If you regularly cook for several people, choose 400–500 ml cartons when your recipes use a good amount; for smaller, occasional quantities, 200–250 ml cartons make it easier to open just what you need. A case of 24 × 400 ml is best suited to frequent use and requires plenty of storage space. Check the product description and storage instructions for each opened carton, too.
For curries, soups, sauces or desserts made in several portions, a 400–500 ml carton can save you opening several smaller ones. The right choice depends on how much each recipe uses and whether you can use the remainder soon after opening.
If a recipe only calls for a little coconut milk, or you rarely cook with it, a 200 ml carton or a multipack of smaller cartons lets you open one portion at a time. Check the product’s storage instructions for after opening.
If the percentage of coconut extract, ingredient list or a stated certification guides your choice, compare products individually. The volume and the word “coconut” in the title alone don’t tell you what’s in them.
Start by considering how much you use each time you open a carton, then compare the total pack size with how often you cook these recipes and how much storage space you have. Before placing your order, check the product description and exactly what’s in your basket.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Compare the volume per carton, the number of cartons and the space needed to store the unopened pack. | If I’m making several meals with coconut milk, I want to shop in one go without ordering a case I can’t store or use. Around 33% of shoppers prioritise having a family-sized quantity. |
| Leftovers after opening | Choose a carton size that suits the recipe and check its storage instructions for after opening. | If I only cook with coconut milk occasionally, I’d rather open a small quantity than leave a large carton partly used. Avoiding leftovers is a priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients | Read the product description, percentage of coconut extract and ingredient list; compare nutritional information on the same basis. | When the ingredients matter for a recipe, I want to compare coconut milk products by what’s in them, not just by pack size. Around 25% of shoppers are thought to prioritise this. |
| Order accuracy | Check the product category, volume, number of cartons and collection or delivery options before placing your order. | When shopping online, I want to avoid adding a coconut plant-based drink to my basket instead of coconut milk for cooking. Around 17% of shoppers prioritise checking their order. |
These products can appear in the same search results, but their ingredients may differ. Carrefour’s product listing for Alpro coconut plant-based drink states that it contains 8.6% coconut milk, so it isn’t described as coconut milk for cooking.
Before adding a product to your basket, check its description, ingredients and nutritional information against what your recipe calls for.
A case contains separate cartons: the total volume doesn’t extend the shelf life of a carton that’s already been opened.
Check your storage space, the dates shown on the products and the storage instructions for each carton after opening.
If you can’t use an opened carton within the stated time, it may go to waste.
A 400 ml carton, several cartons and a case are different quantities. Collection or delivery options may also depend on the selected store.
Before placing your order, check the volume per carton, the number of cartons and the options available for your basket.
Carrefour offers Sensation coconut milk for cooking in a 400 ml tin.
The E.Leclerc range includes Tables du Monde coconut milk in a 200 ml carton and a 400 ml tin.
Auchan offers coconut milk in a 200 ml carton, as well as a pack of 3 × 20 cl UHT coconut preparation.
ALDI France offers Asia Green Garden coconut milk in a 400 ml size.
The Alpro product listed by Carrefour is a 1 L coconut plant-based drink, not coconut milk for cooking.
This range includes multipacks of smaller cartons, a case of 24 cartons and individual 400–500 ml sizes. Choose based on how much your recipes use and how many cartons you want to store.
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A case to consider if you cook with coconut milk very often and have room to store the unopened cartons.
Each carton contains 400 ml; the case holds 9.6 L in total. Check the storage instructions for each carton after opening.
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This multipack is a good option if you want several smaller cartons for recipes that need less coconut milk each time you open one.
The pack contains six 250 ml cartons. Check the label on the product you receive for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions after opening.
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This pack combines smaller cartons with a larger overall quantity, so you’ll need to plan how to use and store all twelve.
Each carton contains 250 ml. Check the label on the product you receive for ingredients, allergens and instructions for after opening.
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A 500 ml carton to consider if your family recipe uses a generous amount, without having to buy a multipack.
Check the pack for storage instructions after opening and plan how to use any leftovers.
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This single tin may suit a recipe that uses around one tin of coconut milk, without committing to a multipack.
The tin contains 400 ml. Check its storage instructions if you don’t use it all.
No: the right amount depends on how much your recipes call for and how quickly you’ll use an opened carton. If you only use a little coconut milk in each dish, compare 200 ml cartons and multipacks of smaller cartons instead.
Don’t assume they’re interchangeable: the Alpro product listed by Carrefour is a 1 L plant-based drink containing 8.6% coconut milk. If your recipe calls for coconut milk for cooking, check the product description and ingredients before choosing a substitute.
Follow the time and temperature guidance on the packaging for the product you’ve bought. Instructions vary, so plan to use any leftovers according to the label rather than relying on the carton size alone.
Check the number of cartons, their volume, the storage space you’ll need and how often you’ll use them. A case of 24 × 400 ml holds 9.6 L, but every opened carton must still be used according to its own storage instructions.