If you want to sprinkle a grated topping over toast and jam, look for desiccated coconut rather than coconut milk or a coconut drink: the latter two are liquids. If you’re looking for an ingredient to add to a recipe or breakfast drink, check the product name and ingredients before you choose.
If you want to add a coconut texture to toast and jam, first decide whether you’re looking for something to sprinkle or spread. The coconut milks described by Auchan are liquids for cooking, not grated products.
If you’re adding coconut milk to a dessert or savoury dish, compare the coconut content, ingredients, pack size and storage instructions after opening. These considerations apply to a recipe, not necessarily to a topping for bread.
If you want a plant-based drink to enjoy or pour over breakfast, look for the words “coconut drink”. This is intended for a different use from culinary coconut milk and won’t give you a grated texture.
For toast, first choose the form of coconut you’re looking for. Then compare the ingredients and pack size of products that are actually suitable for that use.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and use | Read the product name and check whether it’s grated, spreadable or liquid. | If I want to top my toast without pouring on a liquid, I’m looking for something I can sprinkle or spread; almost 46% of consumers would prioritise this suitability of texture. |
| Ingredients | Compare the proportion of coconut in the ingredients and the fat content on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml. | If I’m also making a recipe or a breakfast drink, I want to choose the category and ingredients that suit that use; around 27% of consumers would make this their top consideration. |
| Pack size and storage | Check the pack size and the storage instructions for the specific product after opening. | For occasional use, I’d prefer a quantity I can finish within the recommended time; around 27% of consumers would put this first. |
Auchan’s culinary coconut milk contains 50% coconut extract, while Auchan Bio coconut drink contains 10%. So the word “coconut” alone isn’t enough to tell you how a product is intended to be used or what it contains.
Before swapping one for the other in a recipe, check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information on a like-for-like basis.
Culinary coconut milk won’t give you the texture of an ingredient to sprinkle over toast and jam.
If you’re specifically looking for a grated texture, search for “desiccated coconut” and check the product before you buy.
How long a product keeps after opening depends on the product: the instructions Auchan gives for its 200 ml coconut milk differ from those for Kara organic coconut milk.
Choose a pack size that suits the amount you’ll need, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging once it’s open.
Auchan’s product information for Le Coq Noir organic coconut milk explains that the fat can solidify at low temperatures and form a layer on the surface.
Check the instructions for the specific product to find out how to mix it before use.
The Alpro coconut plant-based drink featured by Carrefour belongs to the drinks category, rather than the culinary coconut milk category.
Auchan offers separate products including culinary coconut milk, Coco Cuisine and coconut drink.
Kara organic coconut milk in a 20 cl carton is a liquid cooking ingredient.
Le Coq Noir organic coconut milk comes in a 400 ml pack and is presented as a cooking product.
Culinary coconut milk is a liquid, so it isn’t a substitute for a grated or spreadable topping. If you’re looking for something to sprinkle over jam, make sure you want desiccated coconut rather than an ingredient to add to a recipe.
They’re two different categories, distinguished by their product names, intended uses and ingredients. Auchan’s product information states that Auchan Bio coconut drink contains 10% coconut milk, compared with 50% coconut extract in Auchan 200 ml culinary coconut milk. Check the specific product before using one as a substitute for the other.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve bought. For example, Auchan’s product information says to use its 200 ml coconut milk within 48 hours of opening, and Kara organic coconut milk within 3 days. Don’t assume the same time limit applies to every product.
Start with the product name and ingredients list to tell the difference between a drink, culinary coconut milk and a grated topping. For pre-packed food sold in France, information about ingredients and allergens is among the labelling details outlined by the European Your Europe portal. Check the label on the product you choose.