“Why did I not try this a long time ago???” This is what I have been telling myself since making my first batch of homemade coconut milk over a week ago. It can’t get any easier: hot water and coconut flakes (or chips from Tropical Tradition), blend, strain and Vualá!!! The stuff I had been purchasing in the can has never tasted great but I considered it to be my only option. It is also getting harder and harder to find canned coconut milk with only water and coconut as the ingredients and the price of $3-4 a can was breaking the bank!
Cost breakdown when making homemade coconut milk:
From 1 lb of Coconut Flakes (or chips) I can make approximately 12 cups (3 quarts) of coconut milk!! So that’s about $1.25 for 1 quart of homemade Coconut Milk (based on buying Tropical Traditions Chips with Free Shipping) and then you get the “shredded coconut” for free as a by-product! Even without free shipping, it will still cost you about $2 per quart!
Since giving up dairy and nut products a few weeks ago (I have introduced some nuts back but not almond milk), coconut milk has been my go-to for my protein shakes. My homemade coconut milk makes my shakes taste even better than before!!
I made quiet a few batches, experimenting with blend time and which type of blender to use.
Here is what I concluded:
- Using a Vitamix or small Magic Bullet worked best and produced more coconut cream.
- I used hot water out of the tap. If you have city water, I would use filtered water that has been boiled.
- Small batches yielded more coconut milk and cream and a finer coconut pulp.
- I haven’t figured out a way to keep the coconut milk from separating from the cream. I tried gelatin but that didn’t seem to work.
- Pour coconut milk into smaller containers to use so that you don’t have a large container of milk with all the cream hardened on top which you can’t really separate when ready to use unless you blend the entire batch. I just poured mine into pint jars and stored in the fridge.
- Freeze coconut milk in ice-cube trays while still warm and before cream hardens on top to use to make milk shakes.
- Homemade coconut milk is not like the thick stuff in the can. The cream will rise to the top and the watery “milk” will remain on bottom. Don’t expect a viscous milk. I am still trying to figure out how the manufactures do it besides adding thickeners.
Note: Tropical Traditions calls their large pieces of coconut “Chips” while Bob’s Red Mill and other brands call them “Flakes.” I have used both but mainly Tropical Traditions because they are on sale for $8.50 for 2.2lbs!
If you can get your hands on fresh coconuts, you can use the fresh meat of the coconut as well!
Straining coconut milk through mesh strainer
Comparing the amount of coconut milk and cream yield. The only difference was blend time.
Leftover coconut pulp or shredded coconut.
Leftover pulp going in oven to dry out.
Homemade Coconut Milk
Makes 1.5 cups
1 cup (around 2 oz by weight) unsweetened coconut flakes (or Tropical Traditions coconut chips)
1 cup hot (or boiling) water
1/2 cup hot (or boiling) water
Directions
Using Blender, Vitamix or Magic Bullet, add coconut and first 1 cup of hot water. Blend for a minimum of 2 minutes and as much as 3. Place mesh strainer over bowl to collect milk. Pour coconut and water slurry into strainer and allow milk to drip into bowl. Use spoon to press coconut pulp to extract all of milk.
Return pulp to blender and add 1/2 of hot water. Blend for another 1-2 minutes and strain. Pour into pint jar or ice-cube trays. Last 3-4 days in the fridge.
Before drinking, blend cooled coconut milk to mix the cream back in with the milk.
What to do with the leftover coconut pulp?
Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread coconut pulp over parchment in a thin layer. Bake for 1 hour then stir and spread coconut back into a thin layer. Place back into oven then turn off oven. Let set in oven night. Check to see if coconut is completely dried out, if not, bake for another hour at 250 degrees F.
Uses For Pulp
Use in the place of panko bread crumbs when frying something (I have used it to make coconut shrimp).
Use in the place of shredded coconut in recipes. I have a Coconut Macaroon recipe coming up soon.
Uses for Coconut Milk
Use this milk in the place of almond or regular milk in any of my shake recipes. I will be experimenting this week using it in my Birthday Cake recipe (the dairy-free version which is also my favorite).
Check out my Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry Milk Recipes!
Note: Many of the links contained in this post are Affiliate Links. If you purchase through the links provided, I will receive a small (very small) commission which I used to buy more ingredients to create more recipes. I have chosen these products not to receive a commission but because I think they are the best on the market. Thank you for your support!
