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You are here: Home » Food Preparation » What To Buy: The Best & Healthiest Coconut Milk Options #AskWardee 081

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What To Buy: The Best & Healthiest Coconut Milk Options #AskWardee 081

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Do you need dairy-free milk options, but are confused about what's the best choice for your family? What about additives, like guar gum or even sugar? What's the best and healthiest coconut milk to buy? Watch, listen, or read to learn my top 3 picks! | AskWardee.tv

What’s the best coconut milk to buy?

What’s the healthiest?

Even though most stores or online sources carry several coconut milk options, you have to be careful.

Otherwise, you might end up coming home with additives or preservatives like caseinate, guar gum, or carageenan. Or sweeteners!

No, thank you! We just want the coconut milk. 🙂

And I can help you out with sourcing the best and healthiest coconut milk — get the whole scoop on today’s #AskWardee. 🙂

I broadcast #AskWardee live each Wednesday at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern) on Periscope and Facebook Live. Both the podcast and video replay of this week’s show are below. Enjoy!

Subscribe to #AskWardee on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, or the Podcasts app.

The Question: What’s The Best And Healthiest Coconut Milk To Buy?

Dawn M. asks:

What is the best coconut milk to buy for all these smoothies and other recipes that call for it?

My Answer

There are so many brands of coconut milk out there that I can’t possibly cover them all. Though I do have my favorites and we will get to those!

So to arm you with the most information possible as you wade through your choices, I think it’s important to cover the qualities you should be looking for… so you can evaluate the brands in your area.

So… look for these characteristics:

  1. Organic — Yes, just like our other food choices, it’s best to opt for organic and therefore avoid food laced with pesticides, herbicides, and such.
  2. No BPA — Often canned coconut milk comes in BPA-lined cans. Look for brands that claim to have BPA-free containers.
  3. No extra ingredients — Coconut milk often comes with other ingredients, additives and/or preservatives. Pick a coconut milk that pretty much only has coconut and water.

Forms Of Coconut Milk

There are several forms of coconut milk…

  1. Homemade — just shredded coconut and water (Here’s a FREE guide for making your own dairy-free milks!)
  2. Powdered — blend with water and chill
  3. Cream concentrate — also blend with water and chill
  4. Canned — full fat or “lite”
  5. Refrigerated cartons
  6. Shelf-stable cartons

I’m not going to talk about the refrigerated or shelf-stable cartons of coconut milk because I have yet to find a brand that doesn’t have additives or other undesirables. If you know of a brand that sells 100% pure coconut milk in refrigerated or shelf-stable cartons, please comment below!

The cans are very convenient (but also costly). The flavor and results from starting with a powder or making your own are superior, in my opinion.

My Top 3 Picks

Ok, now I’m going to share my top picks with you. I can’t cover all options nor have I tried all options, so compare this with your own knowledge and experience. 🙂

1. Homemade Coconut Milk from Organic Shredded Coconut

Homemade coconut milk is sooo easy. (You knew I was going to say this right?)

To make: blend 1-1/2 to 2 cups of organic unsweetened shredded coconut with 6 cups of warm water in a high powered blender such as a Vitamix for a few minutes. Then strain through cheesecloth.

You can sweeten or add sea salt or vanilla — all to taste or to suit your usage.

If there’s one shortfall, it’s this: if the shredded coconut is defatted (it usually is), the coconut milk is always going to be “lite” rather than creamy and fatty.

Yep, it’s super easy and you can get different thicknesses depending on how much water you use. Homemade coconut milk keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

By the way, you can make other dairy-free milks. I’ve got recipes for you in my FREE Dairy-Free Milk Recipes & Substitutions Guide.

2. Homemade Coconut Milk from Organic Coconut Milk Powder (Wilderness Family Naturals)

Making your coconut milk from Organic Coconut Milk Powder is less work than option #1 (no straining and less blending), but it costs a bit more. However, the results are so amazing!

The coconut milk turns out soooo creamy and delicious. You vary the amount of powder to water to get your desired consistency (from a light coconut milk to a thick coconut cream). It’s the utmost in great results and versatility.

