Zellyb Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I'm stumped in the differences I'm finding with coconut milk. I'm buying canned coconut milk and when I open the can, there is usually the solidified coconut cream on the top and then the coconut water below it. I put it all in a bowl and then mix it up to get some consistency. I've used my immersion blender before and gotten a good creamer consistency like whipped cream. I've loved that in my coffee. But, some cans I've opened just won't form an emulsion when I try to blend them. This most recent can when I tried to use the blender on it just got the cream portion chunky and left the water/oily part. Yuck. Is that indicative of old milk or just the inherent inconsistencies of coconut milk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I wonder the same thing. I buy 12-packs from Amazon. The first 2 were totally smooth. Every can in the last one has had varying degrees of chunkiness, some extreme. Very weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Strathdee Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I think it comes down to variations in batch - more water or fat in the coconut, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohannaE Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I buy the light coconut milk from Trader Joe's for 0.99$ a can and have never had problem! Also been happy to find that it keeps open in my fridge for a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
namtrag Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Why light? Aren't we supposed to eat whole fat products? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
namtrag Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 We find that the coconut milk is a rip off in the "natural" section of the grocery store. It's a lot cheaper in the Latin American or Asian food sections. Same stuff, different price. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jent103 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Why light? Aren't we supposed to eat whole fat products? Either is okay (assuming there are no noncompliant additives, like sulfites). Light coconut milk is basically coconut milk with water added. If it's available to you, it probably makes financial sense to buy full-fat and water it down yourself, if that's the consistency you like. The Trader Joe's near me rarely (if ever) has full-fat coconut milk, so if that's where you do most of your shopping, light might be all you can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohannaE Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I find that the light is the perfect consistency for my coffee... plus Trader Joe's is so cheap, I don't worry too much about it being watered down since it is the best I've found in terms of having no additives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ultrarunnergirl Posted February 28, 2014 Moderators Share Posted February 28, 2014 I always shake really well before opening. Also, don't refrigerate. Sometimes I still get a can that is coagulated. Pour it in a narrow, deep vessel and use your stick blender on it. Voila! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLC1968 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I use the TJ's light as well. TJ's full fat has guar gum which doesn't agree with me, so I stick to the light version which is just coconut and water. It's cheap, clean, easy to find, and even when chilled, it remains pourable which works great in post-whole30 smoothies. ;-) I also really like the taste plain which I cannot say the same for most other canned coconut milks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PamH Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Arroy-D is awesome every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zellyb Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Thanks for the replies. Maybe I just need to try some different brands and see if I find some with a consistency I like better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickDickey Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I wonder the same thing. I buy 12-packs from Amazon. The first 2 were totally smooth. Every can in the last one has had varying degrees of chunkiness, some extreme. Very weird. I'm curious as to which brands you buy from Amazon. That may become my go-to source, since I can't find any compliant ones here. Have a great day. Patrick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KanaP Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I buy always the same brand, and consistency varies. I think it gets more or less separated depending on the temperature too. What I do : put the can in a recipient full of boiling water, stick a lid on. After 10 minutes, shake the can well, and the milk is fluid with no more creamy bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zellyb Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 I buy always the same brand, and consistency varies. I think it gets more or less separated depending on the temperature too. What I do : put the can in a recipient full of boiling water, stick a lid on. After 10 minutes, shake the can well, and the milk is fluid with no more creamy bits. Thank you. I'll give this a try. I have bought light and full fat and I do think that's some of it. I think the smoother varieties I've had had been the light looking back. But, I like the full fat as well, so I'll give this process a try and see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyV Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 PamH, I totally agree with Arroy-D the only one I use now. I purchase the 6-8oz. cartons from Amazon. They are the perfect size for me and it blends up nicely for a thicker, creamier consisntency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bj1824 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I am new to this. I was at Willy street coop and they had a toasted Coconut Almond milk. No added sugar. Am thinking this would be a tasty sub to my milk/cream in my coffee. I have been drinking coffee with milk, coffeemate or cream for over 40 years so really need to find a sub for the cream that is compliant with the whole 30. I haven't seen any references to your forum question referencing the almond milk coconut combination. Would be interested in any thoughts or feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ultrarunnergirl Posted April 1, 2014 Moderators Share Posted April 1, 2014 I always shake really well before opening. Also, don't refrigerate. Sometimes I still get a can that is coagulated. Pour it in a narrow, deep vessel and use your stick blender on it. Voila! We recently got a shipment that was very solidified, you could tell from shaking the cans. Hubz put the cans in the oven on a very low temp, 200 or thereabouts, for about 20 minutes and that fixed it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.