If your recipe calls for coconut milk, start by choosing a coconut milk product and checking how much you need. For a recipe that needs a thicker consistency, consider coconut cream instead. Then compare the ingredients and pack size: a larger pack is only worthwhile if you plan to use it in one or more recipes.
If the texture of your mixture matters, distinguish between coconut milk and coconut cream before comparing the ingredients. Auchan describes Vietcoco coconut cream as thicker than its coconut milk, although the result will depend on the recipe you use.
If several desserts call for coconut, add up the quantities you’ll need before choosing your pack sizes. Auchan’s range includes coconut milk cartons of up to 500 ml.
If ingredients are a key factor in your choice, check the coconut extract percentage where stated, any thickeners and the nutritional information for each product. Pack size alone won’t tell you these things.
First, choose the type of product your recipe calls for, then check the pack size and ingredients of the specific product. For Vietcoco, Auchan states that its 400 ml coconut cream contains 95% coconut extract, while its 400 ml coconut milk contains 85%. These figures relate to two different products and don’t guarantee how a dessert will turn out.
Consider it: if the recipe calls for cream or you want a thicker mixture.
Bear in mind: in a recipe designed for coconut milk, this swap may change the consistency.
Choose it: when the recipe calls for coconut milk and the pack contains enough for the amount you need.
Bear in mind: the coconut extract percentage varies between products, so the name alone isn’t enough to compare their ingredients.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Dessert texture | Whether it’s called coconut milk or coconut cream, followed by the ingredients of the product you choose. | For a mousse or filling, my priority is to get the consistency I’m looking for and avoid a swap that changes the recipe. Around 50% of consumers would put texture first. |
| Amount needed | The total amount required by your recipes and the size of each tin or carton. | If I’m making several desserts, I’d rather buy enough for the amount I need than get a large pack that will be left open. Pack size would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and label | The coconut extract percentage, where stated on the label, the ingredients and the nutritional information. | I want to compare products of the same type by looking at their ingredients, rather than just their size. Around 17% of consumers would put checking the label first. |
These names refer to different types of product. Auchan stocks plant-based drinks separately from the coconut milk and cream intended for cooking. Swapping one for another may change how your recipe turns out.
Check the exact product name on the packaging and start with the type of product your recipe calls for.
A 400 ml tin and a 500 ml carton won’t necessarily suit the same baking plans. If the pack is larger than the amount you need, you’ll have some left over.
Add up the quantities in your recipes before choosing the pack size and number of packs.
Auchan’s product details state that 400 ml Vietcoco coconut milk contains 85% coconut extract, while Carrefour states that its 400 ml Jardin Bio Etic coconut milk contains 68%. Its ingredients list also includes guar gum.
Compare the labels of the specific products, including their ingredients and nutritional values. Don’t assume the coconut percentage alone will determine how a recipe turns out.
These examples give you a starting point for comparing product types and pack sizes. The details apply to the products mentioned, not to every product in each brand’s range.
Auchan stocks Vietcoco coconut milk and coconut cream, both in 400 ml tins.
Auchan’s range includes Kara coconut milk in a 500 ml carton, as well as other pack sizes and types of coconut products.
Auchan’s range includes coconut milk in a resealable 50 cl carton.
Carrefour stocks sterilised Carrefour Sensation coconut milk in a 400 ml tin.
This selection includes coconut cream for recipes that call for cream and coconut milk for those that call for milk. The 400 ml, 500 ml and 1 L pack sizes let you compare the amount with what you need for your Christmas baking. Always check the exact product name before swapping an ingredient.
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Consider this for a recipe that calls for around 400 ml of coconut cream, rather than coconut milk.
The product title states 20–22% fat. If you’re thinking of using it as a substitute, check the proportions and consistency your recipe requires.
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The 1 L pack may be a good fit if several recipes call for coconut cream.
The product title states 23% fat. For a single recipe, work out how much you need and plan how you’ll use the rest.
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Consider this 400 ml coconut cream when your recipe calls for cream rather than milk.
The product title states 22% fat. If you want to compare the coconut extract percentage with another product, check the ingredients on the packaging.
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Consider this if your recipes call for coconut milk and the total amount you need makes a 1 L pack worthwhile.
The product title states 17–19% fat. For a single recipe, check how much you need and follow the storage instructions after opening.
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Compare this 500 ml coconut milk with the amount needed for one recipe or several dishes.
The product title states 18% fat. If these details matter to you, check the coconut extract percentage and instructions for use after opening on the packaging.
Not without considering the recipe: thicker coconut cream may change the consistency. Auchan’s 400 ml Vietcoco coconut cream contains 95% coconut extract, compared with 85% in its 400 ml Vietcoco coconut milk. Start with the type of ingredient your recipe calls for and check the proportions before swapping products.
Don’t assume it’s a direct substitute. Auchan stocks plant-based drinks separately from coconut milk and cream for cooking. If your recipe calls for coconut milk, check the product name and ingredients before using it.
First, check the product name, net quantity and ingredients list, then compare the nutritional information. The DGCCRF notes that prepacked food labels include this information, as well as a date appropriate to the product. Check the packaging of the product you choose.