Note: in order to make a nice, usable powder, Wilderness Family Naturals’ organic* coconut milk powder contains 3% maltodextrin. It’s derived from tapioca, not corn or dairy. Many other coconut milk powders on the market contain not only much more maltodextrin but it’s from corn or dairy. Wilderness Family Naturals uses as little as possible so you get a nice powder AND a high-quality, coconut-rich dairy-free product. To me, it’s not a problem at all.

*Only the organic coconut milk powder from WFN is dairy-free and uses tapioca-sourced maltodextrin. Their non-organic coconut milk powder contains sodium caseinate instead (from milk). I only recommend the organic powder.

3. Canned Organic Coconut Milk (BPA-Free)

Canned coconut milk is very convenient. Just open a can and use. When shopping, make sure to choose BPA-free cans and a coconut milk with fewer ingredients (preferably just coconut and water).

The brand that matches my criteria (BPA-free cans, no guar gum or other additives, no sweetener) is Natural Value’s Organic Coconut Milk.

Also, thanks to listener Sue M., we can add Native Forest’s Simple Organic Coconut Milk to the list. Thanks for checking with them, Sue!

Let me know in the comments what your favorite form of coconut milk is!

Helpful Links:

  • Organic Coconut Milk Powder
  • Natural Value Organic Canned Coconut Milk (BPA-free, no additives)
  • Native Forest’s Simple Organic Coconut Milk (BPA-free, no additives)
  • FREE Traditional Cooking Video Series
  • FREE Dairy-Free Milk Recipes & Substitutions Guide

What Is The #AskWardee Show?

The #AskWardee Show is the live weekly show devoted to answering your niggling questions about Traditional Cooking: whether it’s your sourdough starter, your sauerkraut, preserving foods, broth, superfoods or anything else to do with Traditional Cooking or your GNOWFGLINS lifestyle.

I share tips and resources, plus answer your questions about Traditional Cooking!

The Details

When: Wednesdays at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern

Where: Traditional Cooking School on Facebook Live

What If You Can’t Make It?

Don’t worry. You can catch the replays or listen to the podcast!

  • Come back here to AskWardee.TV; all replays will be up within hours of airing live; the print notes are always posted at the same time I go live.
  • Go to Traditional Cooking School on Facebook to view the Facebook Live replay.
  • Subscribe to the #AskWardee podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, or the Podcasts app. While you’re there, be sure to leave a rating and review!

Want To Get YOUR Question Answered?

Here’s how to submit your question. If we answer it on #AskWardee, you’ll get a gift!

Or, you can…

  • Tweet your question to @TradCookSchool on Twitter; use hashtag #AskWardee
  • Send an email to wardee at AskWardee dot tv — add #AskWardee to your email so I know it’s for the show

Please do NOT add future questions for #AskWardee to the comments of this post because they might get missed!

Do you use coconut milk? How do you choose which one to buy?

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

Posted in: #AskWardee Food Preparation Health & Nutrition Healthy Living Q & A Sourcing Food Videos

About Wardee Harmon

Wardee lives in the Boise area of Idaho with her dear family. She's the lead teacher and founder of the Eat God's Way online cooking program as well as the author of Fermenting, Sourdough A to Z, and other traditional cooking books. Eat God's Way helps families get healthier and happier using cooking methods and ingredients from Bible Times like sourdough, culturing, and ancient grains.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jake says

    June 28, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    I’ve found that instead of squeezing through a bag, if I run the strained pulp through my juicer I get all load of good cream to mix back in. An extra step but worth it

    Reply
    • Inez says

      June 29, 2017 at 5:50 pm

      Wow! great discovery! I love that cream in my coffee!

      Thanks
      Inez

      Reply
  2. Kristin says

    June 28, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    The brand we started using while we were in China (it’s made in Thailand) is Aroy-D; it’s not organic but is 100% coconut milk, thick, creamy, and delicious, and comes in shelf-stable boxes. I’ve never seen it in stores here in America, but it is available on Amazon. After using this, I’ve never been able to understand how people like the grocery store kind, which to me tastes completely fake and watery in comparison. I get the small boxes since I’m using it mostly just for one son who is sensitive to dairy; an opened box will last me a week or so in the fridge, though sometimes once it’s cold I have to cut open the box in order to scoop out the nice thick cream that has hardened.

    Please correct me if I’m wrong, but my uneducated assumption is that coconut trees tend to be more naturally cultivated rather than needing lots of pesticides and such–so that they are probably fairly “clean” even if they’re not certified organic. What do you think?

