For a New Year’s Eve sauce or dessert, start with coconut milk intended for cooking and compare the ingredients of the specific product you’re considering rather than relying on the word ‘milk’ alone. Coconut drinks are intended for a different use. If vegan certification is essential, check the logo and certifying body on the exact product, and don’t assume that a simple ‘vegan’ claim means it’s certified.
If a vegan claim or certification is essential to your purchase, check the packaging of the exact product before cooking for your guests. Auchan displays a ‘Vegan’ claim for Jardin Bio Étic coconut milk; this claim alone does not identify a certifying body.
For a curry, sauce or dessert where texture matters, tell the difference between coconut milk for cooking and a coconut drink. Product listings from Bjorg, E.Leclerc and Joybuy show different coconut proportions for different products, so compare the ingredients of the product you’ll be using in your recipe.
You may not need the same pack size for a single recipe as you do for several dishes. Check how much you’ll need and the storage instructions after opening: Auchan and Joybuy give different guidance for the coconut milks featured here.
For New Year’s Eve, first check whether your recipe calls for coconut milk for cooking or a coconut drink. Then compare the product you’ve chosen against your vegan requirements, the quantity you’ll need and any labels that matter to you.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan requirements | Read the ingredients and claims on the exact product. If certification is required, look for the logo and certifying body. | I want to serve a dish that meets my guests’ vegan requirements without confusing a claim with certification. Around 36% of consumers put this check at the top of their list. |
| Recipe texture | Tell the difference between coconut milk for cooking and a coconut drink, then compare the coconut content and fat levels shown for the product. | For my sauce or dessert, I’m looking for ingredients that suit the texture my recipe calls for. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the pack size with the amount you need and read the product’s storage instructions for after opening. | If I’m only using coconut milk in one dish, I’d rather know what I can do with the rest. Around 21% of consumers prioritise the quantity they need and storage. |
| Production labels | Check which labels appear on the product and what they cover; an organic or fair-trade label does not mean it has vegan certification. | As well as choosing for my recipe, I want to look for a specific production label. This is the main criterion for around 14% of consumers. |
The two Bjorg products have different ingredients: the brand states that its 200 ml pourable coconut milk for cooking contains 60% coconut, compared with 5.4% in its 1 L coconut drink. This can affect the result of a sauce or dessert.
If your recipe calls for coconut milk for cooking, check the product category and coconut content before substituting.
The ‘Vegan’ claim on Auchan’s product listing for Jardin Bio Étic does not, by itself, identify a third-party certification.
If your guests require certification, check the logo and name of the certifying body on the product you buy, as well as the ingredients list.
Storage instructions after opening vary: Auchan says to keep Jardin Bio Étic refrigerated and use it within four days, while Joybuy’s listings say to use the 1 L Kara within three to four days and the 400 ml Vietcoco featured in the search within 24 hours.
Work out how much you need for your dishes and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
A pack that’s larger than you need may leave you with coconut milk to use up quickly after opening.
Two coconut milks intended for cooking can have different ingredients and nutritional values. The cooking category alone doesn’t tell you how much fat the product you choose contains.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact product, particularly the fat per 100 ml, if it matters to your recipe.
A 22.5 cl organic coconut milk for cooking, listed by Auchan with a ‘Vegan’ claim.
A 400 ml organic coconut milk for cooking, listed by Carrefour.
Coconut milks for cooking in 200 ml and 400 ml sizes, listed by E.Leclerc under the Tables du Monde brand.
A range that includes pourable coconut milk for cooking and a plant-based coconut drink for different uses.
A 1 L UHT coconut milk for cooking, listed on Joybuy for recipes that call for a larger quantity.
These coconut milk products are options to consider for your New Year’s Eve dishes. Check the stated pack size and the ingredients on each pack. A description that suggests a product is suitable for vegan cooking is no substitute for certification if certification is essential to your choice.
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Worth considering if a small pack is enough for the recipe you’re making.
165 ml tin. If you need a specific vegan assurance, check the claim and any certification on the packaging, as well as the instructions for after opening.
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If you’re making several dishes, compare the 1 L size with the quantities you need.
The product name states that it contains 17-19% fat. Check the ingredients for this product to see if it suits your recipe, check its vegan labelling if needed, and find out how long it keeps after opening before planning what to do with any leftovers.
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The 400 ml size is worth comparing with the amount needed for a sauce or dessert.
The product name includes the figure 6%: check the label to find out exactly what it refers to and whether the ingredients suit your recipe. Check separately for any vegan certification requirements.
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Worth considering if your recipe calls for around 400 ml.
If the source of additives matters to you when choosing vegan products, check the origin of the ingredients listed as E412 and E435 in this product. Also check the instructions for after opening.
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Compare the 200 ml carton with the quantity you need for a smaller recipe.
The product name states that it’s UHT and contains 17% fat. If you need vegan certification, check the labelling on this product, then follow its storage instructions for after opening.
No, the claim alone doesn’t prove that a product has third-party certification. Auchan displays ‘Vegan’ for Jardin Bio Étic. If you require certification, check the logo and the certifying body’s identity on the packaging of the exact product, as well as the ingredients list.
Not without considering the recipe: Bjorg states that its 1 L drink contains 5.4% coconut, compared with 60% in its 200 ml pourable coconut milk for cooking. If your sauce depends on the ingredients of the cooking coconut milk specified in the recipe, compare both labels before swapping one for the other.
Follow the guidance for the product you buy: Auchan says to keep Jardin Bio Étic refrigerated and use it within four days, while Joybuy says to use its 1 L Kara within three to four days and the 400 ml Vietcoco product featured in the search within 24 hours. These instructions aren’t interchangeable between products or pack sizes.