Anyone making a sauce or dessert
For a curry, sauce or dessert for several guests, look for coconut milk for cooking. Compare the ingredients, the proportion of coconut extract if stated, and the fat content.
Who is this advice for?
Anyone looking to avoid leftovers
If your menu only calls for a small amount of coconut milk, a portion-sized pack may be easier to use up. The Suzi Wan cooking coconut milk featured by Carrefour France is available in a 200 mL carton.
Anyone choosing between two coconut products
A coconut drink and coconut milk for cooking may not be suitable for the same uses. Check the product name and ingredients to confirm what you’re buying before adding it to your menu.
What should you check before buying?
For your dinner, first make sure the product is suitable for your recipe. Then choose a pack size to match the dishes you’re planning.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients for cooking | Check the proportion of coconut extract and the fat content listed for the product intended for cooking. | If I’m making a sauce or dessert, I want ingredients that will give me the texture I’m looking for. Around 45% of consumers put this cooking requirement first. |
| Pack size | Match the pack size to the quantities you need, and read the storage instructions for after opening. | If I’m only making one dish, I’d rather not open a large pack and use only a little. Around 33% of consumers prioritise choosing a suitable pack size. |
| Type of product | Read the product name and ingredients to tell coconut milk for cooking apart from a coconut drink. | When several products say ‘coconut’ on the pack, I want to avoid buying a drink for a recipe that calls for a cooking ingredient. For nearly 22% of consumers, telling these categories apart comes before other considerations. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Swapping coconut milk for a coconut drink without checking
The ingredients can differ significantly. Carrefour France lists 85% coconut extract for the Real Thai product featured, while the Alpro drink featured contains 8.6% coconut milk, as well as rice and stabilisers. Don’t assume they’ll give you the same result in a sauce.
If your recipe calls for coconut milk for cooking, check the product name and ingredients of the one you choose.
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Opening a large pack for one small dish
Make sure you can use the remaining amount in your planned recipes and store it according to the instructions after opening. The listing for a cooking product featured by Carrefour France says to refrigerate it and use it within two days of opening. This guidance does not automatically apply to other products.
Work out how much you need for your menu, then read the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen.
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Judging by the packaging instead of the product name
The word ‘coconut’ appears on products in different categories. For prepacked foods, the DGCCRF says the product name and ingredients list help you identify what you’re buying.
Check both on the packaging, even if the product is in the aisle you’d expect.
Brands to compare
These examples relate to specific products. Their ingredients and pack sizes do not represent the full range from each brand.
Real Thai
Carrefour France lists a 1 L carton of coconut milk for cooking.
- The ingredients list for this product states that it contains 85% coconut extract and water.
- Before choosing the 1 L size, check how much you need and the storage instructions for after opening.
Suzi Wan
The Suzi Wan cooking coconut milk featured by Carrefour France comes in a 200 mL carton.
- Its ingredients list states that it contains 56% coconut extract, water and xanthan gum.
- If you’re making several dishes, check that the total amount you plan to buy will cover what you need.
Alpro
The Alpro coconut product featured by Carrefour France is a 1 L plant-based drink, not coconut milk for cooking.
- The product listing includes water, 8.6% coconut milk, rice and stabilisers.
- Don’t automatically use it instead of coconut milk for cooking if your recipe calls for a creamy sauce.
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Frequently asked questions
How can you tell coconut milk for cooking apart from a coconut drink?
Read the product name and ingredients list. For example, Carrefour France lists a Real Thai cooking product containing 85% coconut extract, while the Alpro coconut drink featured contains water, 8.6% coconut milk and rice, among other ingredients.
What size should you choose for a sauce or several dishes?
Choose a pack size based on the quantities in your menu and whether you’ll be able to use the rest. Carrefour France lists a 200 mL carton of Suzi Wan cooking coconut milk and a 1 L Real Thai product. Before opening a large pack, read the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
What should you compare on the label?
Start by comparing the product name, ingredients, net quantity and nutritional information for the exact product. The DGCCRF states that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 mL. To compare two values, make sure they use the same unit.
Can you assume that coconut milk is allergen-free?
No. Check the allergen information on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.