    Reply
    • Millie Copper says

      June 29, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      Hi Kristin,

      Coconut is one of the foods that is ok not to buy organic, according to this article:
      http://www.marksdailyapple.com/7-foods-you-dont-need-to-buy-organic/

      Wardee prefers to buy organic if possible, but she think it’s an ok compromise if one can’t afford it or can’t source it. 🙂

      ~ Millie, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
    • Tania Davis says

      June 30, 2017 at 1:45 am

      Aroy-D Does make an organic version. I have found it in Asian groceries.

      Reply
    • Jamie says

      July 3, 2017 at 8:48 am

      Aroy-D is my favorite brand too! It doesn’t separate like the typical store brands and tastes amazing. I am lucky enough to find the can version in a store (Woodmans in Wisconsin) for a little over $1/can. The only down side is that it is not a BPA free can.

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        July 3, 2017 at 3:59 pm

        The kind I get on Amazon (non-organic) comes in a shelf-stable box, not a can. I can post a link if that’s okay. Definitely recommended, and while not cheap, it’s certainly less than some of the other options mentioned here!

        Reply
        • Millie Copper says

          July 3, 2017 at 7:02 pm

          Kristin,

          Please do share!

          ~ Millie, TCS Customer Success Team

          Reply
          • Kristin says

            July 3, 2017 at 10:39 pm

            Sure! I buy this one: http://amzn.to/2uG8aBm. It’s a 12-pack of 8.5 oz. boxes (which are BPA-free, I just noticed); the current price is $21.60. They also have larger boxes of coconut milk (a better deal per oz., but I have trouble using it all before it goes bad) and coconut cream–those links should be at the bottom of the page.

  3. Lourdes says

    June 29, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    The cans that I’ve been buying from Thrive Market is Native Forest brand, is organic, unsweetened, no guar, ingredients are coconut and water. I like it very much but you are right it can be a little expensive.
    I think I am going to try the coconut milk powder and see if I like it. Thanks Wardee.

    Reply
  4. Susanna Brown says

    June 29, 2017 at 9:15 pm

    The organic cocnut milk powder from WFN says use 1/2-1C for every 1C of water. At 16oz. for $20 that seems like it costs about $10 per cup of finished product. I’m sure I’m mixed up here. Please sort me out! I’d love to try the powder. My hubs doesn’t like canned NF because of the “grainy” consistency, but I like that there is no guar gum. Ideas? Grateful for your site!! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Wardee Harmon says

      July 4, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      Hi, Susanna. The 16ounces is weight not volume. 🙂 It will make more batches than 2. I can’t comment on how many because I haven’t counted. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Tania Davis says

    June 30, 2017 at 1:44 am

    Native Forest makes a ‘simple’ version. Also Aroy-D is 100% coconut. Not sure how to tell if the can is bpa free though.

    Reply
    • Suzanne says

      July 1, 2017 at 9:38 pm

      It will be labeled that way on the front of the can. Aroyo-D is a good brand.

      Reply
    • kay iversen says

      September 17, 2018 at 8:43 am

      The simple version unfortunately may have BPA cans because they advertise them as being “non-intended” BPA. Sounds tricky to me.

      Reply
  6. Julie Cinquina says

    July 1, 2017 at 12:25 pm

    I buy my cans from Trader Joe’s. No fillers and they only cost $1.69 per can. Which is much less then most others.

    Reply
    • Lindsey Dietz says

      July 5, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      I’ve tried TJ’s coconut milk several times, and I haven’t been happy with it at all. The fat and water don’t emulsify — even when I use my blender! I even tried ice cream with it, and it was so grainy. The flavor is fine, and the ingredients are great — but I won’t use this brand again. 🙁

      Reply
  7. Suzanne says

    July 1, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    Let’s Do Organic has a good organic coconut cream and a good sweetened condensed milk and Native Forest Simple is a good no guar gum coconut milk. Unfortunately, they haven’t gotten into BPA free cans. I was in a rush one day and needed these items, otherwise I would have paid more attention to this. I love Wilderness Family Naturals although their coconut milk and cream is often out of stock for ages! I also really like Natural Value Coco milk cream and with Amazon Prime, you can get it in two days. It was good to hear an explanation on the maltodextrin in the WFN coconut milk powder.

