Who are these options for?

Anyone making curries, sauces or desserts

You’re looking for a coconut-based ingredient that suits the texture of your recipe, without confusing culinary coconut milk with coconut cream. The right choice depends in part on the consistency you want.

Smaller households keen to avoid waste

You only use a little coconut milk at a time and would rather buy an amount closer to what your recipe calls for. Auchan and E.Leclerc, for example, offer 200 ml packs.

Anyone checking ingredients

Your dietary needs go beyond avoiding lactose: you also need to check the ingredients and allergens for the product you buy, rather than relying on the category name alone.

What should you look for?

Start with how you plan to use it: a liquid dish calls for culinary coconut milk or cream, while products you can grate come in plant-based blocks. Then compare the texture, pack size and label of the product you’re considering.

Criteria What to check Who this matters to
Use and texture Check whether your recipe calls for culinary coconut milk or thicker coconut cream, then compare the ingredients of the product. For a sauce or dessert, I want to get the right consistency without swapping a liquid ingredient for a block to grate; around 50% of consumers would prioritise use and texture.
Pack size and leftovers Choose a pack size that’s close to the amount you need, and read the storage instructions for after opening. When I’m cooking a small portion, I’d rather not open more than I can use; pack size would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the full ingredients list and the allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy. If I need to avoid ingredients other than lactose, the aisle label isn’t enough to guide my choice; around 17% of consumers would prioritise ingredients and allergens.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming all coconut products are interchangeable

    Culinary coconut milk, coconut cream, plant-based drinks and plant-based blocks for grating are made for different uses. Auchan, for example, lists coconut drinks and plant-based blocks separately from coconut cooking ingredients.

    Go by the name used in your recipe: milk or cream for a liquid cooking ingredient, a plant-based drink for drinking, and a plant-based block if you want something to grate or melt.

  • Choosing a pack without checking its ingredients

    Carrefour and E.Leclerc product listings show coconut milks with different proportions of coconut extract and different stabilisers. Pack size alone doesn’t tell you what’s in a product.

    As well as comparing pack sizes, check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the specific products you’re interested in.

  • Opening a large pack for a small recipe

    A 400 ml pack could leave you with leftovers if your recipe only uses a small amount. For its Vietcoco coconut cream, Auchan advises refrigerating it after opening and using it within 24 hours.

    Check how much your recipe needs and read the storage instructions on the packaging before choosing a pack size.

    Any leftovers not used within the stated time could go to waste.

  • Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means allergen-free

    A lactose-related claim doesn’t replace allergen information. The DGCCRF and Service-Public.fr stress the importance of checking the ingredients list and allergen information on food labels.

    If you need to avoid an allergen, check the full label on the product you buy instead of relying only on the ‘lactose-free’ claim.

Coconut milk and cream brands to know

Aroy-D

Culinary coconut milk sold by Carrefour in a 400 ml pack for savoury recipes, including curries.

  • Carrefour’s product listing states that it contains 87% coconut extract, along with water and guar gum.
  • This information applies to the 400 ml product; check the label if you choose a different pack size.

Vietcoco

400 ml coconut cream sold by Auchan for savoury and sweet recipes.

  • Auchan describes this product, made with 95% coconut extract, as thicker than coconut milk.
  • You can’t use this in place of coconut milk without adjusting your recipe if it needs a thinner consistency; also follow the storage instructions for after opening.

Jardin Bio Étic

400 ml organic coconut milk, suitable for dishes and baking.

  • For this product, Carrefour lists 68% coconut extract, water and guar gum, and states that it is ‘lactose-free’.
  • If you have other dietary requirements, the ‘lactose-free’ claim doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and allergens.

Tables du Monde

200 ml carton of coconut milk to consider when your recipe calls for a small amount.

  • E.Leclerc lists 63% coconut extract, water and xanthan gum for this product.
  • Check that 200 ml is enough for your recipe.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is culinary coconut milk the same as a coconut plant-based drink?

No, these names refer to different uses. Auchan lists coconut milk and cream as cooking ingredients, while its Alpro coconut-rice drink is described as a plant-based drink. Check the product name before swapping one for the other in a recipe.

What’s the difference between coconut milk and coconut cream?

The Vietcoco coconut cream sold by Auchan is thicker than coconut milk. Choose according to the consistency your recipe calls for, and check the nutritional information for the product you pick.

What should you check on the label when shopping lactose-free?

Check the product name and ingredients list, then look at the allergens if you need to avoid anything other than lactose. For prepacked food in France, the DGCCRF also highlights the importance of checking the net quantity and nutritional declaration.

Is a ‘lactose-free’ claim enough if you have a food allergy?

No, it doesn’t tell you about other allergens. Check the ingredients and allergens listed on the specific product you’re buying, in line with the labelling information described by Service-Public.fr.

How should you store opened coconut cream?

Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. For its 400 ml Vietcoco coconut cream, Auchan advises refrigerating it after opening and using it within 24 hours.