Families making lunch at home
For sharing curries, soups, sauces or desserts, how much you need to open depends on your recipes and the number of meals you’re planning.
Who is this guide for?
Households that use coconut milk regularly
A larger pack or multipack may suit several recipes. However, it’s important to distinguish between one bottle and several cartons, and to plan how you’ll use each unit after opening.
Anyone choosing between a drink and a cooking ingredient
Seeing the word “coconut” doesn’t tell you how a product is intended to be used. Choose a coconut drink or coconut milk for cooking according to the dish you have in mind.
What should you look for?
For school holiday lunches, first decide whether you need coconut milk for a recipe or a drink. Then choose the ingredients and pack size you’ll be able to use.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | The product description, the proportion of coconut extract if stated, and the fat content per 100 ml. | For a sauce or dessert, I want to choose a product that suits the texture my recipe calls for, rather than assume all coconut milks behave the same way; around 33% of consumers put this cooking requirement first. |
| Usable volume | The volume of each unit, the number of units and the instructions for use after opening. Carrefour describes its 2-litre offer as two 1 L cartons. | If I’m planning several lunches, I want to open an amount the household can use within the timeframe stated on the packaging; for around 27% of consumers, pack size is the top priority. |
| Type of product | The product description and stated use: coconut milk for cooking or a coconut drink. | Before making a curry or a drink, I need to choose a product intended for that use; this distinction comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | The ingredients list, any allergens highlighted and the nutritional information, depending on what matters to your household. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to be able to check the ingredients and packaging information before serving the meal; around 20% of consumers make this their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing coconut drinks with coconut milk for cooking
Carrefour lists a 1 L Alpro coconut drink separately from its coconut milks for cooking. They have different product descriptions and stated uses.
For a sauce, curry or dessert, check the product description and ingredients required by your recipe before swapping coconut milk for a drink.
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Assuming “2 litres” means one large bottle
Carrefour’s 2-litre offer is labelled “2 × 1 litre”, so the total volume alone doesn’t tell you how it’s packed.
Check how many cartons there are and the volume of each one. If you’re making just one recipe, compare this quantity with what you actually need.
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Choosing based only on “organic” or “creamy” on the label
Product listings show that the ingredients vary between specific products: E.Leclerc states that Bio Village contains 47% coconut extract and Tables du Monde 63%, while Auchan lists 88% for its 200 ml semi-thick coconut milk. These figures alone don’t tell you how the product will turn out in a recipe.
Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you’re considering, along with any details relevant to your recipe.
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Forgetting how to store it after opening
Auchan’s product listing for its 200 ml semi-thick coconut milk says to refrigerate it and use it within 48 hours of opening. This timeframe applies to this product only.
Before opening a large pack, plan how you’ll use the rest and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Brands and ranges to compare
Auchan
Auchan offers coconut milk for cooking, including a 200 ml semi-thick option and a resealable 500 ml carton.
- The listing for its 200 ml semi-thick coconut milk states that it contains 88% coconut extract and gives storage instructions for after opening.
- The same product contains 24 g of fat, including 23 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml. These details don’t apply to other Auchan products.
E.Leclerc / Tables du Monde
The range includes a 200 ml carton of coconut milk for cooking, a size worth comparing with the amount needed for a one-off recipe.
- The listing for this product states that it contains 63% coconut extract, water and xanthan gum.
- For this product, E.Leclerc advises checking availability with the relevant store.
E.Leclerc / Bio Village
Bio Village offers organic coconut milk in a 200 ml carton.
- The ingredients list shown for this product includes water and 47% organic coconut extract.
- The listing states that it contains 18 g of fat, including 16 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml. This small pack won’t meet a need for several litres on its own.
ALDI / Asia Green Garden
ALDI offers Asia Green Garden coconut milk in a 400 ml cooking pack.
- You can compare the stated volume directly with the amount you need for a recipe.
- Before comparing it with another product, check the ingredients and instructions for use after opening on the packaging.
Alpro
Alpro offers coconut drinks. Carrefour, for example, lists a 1 L drink, which is different from coconut milk for cooking.
- Alpro also offers its Barista range for coffee-based drinks.
- Don’t assume a coconut drink is a direct substitute for coconut milk in a sauce or curry.
Coconut milk for cooking on Joybuy
These products are intended for making curries, soups, sauces or desserts. Sizes range from amounts for a single recipe to those that could be used across several dishes. Check the exact volume and instructions for each product before planning your lunches.
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Vietcoco Coconut Milk, 17–19% fat, 1 L
This 1 L size is suited to households planning several recipes with coconut milk.
The description states that it contains 85% coconut extract. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within 5 days. This is one 1 L unit, not a pack of 2 × 1 L.
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Coconut Milk Tetra Pak, 18% fat
This coconut milk is recommended for curries, soups, sauces and desserts. Check the pack size before choosing it for several lunches.
The description states that it contains 70% coconut extract and should be refrigerated and used within 3 to 4 days of opening. If it matters to anyone sharing the meal, also check the allergen information on the packaging.
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Valcom Coconut Milk, 400 ml
The 400 ml tin lets you choose an amount for one recipe instead of opening a 1 L pack.
The description states that it contains 75% coconut extract. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within 3 days.
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AMPAWA Coconut Milk, 1 L PET bottle
This 1 L bottle could suit several curry, soup or dessert recipes.
The description states that it contains 90% coconut extract. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within 5 days. One bottle is not a 2 L pack.
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AROY-D Coconut Milk Cooking, 19% fat, 400 ml
The 400 ml size is worth considering for a lunch or recipe that calls for coconut milk for cooking.
The description states that it contains 60% coconut extract. To plan how you’ll use any leftovers, check the instructions for storage after opening on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does 2 litres of coconut milk always mean one 2 L bottle?
No. Carrefour’s 2-litre offer is described as two 1 L cartons. Check the number of units and the volume of each one, then follow the instructions for each carton once opened.
What should I look for when choosing coconut milk for a curry or dessert?
Choose a product intended for cooking, then compare its ingredients and the quantity your recipe calls for. As examples specific to these products, E.Leclerc listings state that Bio Village contains 47% coconut extract and Tables du Monde 63%; Auchan states that its 200 ml semi-thick coconut milk contains 88%.
Can I use a coconut drink instead of coconut milk in a sauce?
Don’t assume the two products are interchangeable without checking the recipe and their labels. Carrefour lists an Alpro coconut drink separately from its coconut milks for cooking, while Alpro describes its Barista range as suitable for coffee-based drinks.
How long can I keep coconut milk once it’s open?
Follow the storage time and temperature stated for the product you’ve bought. Auchan’s listing for its 200 ml semi-thick coconut milk says to refrigerate it and use it within 48 hours of opening. This timeframe doesn’t apply to every product.
What information should I check on prepacked coconut milk?
Check the product description, ingredients list, highlighted allergens, net quantity, nutritional information and date. The DGCCRF includes these among the labelling information required for prepacked foods in France. The product’s storage instructions are also important when planning how you’ll use it.