to avoid using a coconut drink instead. Around 36% of consumers may prioritise choosing a product with ingredients suited to the recipe. |
| Amount for several recipes | Total volume, number of units and amount per unit in a multipack. | If I’m making several treats, I want enough coconut milk without having to open the whole amount at once. Around 29% of consumers may prioritise being able to portion it out. |
| For drinking or a lighter recipe | Whether the product is described as a ‘plant-based drink’ or ‘coconut milk’, followed by the nutritional information for the product you’re considering. | If I’m making a drink, or my recipe can use a lighter cooking coconut milk, I need to choose a product that suits that purpose. Around 14% of consumers may put this distinction first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Automatically swapping cooking coconut milk for a coconut drink
The Alpro drink reviewed contains 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml, while the Carrefour Sensation can reviewed lists 18 g per 100 g. These are products with different compositions, so you shouldn’t assume they can be used interchangeably in the same recipe.
Before replacing the ingredient in your recipe, check the product name and compare the ingredients and nutritional information, paying attention to the units shown.
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Opening a large pack without planning what to do with the rest
How long a product lasts after opening varies by product. Auchan says its 200 ml coconut milk carton should be used within 48 hours, while each opened carton in its Coco cuisine 3 × 20 cl multipack lasts for five days.
Plan how to divide the amount between your recipes before you buy, then follow the refrigeration and use-by instructions on the packaging you choose.
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Choosing a ‘light’ version based on its name alone
The Kara light product described by Auchan contains 13 g of fat per 100 ml. If its composition differs from the coconut milk used in your recipe, you may need to adjust the recipe.
Check the ingredients and nutritional values, then consider exactly what your recipe calls for.
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Assuming a product featured in a leaflet will be in your local store
Lidl says some offers in its leaflets may not be available in smaller stores. So if you spot a product for the holidays, check that it’s available locally.
Check the leaflet for your store and look in the relevant aisle before planning several recipes around a particular product.
Brands and retailers to consider
Carrefour / Carrefour Sensation
Carrefour offers a 400 ml can of Carrefour Sensation cooking coconut milk, among other products.
- Carrefour’s product information lists 85% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 g for this product.
- When choosing between the can and other formats in store, check how much your recipes need and read the instructions for each pack.
E.Leclerc / Eco+
The 200 ml Eco+ carton is a small amount for a one-off recipe.
- E.Leclerc’s product information lists 51.8% coconut extract for this product.
- If you’re planning a large batch, check how many cartons your recipe will need and whether they’re available in store or through Drive.
Auchan
The documented formats include a 200 ml carton and a Coco cuisine multipack of 3 × 20 cl.
- The multipack lets you open its three cartons separately for recipes spread over several days.
- Once opened, Auchan says its 200 ml coconut milk carton lasts for 48 hours, while a carton from the Coco cuisine multipack lasts for five days. Follow the instructions for the product you buy.
Aldi / Asia Green Garden
Aldi offers Asia Green Garden coconut milk in a 570 ml Tetra carton.
- This size could suit several recipes if you plan the quantities in advance.
- Check the ingredients on the packaging and make sure your local store stocks it before planning your recipes around this product.
Alpro
The Alpro coconut product reviewed is a 1 L plant-based drink, promoted for use in smoothies and iced coffees, among other things.
- Its product information lists 8.6% coconut milk in the ingredients and 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml. These details help distinguish it from cooking coconut milk.
- Alpro says this drink may contain traces of nuts. Check the label if this is relevant to you.
Lidl
Recipes published by Lidl can give you ideas for using coconut milk over the holidays.
- The leaflet and your local store’s shelves can help you find out which products are available nearby.
- Lidl notes that some leaflet offers may not be available in smaller stores. Check the product, its size and its label in store.
Coconut milk formats on Joybuy
This range of cooking coconut milk includes a multipack of smaller units and two single-pack formats for planned recipes. The main thing to consider is how much you expect to use each time you open a pack.
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CHAOKOH coconut milk, 18%, 6 × 250 ml
This multipack is a good choice if you’re planning several recipes and want to open the six units as you need them. It contains 1.5 L in total; according to the Joybuy product information, an opened unit should be refrigerated and used within three to four days. Check the label for information about nuts.
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Valcom coconut milk, 400 ml
This single pack is ideal for a recipe that uses 400 ml, or for several recipes made close together if you’ve planned how to use the rest. Once opened, refrigerate and use within three days, according to the product information.
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Tetra Pak coconut milk, 18%, 500 ml
This 500 ml carton could suit your needs if your recipes use the full amount. Before opening, check the pack for storage instructions and how soon the product should be used once opened.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace cooking coconut milk with a coconut drink in a cake?
Not without considering the recipe: a coconut drink and cooking coconut milk don’t necessarily have the same composition. The Alpro drink reviewed contains 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml, compared with 18 g per 100 g for the Carrefour Sensation coconut milk reviewed. If your recipe calls for cooking coconut milk, check what it does in the recipe before swapping it.
How long does coconut milk keep once opened?
Follow the storage instructions and use-by period on the packaging of the product you’ve opened. For example, Auchan’s product information gives 48 hours for its 200 ml carton and five days for each opened carton in the Coco cuisine 3 × 20 cl multipack. These timeframes don’t automatically apply to other products.
What should I check on the label before choosing a larger pack?
First, compare the product name and net quantity with what your recipes need. Then check the ingredients, nutritional values and their basis of measurement — per 100 g or per 100 ml — as well as the storage instructions after opening. This information can help you distinguish a coconut drink from cooking coconut milk and plan how to use the pack.