Which should you choose at the grocery store: coconut cream or coconut milk? The full-fat or "lite" can? Here's a closer look at when to use each product.
Years ago, I went hiking through the jungle in Belize. To keep our energy up, the tour company had prepared a traditional Belizean lunch: stewed chicken with rice and beans. The meal was amazing, but I was shocked to find that the rice was the stand-out star. When I asked the cook how she made it, she told me it was a combination of white rice and coconut milk.
That coconut rice really got me wondering. Sure, I had experienced coconut milk in rich curry and coconut cold-brew lattes, but if it could be used to elevate rice, the possibilities were endless. I wanted to stir this tropical elixir into soups, turn it into a marinade for chicken, use it to simmer mussels and anything else I could think of!
When I got home, I ran to the grocery store to start experimenting—but stopped short when I saw all the choices. From coconut cream vs. coconut milk to full-fat or “lite” options, I didn’t know where to start. The difference between these products is subtle, but it really does matter which one you choose.
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Difference Between Coconut Cream, Coconut Milk and Cream of Coconut
What Is Coconut Cream?
Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water.
While coconut milk is thin like cow’s milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can. It’s great for making dairy-free whipped cream or coconut ice cream, but it can also be used for savory recipes like curries.
Make your own by simmering one part water with four parts shredded unsweetened coconut. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit until it’s room temperature. Strain out the solids and refrigerate the coconut cream overnight to help it set up.
Chill a can of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. This will help the thick cream harden on the top, making it easier to skim off the layer of coconut cream. Stop when you reach the liquid layer beneath and reserve the thin milk for another use.
Use evaporated milk, a concentrated milk product that’s thick and rich like coconut cream. For desserts, use sweetened condensed milk instead.
What Is Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk is unsweetened coconut meat that’s been simmered or blended with water. The mixture is strained to produce a smooth, milky-white liquid that has a similar consistency to cow’s milk. The lightly sweet flavor makes coconut milk a perfect choice for adding to smoothie recipes or your morning coffee, but we also love cooking with it. It’s thicker and richer than most alternative milks, and it has enough fat content to simmer without breaking, adding a nice body to soups, stews and sauces.
If you plan to cook with coconut milk, choose the variety in a can. It contains more fat and typically only has one added ingredient as a stabilizer (guar gum). The cans also have a layer of coconut cream on the top, which can be mixed into the thinner milk or scooped off and saved for another use. Opt for full-fat cans instead of “light” or “lite” options, which have been watered down to reduce the fat content.
Coconut Milk in a Carton
Coconut milk in a carton is generally found in the refrigerated aisle and it’s best for raw applications. Depending on the brand, boxed coconut milk may be fortified with vitamins and added calcium, making it a good choice for drinking straight, adding to coffee, blending into smoothies or using for cereal. Like the “lite” can option, boxed coconut milk has been watered down to make it thin enough to drink, so it has less fat but contains additional stabilizers like xanthan gum and carrageenan.
What Is Cream of Coconut?
Be careful when shopping for canned coconut cream, because you may accidentally pick up a jar of cream of coconut instead. This product is still made with coconut meat and water, but it’s blended with sugar to make the mixture very sweet. It’s popular with bartenders at tiki bars because it has an ideal flavor and consistency for blended drinks like piña coladas.
To use cream of coconut in desserts instead of coconut cream, reduce the sugar in the rest of the recipe.
Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.
Coconut cream is a thicker coconut product, made from blended more coconut meat and less water than coconut milk. Coconut cream can be used as a substitute for coconut milk if it is diluted with additional water.
Can You Replace Coconut Cream with Coconut Milk? The good news about coconut cream and coconut milk is that although they may be different consistencies, they're very similar. You can use coconut cream in place of milk if you dilute it with additional water. Different coconut cream brands vary on fat content.
Coconut cream is often used to add flavor and richness to vegan and dairy-free dishes and desserts. It works especially well in recipes like sauces, curries, cakes, and custards. You can also use coconut cream to make a vegan version of whipped cream.
Chill canned coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. This will make the milk fat separate and solidify on top. Use a spoon to skim the solidified coconut cream from the top of the can and put it in a glass bowl. Reserve the remaining liquid for another use (see suggestions below).
Coconut milk is incredibly versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory applications. In largely dairy-free Thai cuisine, explains Chongchitnant, it's used to add creaminess and fat to countless dishes, from sauces and dressings to curries and stews to puddings and dessert soups.
Coconut cream is also an excellent source of potassium. Studies show that potassium is critical for maintaining the health of every cell in your body. Getting enough potassium daily is connected to a reduced risk of high blood pressure, salt sensitivity, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.
DOES CREAM OF COCONUT NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED? Cream of coconut is shelf-stable when unopened, but it should be stored in the refrigerator after opening. You will need to shake or stir it before using since it usually separates a little bit during refrigeration.
Coconut cream is a versatile and beneficial ingredient that can be used in many different ways to improve your skin and hair health. Whether you use it as a moisturizer, face mask, body lotion, or hair mask, it can help to hydrate, nourish, and soothe your skin and hair.
Compared to normal coconut milk, coconut cream has a much higher fat content, containing around 19-22% fat. Coconut cream still retains the delicious coconut flavor that coconut milk has, but is much thicker as it is essentially coconut milk with less water.
Coconut Milk/Creams are not always plain white but can have a slightly grey shade, which can be corrected by adding chemical whitening agents. Being 100% natural and free from whiteners, AYAM™ Coconut Milk and Cream may have a slightly off-white colour.
The fat naturally floats on the top (just as cream floats on top of milk), and chilling would cause the fat to really firm up. You'd open the tin upside down to decant the liquid out, then turn the can over and take off the top, and push the set fat out of the tin.
Another key benefit of coconut milk is that because it's dairy-free, it can be used as a milk substitute for people who choose not to eat dairy (such as vegans), people with a dairy allergy, or people who are lactose intolerant (not being able to fully digest the sugar in milk).
It is not the same thing as coconut cream or coconut milk. Cream of coconut is pureed, concentrated coconut that's been sweetened—kind of like sweetened condensed milk is just condensed, sweetened milk. You can use Cream of coconut straight out of the bottle or can and it does not need to be cooked to be consumed.
Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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