Choose the amount of organic coconut milk to suit your recipe: a 200 ml carton is a good fit for a recipe that uses only a little, while with a 400 ml container you’ll need to plan how to use the rest once it’s opened. To compare products, look at the coconut content, ingredients list and storage instructions for each one. The organic label alone won’t tell you everything you need to know.
For cooking, you’ll want culinary coconut milk in a volume and with a recipe that suits your dish, rather than a coconut drink. The coconut content varies between the products listed by E.Leclerc, Auchan and Carrefour.
You want to spot the organic information, then check exactly what’s in the product. The ingredients list lets you check, for example, whether it contains thickeners. The organic label alone doesn’t describe the full recipe.
If a recipe only needs a small amount, a 200 ml carton can save you opening a larger container. In any case, check the packaging for instructions on how to store the product once opened.
Start with the amount your recipe calls for, then compare the coconut content and ingredients of the sizes that suit you. Each priority below reflects something consumers may put first when making their choice.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut content | Compare the percentage of coconut extract or coconut shown for culinary coconut milks, then check the other ingredients in each recipe. | For a curry or dessert, I want to choose the ingredients to suit the flavour and texture I’m after, without assuming that the percentage alone predicts the result. Around 33% of consumers put how well the product suits the recipe first. |
| Organic information | Look for organic information on the packaging, then read the ingredients list and check the stated coconut content. | If organic status guides my purchase, I also want to know what’s in the product I’m going to cook with. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this labelling information. |
| Ingredients | Read the full list: some products contain guar gum or other ingredients in addition to coconut and water. | I prefer a short ingredients list and want to be able to make an informed choice about whether it contains a thickener. Around 25% of consumers put this preference ahead of other criteria. |
| Size and storage | Compare 200 ml and 400 ml with the amount you need, then check the product’s instructions for storage after opening. | When I don’t cook with coconut milk often, I want to use the whole container without leaving any to go to waste. Around 17% of consumers put the size first, based on how they plan to use it. |
Organic certification and ingredients are two different things. The ingredients lists for some organic coconut milk products listed by Auchan and Carrefour include guar gum.
If you prefer a recipe made with coconut and water, check the ingredients list for the product you’re buying rather than relying on the organic logo alone.
A larger container may leave you with coconut milk to use after opening. Instructions vary from product to product: for its 200 ml Bjorg carton, Auchan advises refrigerating it and using it within four days of opening.
Check how much your recipe needs and read the instructions on the product you’ve chosen before deciding on a size.
Coconut content can help you distinguish between recipes, but other ingredients and how you prepare the dish matter too. The percentages shown for Bio Village, Kara, Jardin Bio Étic and Carrefour Bio each relate to a specific product.
Compare coconut milks intended for the same use and read the full ingredients list before choosing one for a sauce or dessert.
The details below apply to the specific products mentioned, not to every product from each brand.
Carrefour lists organic coconut milk in a 400 ml can, as well as a 330 ml carton.
E.Leclerc lists a 200 ml carton of Bio Village organic coconut milk.
Auchan lists a 200 ml carton of smooth Bjorg organic coconut milk.
Auchan lists a 200 ml carton of Kara organic coconut milk for cooking.
Carrefour lists a 400 ml can of Jardin Bio Étic organic coconut milk.
These two sizes of culinary coconut milk let you compare 200 ml for a one-off recipe with a 400 ml container for a larger dish. When shopping for organic products, check the information on the packaging of the product you choose.
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The 200 ml size may suit a recipe that needs only a small amount of coconut milk. Check the organic information and nutritional details on the packaging, including the fat content, along with the storage instructions for after opening.
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The 400 ml container suits a recipe that needs more coconut milk, or several dishes prepared close together. Check the packaging to confirm the organic information, ingredients and instructions to follow once opened.
Look for organic information on the product packaging, including the EU organic logo. The label relates to organic production standards; to find out exactly what’s in the product, also read the ingredients list and check the stated coconut content.
Not necessarily; it depends on the product. The ingredients listed by Auchan for the Kara carton mentioned here include organic coconut extract and water, while the ingredients shown for some Bjorg, Carrefour Bio and Jardin Bio Étic products include guar gum. Check the label of the product you choose.
Follow the instructions on your packaging, as they can vary by product. For the 200 ml carton of smooth Bjorg organic coconut milk listed by Auchan, the instructions say to refrigerate it and use it within four days of opening.
Don’t assume they’re interchangeable: first check the product description and ingredients, then look at the stated coconut content. This will help you decide whether the product is right for the dish you’re planning to make.