I make coconut milk all the time with Fresh Coconut as you mentioned.. Why wouldn’t you want to just use a fresh coconut to make yours instead of buying “flakes & or chips”? I thought Fresh Coconut was available in most supermarkets & ethnic stores…. Being from Jamaica we use coconut milk in quite a few recipes so I am accustomed to making it…you just cut up the coconut into small pieces, in a blender then add your water to it & blend & strain….coconut cost a buck fifty at the most ($1.50)
Brenda, where I live, we don’t have coconuts readily available. I did mention I would like to use fresh. Of course, fresh is always better! 😉
we have fresh coconut available here but it is cost prohibitive … wished we could do fresh !!
In the picture with the 3 jars, is the one on the right blended less and the jar on the left blended more?
The pic on the right is blended more.
Okay, thanks!
how long will this last in the fridge?
I had some in fridge almost 2 weeks. I didn’t expect it to last that long but it did.
Wonder if you could use a little xanthan or guar gum as an emulsifier to keep from separating?
Patti, it shouldn’t separate. It should be a like ganach before placing in the fridge. Perhaps make a half a batch next time and see how they turn out. Try adding the water, a little at the time if you are having trouble with it separating. Hope this helps and keep me posted!
Mine separates but I just give it a shake and it mixes up. No need to reblend it.
Thank you for all of your hard work. I haven’t tried making any coconut milk yet, but I am about to. When I make almond milk I use 2 tbsps of coconut oil then blend on high with vitamix, to emulsify the milk. I wonder if that would work the same with coconut milk?
Just started making my own coconut milk due to the one store in my area not keeping it in stock. As it turns out…thank you to them because making it tastes much better, cheaper and I know exactly what’s in it. It is delicious. I’ve been using sunflower lecithin, about a tsp per quart blended together with it after I’ve gotten all the milk out. I had to order the sunflower lecithin (handy way to avoid soy for thickening/emulsifying)online but looks like this jar will go a long way.. I’ve not had the fat separating to the top doing that. Coconut oil may work too, will have to try it. Coconut is my new best friend 🙂
Great idea April! I need to make some tomorrow and I will try the coconut oil! Yeah, it’s pretty hard (or impossible) to find the good stuff anymore and if you do, it’s pretty expensive!
I see both of these ingredients in the comment section, but I use 1/4 tsp Bob’s Red Mill Xanthan Gum & 1 Tbsp of Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil (per litre of milk made), to keep it from seperating. I also LOVE to use a blend of fresh & shredded coconut. I find that the oil enhances the flavour & the xanthan gum gives it such a thick and creamy texture. The mouth feel is full-bodied & downright luxurious.
Ack! Typo! Separating** 🙂
Thank you for the detailed info to making coconut milk. I’ve used your post several times to make homemade coconut milk and pour the milk into silicon ice cube trays to put into the freezer. I use 2 cubes in a coffee, protein powder & frozen fruit (blueberries, strawberries, etc.) to make a morning iced coffee drink that I take out back to enjoy a morning respite in our garden and take in the view of the vegies growing, the hummingbird antics and the cool morning air. Our two girls (Clare, Shih-tzu/poodle mix, and Lizzie, our rescue terrier mix) know that when Mommy is making her iced coffee it is time to go out back so they can check out every square inch of the yard. It is our special time.
Making coconut milk is so easy and no nasty gums or worrying about BPA in the cans. Thanks again, Melissa!
Would this be considered full fat or light coconut milk? I can get organic coconut chips at our grocery store for $2.25/lb. Picking some up today – my kids love curry, so we use it quite a bit. BTW – just came upon your blog a few days ago, so thankful I did!
Have you tried making the coconut milk with the coconut oil yet (to keep it from separating)? If so, how did it turn out? Also, on a personal note, have you ever had an issue with coconut oil making you nauseous? Our family went no sugars, no grains almost a year ago. About 3 months into the new lifestyle, certain foods that are high in saturated fat started making me nauseous if I ate them on an empty stomach – and I mean to the point I have to lay down for 30-60 minutes to let it pass. Included so far are eggs, avocados, macadamia nuts, almonds, and now coconut oil I just started using the coconut oil recently. I was so excited about everything I read that I put some in a smoothie as soon as it arrived. Like clockwork, about an hour or so after the smoothie, I got nauseous. Just wondering if anyone else has had any similar issues.
I have recently purchased Maggi brand coconut powder. 2 Tbl.sp. per 1c warm water. it stays nicely blended. no sugar added so if your looking for a bit of sweet you can add some. I used 4 Tbl. powder as I like it a bit more creamy. it was about $4.00 CAD and will make about 12 litres. or Quarts. great bargain, never spoils in the pantry and has a year expiry date on the box… You can’t go wrong with that. Also, has no extra additives.
Never heard of coconut powder Marianne but I love the idea! Thanks for sharing!