    Reply
  8. Lori says

    July 3, 2017 at 12:14 am

    I like the Native Forest Simple as it’s organic and is a bpa free can. My husband doesn’t like it so rich so he adds coconut water to it about 50/50.

    Reply
  9. DavetteB says

    July 6, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Has anyone tried making it with an average (not a Vitamix) blender?

    Reply
  10. lexee says

    July 10, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    we like trader joe’s! it’s organic, no gums or additives, and only $1.69/can. they also make a coconut cream that’s clean. much cheaper than other brands and it works great for us!

    Reply
    • lexee says

      July 10, 2017 at 6:57 pm

      also, regarding BPA-free, we know many companies are just replacing the BPA with BPS, which many would say is even worse. so sadly, BPA-free isn’t very reassuring for me 🙁

      Reply
  11. Grace says

    July 13, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Could I order Raw Organic Coconut Meat (frozen) online and have the extra fats/oils that have been extracted from the dried coconut?

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      July 15, 2017 at 8:35 am

      We haven’t tried it but we think it would work.

      It’s a great idea! Let us know how it goes. 🙂

      ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  12. Elizabeth says

    July 13, 2017 at 11:29 pm

    Has anyone used the “Z Natural Foods ” coconut milk powder? Ingredients-organic dehydrated Coconut Milk(cocos nucifera), 2.5%organic tapioca maltodextrin(from yuca root), .5%organic Acacia powder. The directions say 1-2 Tablespoons powder and 1 cup of water. I am wondering if this is a good brand. It’s about the same price as the wilderness family but you use a lot less powder to make a cup of milk. We go through a lot of coconut milk in our house from the carton in the refrigerator idle and I really want to make my own. But the wilderness brand seems like it will be really expensive. I also really want to get away from all the added ingredients.

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      July 17, 2017 at 8:52 am

      Hi Elizabeth,

      We haven’t tried this brand. It has a minimum of maltodextrin and a good source (tapioca).

      It looks like acacia is a gum for thickening. Here’s more info on acacia so you can weigh out whether or not you want to use it: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/acacia-powder/profile.

      ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
    • Proverbs31 says

      June 28, 2018 at 5:38 am

      I’ve tried znaturals and wilderness family naturals. it takes a lot of coconut milk powder to make it taste like coconut milk. both are not cost effective. In my opinion using shredded coconut or fresh coconut is the best way to make it.

      Reply
  13. jr says

    November 15, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    Are we 100% sure that Aroy-D is emulsifier free? We get the 33.8oz cartons from amazon and mix it with oatmeal and chia. We eat it almost every day. My question comes from the fact that all I have to do is shake it good before opening and it is the smoothest, best tasting coconut milk we’ve had. BTW, I truly believe that the studies are accurate about consumption of coconut milk being good for you, based on my labs and how much they have improved!!

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      November 18, 2017 at 7:43 am

      Hi Jr,

      We can’t confirm that it is emulsifier free, but we would hope they’re being truthful on the carton.

      ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  14. C says

    June 7, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Can you make coconut milk from Coconut flour?

    Reply
    • Peggy says

      June 9, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      Coconut flour is made by taking cocunut pulp after making coconut milk and drying it. You will need dry shredded coconut to make milk.
      ~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  15. Patti says

    January 5, 2021 at 2:49 pm

    Was told abt coconut milk help flat belly that true? What name brand coconut milk? Can ya helpin where to buy? Shall I drink every night before bed will helps flat belly n Methodism (spell wrong)?

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      January 6, 2021 at 8:17 am

      Hi, Patti.

      We cannot confirm that coconut milk will help flatten the belly. In the article above WArdee has links to several sources of coconut milk that we recommend.

      ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  16. SCRIBD says

    February 27, 2025 at 12:07 am

    Great post! I never realized there were so many coconut milk options out there. Thank you for breaking down the healthiest choices—I’ll definitely be checking labels more carefully now!

    Reply
  17. In 999 says

    March 2, 2025 at 1:55 am

    Great post! I’ve been looking for healthier coconut milk options, and your recommendations are super helpful. I appreciate the details on different brands and their nutritional benefits. Can’t wait to try a few of these!

    Reply

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