Anyone planning to make several batches
If you’re not sure how many pancakes you’ll make, 400 ml containers let you increase the amount you open as you go.
Who are these sizes for?
Anyone who cares about the coconut flavour
If flavour and texture matter for your recipe, check the coconut extract content and fat levels listed for each culinary coconut milk. These figures alone won’t tell you exactly how the batter will turn out.
Households looking to cut down on leftovers
Choose a container close to the amount you expect to use and check the storage instructions for after opening: these vary from product to product.
What should you look for?
Start with the amount your recipe calls for, then add any coconut milk you’ll need for a filling. You can then choose between small packs, several 400 ml containers or a 1 L size.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Compare the amount you expect to use with the 200 ml, 400 ml and 1 L sizes. Keep containers sealed if you might change how many batches you make. | If I might make several batches, I want to be able to open coconut milk as I go. Around 36% of consumers would put this need for a flexible amount first. |
| Flavour and texture | Check the coconut extract content and fat levels of the exact product, and don’t assume coconut cream is the same as culinary coconut milk. | If I want a pronounced coconut flavour in my batter or filling, I want to choose the right formulation with all the facts. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Leftovers | Check the storage instructions for after opening and plan how you’ll use any opened container. | If I don’t expect to use all the coconut milk during the evening, I’d rather use the rest within the time stated. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients list and any claims relating to the certification you’re looking for on the exact product. | If I’m looking for a particular ingredient list or certification, I want to check it before choosing a size. Around 14% of consumers would make this their first consideration. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing culinary coconut milk with coconut drinks
They aren’t necessarily interchangeable in pancake batter: Alpro describes the product used in its recipe as a drink, while Carrefour Sensation and Vietcoco product descriptions list culinary coconut milks containing 85% coconut extract.
Follow the wording used in your recipe and compare the ingredients before making a substitution.
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Opening a large pack without a plan for the rest
Storage times after opening vary: Joybuy’s product page for Vietcoco 400 ml says 24 hours, the Bamboo Tree 1 L page says a few days, and Monoprix’s page for Ayam 400 ml says three days.
Choose a size that suits what else you’ll use it for, and follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
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Relying on a specific product without checking it’s available
A product you’ve spotted in advance might not be available when you shop. Lidl catalogues, for example, state how long their offers are valid for.
Before building your recipe around a particular product, check that it’s available in the size you want at the shop where you plan to buy it.
Coconut milk brands to know
Carrefour Sensation
Carrefour offers culinary coconut milk in a 400 ml tin.
- Its product page states that it contains 85% coconut extract.
- That percentage alone won’t guarantee a particular flavour or texture in pancake batter.
Tables du Monde
E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes coconut milk in a 200 ml carton and a 400 ml tin.
- The two sizes let you choose according to the amount your recipe needs.
- Check the details of the product you choose rather than assuming its ingredients based on the pack size.
Vietcoco
Auchan offers 400 ml culinary coconut milk as well as a separate coconut cream.
- The coconut milk product page states that it contains 85% coconut extract.
- According to Auchan, the cream contains 95% coconut extract and is thicker than the milk, so adjust your recipe if you use it as a substitute.
Jardin Bio Étic
Carrefour offers this organic coconut milk in a 400 ml tin.
- The product page states that it contains 68% coconut extract and that 99.2% of its agricultural ingredients come from fair trade.
- The coconut extract content alone won’t tell you how your recipe will turn out.
Asia Green Garden
Aldi offers this brand’s coconut milk in a 400 ml size.
- You can open several 400 ml containers depending on how much you end up needing.
- If you’re choosing based on the ingredients or the texture you want, check the label on the exact product.
Coconut milk available on Joybuy
These products include 400 ml containers, a multipack of small tins and 1 L sizes. First, choose an amount that you’ll be able to use in your recipe and for anything else you have planned.
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Valcom, coconut milk 400 ml
If you’re not sure how much batter you’ll need, this 400 ml container lets you open one at a time. Check the storage instructions before using what’s left.
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Valcom, organic coconut milk 400 ml
A 400 ml container of organic coconut milk for anyone who wants to adjust how many containers they open. Check the product label for its ingredients and storage instructions.
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CHAOKOH, coconut milk, 18% fat, 48 × 165 ml
This multipack lets you open small tins one at a time, but 48 tins is a lot to buy, so check that the quantity suits your needs. If any guests have dietary restrictions, check the exact product label.
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AMPAWA, coconut milk in a 1 L PET bottle
Worth considering if your recipe already calls for a large amount. With a 1 L container, plan how you’ll use the rest and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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Vietcoco, coconut milk, 17–19% fat, 1 L
This 1 L size suits a recipe where you’ve already planned to use a larger amount, rather than a few batches when you’re not sure how many you’ll make. Check the instructions for after opening before counting on using the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to buy 1 L of coconut milk for pancake night?
No: a 1 L container is best if you expect to use most of it during the evening or soon afterwards. If you’re not sure how many batches you’ll make, several 400 ml containers help you limit how much you open.
Can you use a coconut drink instead of culinary coconut milk?
Don’t automatically swap one for the other in a pancake recipe. Alpro describes the product used in its recipe as a coconut drink; check the product description and ingredients before using it instead of culinary coconut milk.
How long does coconut milk keep once opened?
Follow the storage time given for the product you’ve bought, as it varies from one product to another. Joybuy product pages state 24 hours for Vietcoco 400 ml and a few days for Bamboo Tree 1 L; Monoprix’s page for Ayam 400 ml says three days in the fridge in a container.
What should you check on the packaging if guests have dietary restrictions?
Before serving the pancakes, check the ingredients and any information for people with dietary restrictions on the exact product packaging. Don’t assume what a coconut milk contains based on its name alone or on another product from the same brand.