Coconut milk is used more and more in the kitchen. It can be easily made at home or purchased pre-packaged in a can. However, the available quantity and the actual demand are rarely congruent. That doesn't matter, because the freezer is a good temporary storage place.

Coconut milk can easily be frozen

Coconut milk, what is that exactly?

Coconut products - apart from grated coconut - are still not everyday ingredients in the kitchen in this country. Therefore, the difference between coconut water, coconut milk and coconut cream should be briefly explained here again, as they are often confused with one another. This makes it clear what the following text refers to, not just by name.

The liquid that is inside the coconut is called coconut water. It's clear, almost transparent.

Coconut milk is white in color and slightly thick. It must first be made from the coconut. The pulp is ground and then pressed out.

The cream, which is obtained from coconut milk, is called coconut cream or coconut cream because of its consistency. If coconut milk is left at home for a few days, the cream will settle to the surface on its own.

Coconut milk can be frozen

Coconut milk is usually packaged and sold in 400 ml cans. You can find them in every well-stocked supermarket and in Asian shops. But you can also easily make your own coconut milk from fresh coconut meat or dried coconut flakes.

When cooking with coconut, there is often a problem of quantity:

  • a can offers far more content than is needed
  • in-house production cannot be exact to the gram
  • Open coconut milk must be consumed within two days

Whether the milk comes from a store or is home-made, any leftovers can be frozen at any time.

tips

Smaller cans of coconut milk are now also available in health food stores.

Weigh and portion appropriately

The coconut milk is usually required in a certain amount, as required by the recipe. Since coconut milk is difficult to dose when frozen, it should be weighed appropriately and frozen in portions. Write the weighed weight on the freezer container so that you can see at a glance whether the amount is sufficient for your cooking project.

Coconut milk in practical ice cube size

If the required amount varies again and again, it makes sense to freeze the coconut milk in particularly small portions. By defrosting several portions, the desired quantity can be put together very easily.

  1. Fill an ice cube tray with coconut milk.
  2. Place the container in the freezer for several hours.
  3. Remove the frozen cubes from the container and collect them in a freezer bag to save space.

Shelf life of coconut milk

There are no exact times for shelf life in the freezer. However, experience has shown that it can be used for a very long time when frozen.

Cooking with and without defrosting

Frozen coconut milk chunks can be added directly to cooking food. Smaller portions, such as the size of ice cubes, are also defrosted within 30 minutes. It should be remembered that the fatty part of the coconut milk becomes somewhat crumbly when it freezes. If the milk is heated and stirred vigorously, these dissolve again.

Conclusion for fast readers

  • Canned goods: Freeze leftovers immediately after opening
  • Homemade: Homemade coconut milk can also be frozen
  • Portioning: If you need small quantities, portioning before freezing makes sense
  • Weigh: Weigh quantities to match recipes used; label
  • Tip: Pre-freeze in the ice cube tray; Store cubes in freezer containers
  • Durability: Experience has shown that it has a long shelf life
  • Defrost: Small portions defrost in about 30 minutes; or add to cooking food
  • Consistency: Can become crumbly; Heat if necessary and stir until smooth

The garden journal freshness ABC

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