Who are these options for?

Anyone looking to reduce the fat in a dish

For a quick curry, soup or sauce, compare the fat per 100 ml in coconut milk products for cooking. Check the product description too, so you don’t choose a coconut drink by mistake.

Anyone who only needs a small amount

If your recipe only calls for one portion, a 200 ml carton may leave you with less leftover than a 400 ml pack. Remember to check the storage instructions after opening.

Anyone who wants to get the consistency right

If your dish needs a creamy texture, check that the product you’re considering is suitable for the recipe before choosing the one with the lowest fat content. The Auchan and E.Leclerc product information lists 18 and 17 g of fat per 100 ml respectively for the standard products reviewed.

What should you look for first?

For a quick purchase, first make sure you’re choosing coconut milk for cooking, then compare fat content on a like-for-like basis. Next, pick a pack size you can use within the recommended time after opening.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Reducing fat Check the fat per 100 ml and make sure it’s coconut milk for cooking. To lighten up my curry, I want to compare products intended for the same use without relying on the word ‘light’. Around 36% of consumers put reducing fat first.
Consistency of the dish Check the ingredients and usage instructions, then make sure the coconut milk you choose is suitable for your recipe. If my sauce needs to be creamy, I won’t choose based only on the lowest figure in the nutrition table. Consistency is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Leftovers after the meal Compare the pack size with the amount you need and check the storage instructions after opening. For a single meal, I’d rather buy an amount I can use without leaving an open pack sitting around. Minimising leftovers comes first for around 21% of consumers.
Buying it straight away Check availability at your chosen shop or collection point, then check the label on the product offered. When I’m cooking today, I need to find an available product that also suits my recipe. Finding something straight away is the priority for around 14% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘light’ means very low in fat

    Auchan and Carrefour list 13 g/100 ml for Kara light and 5 g/100 ml for AYAM light. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘low fat’ for a liquid requires a maximum of 1.5 g/100 ml.

    Compare the ‘fat’ figure per 100 ml instead of guessing from the product name.

  • Using a coconut drink instead of coconut milk for cooking

    One drink listed by Auchan contains 8% coconut milk. Its product description and ingredients are different from those of coconut milk for cooking.

    Before using it in a curry or dessert, read the product description and ingredients list, then consider whether the swap will work in your recipe.

  • Opening a large pack when you only need a little

    Instructions vary by product: Auchan’s product information says to use its standard coconut milk within 48 hours of opening, and Kara light within three days. Both should be kept in the fridge.

    Choose a pack size that matches what your recipe needs. If you expect to have leftovers, follow the instructions on the pack you buy.

  • Relying on a product page when you need to buy it today

    The Carrefour pages checked showed the AYAM light and Kara products as unavailable. So a product page alone isn’t enough to plan today’s meal.

    Check availability at your local shop, for click and collect or for delivery, then check the details of the product actually offered.

Brands and products to compare

Kara

Light coconut milk for cooking in a 200 ml pack.

  • Auchan’s product information lists 13 g of fat per 100 ml and says to use within three days of opening, keeping it chilled.
  • ‘Light’ does not mean ‘low fat’ under the EU threshold for liquids.

AYAM

Light coconut milk for cooking in a 330 ml carton.

  • Carrefour’s product information lists 5 g of fat per 100 ml.
  • If you’re planning a meal at short notice, check availability with your chosen shop or collection point.

Auchan

The standard product reviewed is coconut milk in a 200 ml carton.

  • Auchan’s product information lists 50% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 ml.
  • This fat content won’t suit you if reducing fat is your main priority. After opening, the product information says to keep it in the fridge and use within 48 hours.

Tables du Monde

Coconut milk for cooking from E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range, in a 200 ml carton.

  • E.Leclerc’s product information lists 63% coconut extract and 17 g of fat per 100 ml.
  • If reducing fat is your priority, compare this figure with those of the light products before you choose.

GreenLife

A 400 ml tin of coconut milk listed on Joybuy.

  • The nutrition table on the Joybuy product page lists 5 g of fat per 100 ml.
  • If you only use part of the tin, follow the instructions for keeping it chilled after opening and plan how you’ll use the rest.

Coconut milk options to consider on Joybuy

These two 400 ml options are for anyone looking for coconut milk labelled as light for cooking. For a single meal, compare the nutritional values on a like-for-like basis and plan how you’ll use any leftovers.

Renuka Coconut Milk Light 9%, 400 ml tin

Renuka Coconut Milk Light 9%, 400 ml tin

This size is best suited to a recipe that calls for coconut milk if you have a plan for using the rest. The product name includes ‘9%’, so check the fat per 100 ml on the label before comparing it with another product.

View on Joybuy
Grace Light Coconut Milk, 400 ml

Grace Light Coconut Milk 400 ml

If you’re considering this coconut milk for a recipe, check that 400 ml is the right amount. To compare its fat content with other products, use figures shown on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml, and check the storage instructions after opening.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘light’ mean ‘low fat’?

No, these terms aren’t interchangeable. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim ‘low fat’ for a liquid requires a maximum of 1.5 g of fat per 100 ml. Check the product’s nutrition information rather than relying on the word ‘light’ alone.

Can I use a coconut drink instead of coconut milk in a curry?

Only after checking whether its ingredients are suitable for your recipe. The coconut drink listed by Auchan contains 8% coconut milk. Check the product description and ingredients list before using it instead of coconut milk for cooking.

How long can I keep coconut milk once it’s open?

Follow the instructions for the product you buy and store it as directed on the packaging. The Auchan product information reviewed says to keep the coconut milk in the fridge and use the standard version within 48 hours, or Kara light within three days.

What should I check on the label when comparing two coconut milks?

Start with the product description, ingredients and fat content, making sure the figures are shown on the same basis. The DGCCRF says nutrition information per 100 g or 100 ml makes it easier to compare products. The pack size and instructions after opening can then help you choose the right amount.