If you're making Candlemas pancakes for several people, choose the pack size based on how much coconut milk you'll use each time you open a container. Multipacks of individual containers let you open them one at a time, while a 1 L container is a good choice if you have several recipes planned within the stated use-by period after opening. Also check that you're buying culinary coconut milk, rather than coconut cream or a coconut-based drink, as these have different properties.
If pancakes are just one of the dishes you have planned, a multipack of separate containers or a larger size could provide the amount you need. If you choose a 1 L container, plan to use the remainder within the stated period after opening.
For a single batch of pancakes, 200 ml cartons, a 400 ml tin or a multipack of smaller containers lets you choose how much to open, rather than opening 1 L straight away.
The product name matters just as much as its size: coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut-based drinks are not interchangeable. Then compare the coconut extract, fat content, ingredients and declared allergens for the product you've chosen.
For pancakes, start with the amount your recipe needs, then check how many containers you'll have to open and what you'll do with the rest.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Compare the total volume, the size of each container and how long the product keeps after opening. | I'm making pancakes and other recipes around the same time, so I need enough coconut milk without opening the whole amount at once. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise having the right usable quantity. |
| Texture and ingredients | Read the product name, the proportion of coconut extract, the fat content and the ingredients list. | If I'm following a recipe that calls for coconut milk, I want to avoid a thicker cream changing the consistency of my batter. Around 27% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Leftovers after making pancakes | Check whether the containers are sealed individually, and choose a smaller one if you don't have another use in mind. | For a single batch, I'd rather open only the amount I need. Around 20% of consumers would put reducing leftovers first. |
| Pack type | Distinguish between a multipack of containers and several products bought separately; check the number and size of the containers. | If I want to spread my cooking over several days, I need to know exactly which containers will stay sealed. Pack type would be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Auchan describes VIETCOCO coconut cream as thicker than its coconut milk, while Carrefour lists Alpro as a coconut-based drink. So volume alone isn't enough to help you choose a substitute for your batter.
If your recipe calls for coconut milk, check the product name first. If you choose something else, adjust the recipe to account for its consistency.
Instructions vary by product: the Joybuy listing for VIETCOCO coconut milk 400 ml says to use it within 24 hours of opening, while Coco-D 1 L keeps for three to four days. Auchan says the BJORG 200 ml cartons keep for four days.
Before opening a large container, plan what else you'll make and follow the storage instructions on the product you've bought.
If you don't have another use for it within that time, you may end up throwing some of the opened product away.
Ingredients and declared allergens can vary between products and pack sizes. The ingredients in one coconut milk product don't necessarily describe those in the multipack next to it.
Check the label and declared allergens on the product you plan to use, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
Culinary coconut milk in a 400 ml tin, which you can compare with the quantities you need for your pancakes.
Auchan lists both coconut milk and coconut cream in 400 ml packs under this brand.
A coconut-based cooking ingredient sold by Auchan in two 200 ml cartons.
The Marque Repère range listed by E.Leclerc includes coconut milk in 200 ml and 400 ml sizes.
Aldi lists Asia Green Garden coconut milk in a 400 ml pack.
Carrefour describes Alpro's coconut product as a plant-based drink, not culinary coconut milk.
These options include multipacks of smaller containers, multipacks of 1 L containers and a single 1 L container. For your pancakes and whatever you make next, compare the size of each container with the amount you expect to use after opening it.
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For several recipes, the six bottles let you open 250 ml at a time, giving you 1.5 L in total.
The listing says to use a bottle within three to four days of opening. Check the declared allergens on the product you receive.
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This pack of twelve bottles is suitable if you're planning several recipes and want to open the containers separately. It contains 3 L in total, so check that this amount suits your cooking plans.
The listing says an opened bottle keeps for three to four days. Check the declared allergens on the product you receive.
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Each 400 ml container can be opened separately for a recipe. However, the pack contains 24 containers, so check that this total amount suits your needs beyond a single batch of pancakes.
Once opened, a container should be used within three to four days, according to the listing.
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This multipack of 1 L containers is intended for repeated use: each container can stay sealed until you need it, but the whole pack contains 12 L.
The listing says to refrigerate an opened container and use it within two days.
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This single 1 L container is suitable if you can use its contents in pancakes and other recipes once opened. Unlike multipacks of smaller containers, the whole litre is in one bottle.
The listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within five days.
No. It could also be a multipack of smaller containers, such as the six 250 ml bottles of CHAOKOH coconut milk listed by Joybuy. Check the total volume and the size of each container to see how much you'll need to open at a time.
Coconut cream isn't a like-for-like replacement for coconut milk in batter. Auchan describes VIETCOCO cream as thicker than the milk from the same brand. If your recipe calls for coconut milk, use that product or adjust the batter's consistency if you choose the cream.
Follow the storage instructions on the container you've bought, as they vary by product. The Joybuy listing for VIETCOCO 400 ml says 24 hours; Auchan says four days for BJORG cartons; and the Joybuy listing for Coco-D 1 L says three to four days. Follow the instructions for each product on refrigerating it after opening.
Yes. Check the allergen declaration for the exact product you'll be using, even if you're familiar with another version from the same brand. The label on the product you receive also lets you check the ingredients when switching from an individual container to a multipack.