Last Updated on June 9, 2021 by Sindhu
Coconut powder is the drier version of coconut milk. It is also sometimes called coconut milk powder.
How is it made?
Fresh coconut milk is mixed with a few other ingredients and spray dried to produce coconut milk powder. This should not be confused with coconut flour, which is a different product altogether.
In general, we find coconut milk in the form of cans or tins which have a limited shelf life. But when the coconut milk is converted to powder, it becomes a stable product with added shelf life.
How to use it?
Just mix hot water with coconut milk powder and coconut milk is ready… Simple, isn’t it? To make coconut cream we just need to adjust the water and coconut powder ratio as below:
1 cup coconut milk = 3/4 cup hot water + 1/2 cup coconut milk powder
1 cup coconut cream = 2/3 cup hot water + 3/4 cup coconut milk powder
How to store
Once opened, it can be stored in air tight container in a cool and dry place for up to 6 months or it can also be stored in the refrigerator.
Coconut milk vs Coconut milk powder
The first thing that comes to my mind when I compare coconut milk with powder is the flexibility of being able to make the exact amount of coconut milk I need for a recipe. Whereas when using coconut milk cans or tins, most of the time the leftover milk ends up in the trash.
Another thing that I like about using the powder is that you can control the creaminess of the end product. In addition, it is not necessary to buy coconut milk and cream separately since we can make both with powder.
One more important aspect is the preservatives and emulsifiers in canned coconut milk. Even though most of the brands list only coconut and water in the ingredients list, some of the brands add preservatives, emulsifiers, and additives. And not to forget about the BPA when using cans.
So I always prefer the powder form compared to canned or tinned coconut milk.
Does coconut milk powder have casein?
A lot of brands do mention casein (milk protein) as one of the ingredients, which makes it not a vegan substitute for milk products.
Especially people with milk allergies should have a look at the ingredients list before they substitute it for regular milk or milk powder.
Best substitute for coconut milk powder
Whenever a recipe calls for coconut milk powder and it is not readily available or you have ran out of it, you can just use the canned milk.
Or freshly grated coconut flesh can be added to water and squeezed to produce fresh coconut milk. The taste of freshly squeezed milk is so much better compared to the powder or the canned versions.
Regular whole milk or plain milk cream is also a good alternative when used as a thickener in dishes such as curry. A dash of coconut extract can be added to whole milk if the recipes such as desserts demand coconut flavor.
Where to buy
Coconut milk powder is available in most of the grocery stores near the regular milk powder or dairy alternative milk products. You can also find it in almost all of the Asian grocery stores, Caribbean stores, and health food stores like Trader joe’s, Wholefoods.
To know more about various coconut products, check out this article.
