Households planning several coconut-based meals
You’re planning curries, soups, sauces or desserts for several people and need to work out how much coconut milk for cooking you’ll need in total.
Who is this guide for?
Cooks who care about ingredients
You’re choosing between a classic and a light option. Compare their nutritional information and ingredients to find the right one for your recipe.
Shoppers looking for a coconut drink
You’re mainly after a 1 L plant-based drink. That’s a different need from buying coconut milk for cooking.
What should you look for?
For your October half-term meals, first distinguish coconut milk for cooking from a plant-based drink. Then work out how much you need to buy and compare the ingredients of options suited to your recipes.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for cooking | Add together the quantities listed in your recipes, then check how many units are in a pack and the size of each one. | If I’m making several dishes for my household, I want enough coconut milk for cooking without mistaking a multipack for one large bottle; around 50% of shoppers would put quantity first. |
| Coconut milk ingredients | Compare the ingredients, the coconut content where stated, and the fat per 100 ml across options intended for cooking. | For a sauce or dessert where texture matters, I want to choose an option that suits my recipe; ingredients would be the main consideration for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Drink or ingredient | Read the product description and ingredients before choosing a 1 L coconut drink instead of coconut milk for cooking. | If I’m looking for a drink to pour into a glass or over cereal, I don’t want to accidentally buy a cooking ingredient; around 20% of shoppers would prioritise this use as a drink. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing coconut milk for cooking with a coconut drink
A 1 L drink may offer the quantity you need, but it may not be the right ingredient for a sauce or dessert. Alpro describes its coconut drink, for example, as a blend of coconut and rice.
Start by reading the product description and ingredients, then choose the category specified in your recipe.
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Mistaking a 3 L multipack for one 3 L bottle
Twelve 250 ml cartons add up to 3 L, but they need to be opened and stored separately. The quantity included in the item you order is what matters.
Check the pack size on offer, then divide the quantity you need between your different recipes.
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Choosing a light option without checking your recipe
The word “light” alone doesn’t tell you how the product will turn out in every recipe.
Before choosing, compare the fat per 100 ml and the ingredients of the options you’re considering.
Brands to know
Kara
Coconut milk for cooking, available in 200 and 500 ml sizes among the ranges listed by Carrefour and Auchan.
- The choice of sizes makes it easier to match the number of units to your recipes.
- For the light option, check the fat content on the packaging rather than assuming it will suit every dish.
Suzi Wan
Coconut cooking options listed in 20, 33 and 50 cl cartons among the ranges at Carrefour and Auchan.
- These sizes give you several ways to build up the quantity required by a recipe.
- Check the product description, ingredients and size of the option you choose.
Tables du Monde
Coconut milk for cooking in a 200 ml carton, listed by E.Leclerc.
- E.Leclerc’s product information states that this 200 ml option contains 63% coconut extract.
- For several meals, add up the number of cartons you need rather than working from a single unit.
Alpro
A 1 L coconut plant-based drink, distinct from coconut milk for cooking.
- Alpro describes this drink as a blend of coconut and rice.
- Its 1 L size doesn’t mean it can replace the coconut milk specified in a recipe.
Coconut milk available on Joybuy
These options are coconut milk for cooking: two packs listed as multipacks and one individual 500 ml carton. For your October half-term meals, check how many units are actually included before working out the total quantity you’ll need.
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CHAOKOH Coconut Milk for Dessert, 16–18%, 12 × 250 ml
For several coconut-based dishes, the pack listed as 12 × 250 ml adds up to 3 L if all 12 units are included. The product title states 16–18% fat; check the pack contents and label before buying.
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Kara Coconut Milk Classic UHT, 17%, 24 × 400 ml
If you cook with coconut milk regularly, this pack is listed as 24 units of 400 ml, or 9.6 L if the full pack is included. That’s more than the 3 L planned for the holiday meals, so check the quantity you’re ordering and make sure you have enough storage space. The product title states 17% fat.
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Coconut Milk Carton 500 ml, 18% stated
This individual 500 ml carton can be included in your calculations for several recipes. Before choosing it for a dish, check the exact product description on the label and the fat content stated in the title.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 1 L coconut plant-based drink replace coconut milk for cooking?
Not automatically. Alpro describes its coconut drink as a blend of coconut and rice, whereas coconut milk for cooking is a different type of product. For a sauce, curry or dessert, start with the ingredient specified in your recipe and compare the product descriptions and ingredient lists.
What should you check on the packaging before buying coconut milk?
First, check the product description, ingredients and net quantity. This will help you distinguish coconut milk for cooking from a drink and work out how much to buy. The European Union’s Your Europe portal also explains the labelling information required for allergens, as well as any specific storage or use instructions where applicable.