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Learn how to store and use coconut milk for deliciously creamy soups, curries, drinks, and more! Canned coconut milk is a great ingredient for dairy-free, keto, and low-carb diets!
Coconut milk is delicious in soups, curries, smoothies, and even coffee! It is a creamy, dreamy and nutritious ingredient that can add a lot of flavor to your favorite recipe. Today we are going to chat about:
- What is coconut milk
- The benefits of coconut milk
- How to store it
- Different ways to use it
What is coconut milk?
Coconut milk is the delicious liquid that comes from the meat of a coconut. To make coconut milk, the meat is blended up with water and then strained through cheesecloth for the final canned product you can find at your local grocery store.
There is canned coconut milk, boxed coconut milk, coconut cream, and coconut wate–Each of these has a different purpose in your kitchen! Today we are just focusing on the canned coconut milk used for cooking and baking.
Coconut Milk Health Benefits
Coconut milk can seem like a substantial ingredient if you are looking at it in terms of calories, but those calories hold a lot of nutritional value in them. One serving of coconut milk (depending on the brand) is around 100 calories, has 10 grams of healthy fats, and only 1 gram of carbs.
The amount of fat packed into this ingredient makes it a great dairy substitute for everyone but especially for people following a keto or paleo diet.
Fat is an essential part of every diet as it is fuel for our cells, balances blood sugar, aids in reducing inflammation, nourishes our brain, nervous system, our hair, skin, and nails. Coconut milk is a very nutrient-dense source of fat, which makes it the perfect breakfast milk to use in your oatmeal, chia pudding, and coffee.
In addition to the healthy fat, coconut milk is also packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to bring quality nutrition and numerous health benefits.
How to use and store coconut milk
When you open your can of coconut milk, it will probably be separated with the coconut cream (the fat content) at the top and the coconut water at the bottom. Before you add your coconut milk to your recipe make sure to give it a good spin in your blender first until the ingredients are well combined and the texture somewhat resembled heavy cream.
Coconut milk (once blended) is an excellent dairy-free and vegan substitute for heavy cream!
Store any leftover coconut milk in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Can you freeze coconut milk?
Yes, you can freeze coconut milk for longer storage! I like to pour the milk into 1-ounce ice cube trays, then freeze. Once they’re frozen, I just pop them out and store in a freezer bag. When making soups or sauces, I just grab what I need and drop into the pot!
To thaw the coconut milk, I prefer to put the cubes in a bowl and allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge, but you could also seal them in Tupperware and submerge them in water. For super quick thawing, microwave in 30-second increments.
You can also freeze coconut in larger containers, but it’s not quite as convenient. These storage containers have two 1/2-cup compartments, and I find them very handy for freezing broth or coconut milk. This creates 1/2-cup frozen bricks that can easily be used whenever you need!
Ways to Use Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is not only a nutrient dense pantry staple to keep on hand, it also creates luxurious meals. Here are some of my favorites!
This Carrot Cake Smoothie can be made without any added sugar and is packed with fruits and vegetables!
We love this Tropical Green Smoothie — The coconut milk perfectly complements the pineapple and mango.
Carrot Cake Chia Pudding is easy to meal prep and full of amazing textures and flavors!
Keto Lemon Chia Pudding is packed with fat, fiber and protein with only 5 net carbs. You will love this filling breakfast that tastes just like dessert!
Did you know that you can make thick and completely vegan coconut caramel sauce from a can of coconut milk?!
This amazing Green Coconut Curry Lentil Soup is an easy vegan dinner idea that makes amazing leftovers. Great for meal prep, healthy, hearty and so tasty!
A creamy, 6-ingredient cucumber smoothie with coconut, lime, pineapple, and greens! A nutrient-rich, refreshing smoothie that will beautify you from the inside out!
This dairy-free keto fudge is creamy chocolate heaven! This is a truly delicious low carb dessert you have to try.
This Butternut Squash Soup is creamy, flavorful, and so easy to make! You’re going to love this healthy soup recipe, made with apple and roasted butternut squash.
Make a delicious Pumpkin pie with coconut milk instead of evaporated milk. You can also top your pie with dairy-free whipped cream with a can of coconut milk!
Creamy Coconut Shrimp with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and basil is a delicious Whole30 and Paleo-friendly meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Rich creamy coconut milk alfredo sauce is simply delicious and a totally comforting sauce. This is a kind of healthy substitution for your regular alfredo sauce.
More Easy Kitchen Tutorials
- How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
- How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- Guide to Freezing Okra (whole or cut and breaded)
- How to Can Tomatoes
How to Store and Use Coconut Milk
Equipment
- Blender
Materials
- Canned Coconut Milk
Instructions
- To get your coconut milk the correct consistency, which is somewhat the same as heavy cream, open the can and pour everything into a blender.
- Blend for 1-2 minutes until coconut cream and coconut water are well combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
Thanks for sharing wonderful information.