Anyone cooking one portion at lunchtime
When you’re making a sauce, curry or soup during your lunch break, the amount your recipe needs matters just as much as the carton size. Storage instructions after opening vary by product.
Who is this choice for?
Anyone planning several meals
A 500 ml or 1 L carton may suit you if you can use it within the stated period after opening. Check how long it keeps before planning your next recipes.
Anyone who pays attention to ingredients
Depending on the product, the ingredients may be limited to coconut extract and water, or include other ingredients. Compare the labels of specific products rather than relying on the name ‘coconut milk’ alone.
What should you check?
Check that the recipe calls for the right type of product, then choose a size based on how many times you plan to use it. To compare two coconut milks, look at their ingredients and nutritional information on the same basis.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Volume and leftovers | The amount needed for your recipe and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m cooking one portion at lunchtime, I want to avoid opening a carton that I won’t use up in time. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and use | The product name, percentage of coconut extract and ingredients list. | When making a sauce with a liquid, I need to distinguish coconut milk from desiccated coconut and choose ingredients that suit my recipe. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Nutritional values | The values per 100 ml for liquid coconut milks, particularly fat and sugars. | When choosing between two cartons of coconut milk, I want to compare their values on the same basis rather than comparing a liquid with a grated product. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing coconut milk, desiccated coconut and grated cheese
A recipe that calls for a liquid to make a sauce doesn’t need the same ingredient as one that requires desiccated coconut or grated cheese.
Check the product name and the recipe step again before choosing.
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Choosing a large size without planning for leftovers
A larger carton may be left open after lunch. Storage instructions depend on the specific product you buy.
Work out how much you’ll need for your meals and check the storage instructions after opening on the packaging.
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Assuming all coconut milk has the same ingredients
Auchan’s product listings show that the 20 cl Bjorg organic pourable coconut milk contains 51% coconut, including maltodextrin and guar gum, while the 20 cl Kara organic version contains 64% organic coconut extract and water. These differences apply to these specific products.
Read the ingredients list and check the percentage of coconut extract in the product you’re considering.
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Comparing the values for a liquid directly with those for a grated product
The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml. So check the basis shown before making any comparison.
Compare the nutritional information for coconut milks on the same basis, and look at desiccated coconut separately.
Coconut milk brands to know
Kara
The Kara coconut milk products reviewed include a 200 ml organic carton and a 500 ml pourable carton, both intended for cooking.
- Auchan’s product listing says the 200 ml organic version contains 64% organic coconut extract and water.
- For the 500 ml pourable version, Auchan’s product listing says to refrigerate it and use it within three days of opening. Check the instructions on the carton you choose.
Bjorg
The 20 cl organic pourable version reviewed is a small carton of coconut milk for cooking.
- Its 20 cl size may suit you when your recipe needs close to the full contents of the carton.
- According to Auchan’s product listing, this version contains 51% coconut, as well as coconut water, maltodextrin and guar gum. Its ingredients differ from those of the 200 ml Kara organic product mentioned above.
Auchan
The 200 ml coconut milk reviewed is presented as a cooking aid for savoury dishes and desserts.
- The 200 ml carton lets you choose a size to suit a one-off recipe.
- Check the ingredients list and storage instructions after opening for the specific product you choose.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace coconut milk with desiccated coconut in a sauce?
Desiccated coconut isn’t a direct substitute for liquid coconut milk in a sauce. Check whether the recipe calls for a liquid to stir in or a dry product intended, for example, to add texture or to use as a garnish.
What should you look for on a coconut milk label?
Start by checking the product name, net quantity, ingredients and storage instructions for the specific product. To compare the nutritional information for two coconut milks, use values given on the same basis, particularly per 100 ml.
How long can you keep an opened carton of coconut milk?
Follow the time limit and storage instructions on the carton you’ve bought, as these vary between products. For example, Auchan’s product listing says to refrigerate the 500 ml Kara pourable coconut milk and use it within three days of opening. Don’t automatically apply this time limit to another product.