Making Coconut Milk? Easily Do So With These Simple Steps
;

JUMP TO RECIPE

Who Can Drink Homemade Coconut Milk?

This coconut milk is made from scratch. It’s raw, vegan, paleo-friendly, whole30, dairy-free, and nut-free.

You have more control over the ingredients when you make your own coconut milk.

Why should I make coconut milk at home?

There are so many different kinds of milk on the market today that it can be hard to know which one to choose.

Coconuts are healthy because they are low in sodium and cholesterol and high in fiber and good fats. Naturally they’re gluten-free, making it a plus for people with gluten allergies.

Coconuts have a lot of fat.

Coconuts have a lot of fat, that’s for sure. Buy they’re plant fats that break down quickly and don’t cause fat to build up.

Coconuts Are Blood-Sugar Stabilizing

These healthy fats also help your body’s endocrine system and thyroid work the way they should. This speeds up your metabolism and helps your body release insulin to keep your blood sugar in check.

Coconut opened, coconut water and milk flatlay

Coconut milk made at home vs. canned or boxed

I wrote in my article about how to make homemade almond milk and why I like it better than almond milk from the store. coconut milk is the same in this way.

Take out the things that aren’t necessary

There are stabilizers, sweeteners, and thickeners in coconut milk that comes in a can. After you learn how to make coconut milk, you’ll be able to get rid of these unnecessary ingredients. You’ll also be one step closer to eating whole foods, which is the ultimate goal.

Coconut milk in a can and Polysorbate 80

Polysorbate 80, or Tween 80, is a thick yellow liquid used in processed foods, cosmetics, and medicine.
Even though Paleo and Whole 30 diets allow it, you should limit how much of this you eat.

Is it bad to use Polysorbate 80?

Short version: Polysorbate 80 keeps liquids and oils from separating. That’s why it’s used in coconut milk that comes in a can. It’s also in ice cream, frozen desserts, baking mixes, icings, and canned vegetables.

This ingredient could be harmful, especially the cheaper versions used in cosmetics. Studies have shown that polysorbate 80 makes people with certain types of cancer more likely to have blood clots and strokes. They are also more prone to heart attacks, heart failure, and tumor growth or recurrence (1).

Pathogenic gut bacteria also eat polysorbate 80, which makes the inflammation in the gut worse.

What to watch out for with Polysorbate 80

You should only use food-grade Polysobate 80, and it shouldn’t make up more than 0.1 percent of the finished product.

Make sure the brands you buy are good and that they use good quality ingredients.

Carboxymethylcellulose

On ingredient labels, carboxymethylcellulose is sometimes referred to as cellulose gum or CMC.

It’s another popular emulsifier that harms your intestines. It’s also used as a thickening agent.

Carboxymethylcellulose triggers gut inflammation right away.

Your gut bacteria reacts to CMC by producing large amounts of flagellin, a gut-irritating protein.

Making Coconut Milk
a whole coconut

How to Buy a Whole Coconut

Most coconuts you buy in stores have had their outer layer taken off. This is the fibrous husk. When you take it off, you can see a “nut” with a hard shell.

Listen For The Coconut Water

It’s important to choose the right coconut so that the meat inside is ripe but not too old and dried out. Hold a ripe coconut up to your ear and shake it gently. If you can hear the liquid inside, you have a winner.

Servings:

1/2 a Cup

Ready In:

20 Minutes

Calories:

276 per serving

Good For:

Drink, Snack

Nutrition

  • Calories: 276 Calories
  • Protein: 3g
  • Fat: 29g
  • Carbs: 7g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sugar: 4g
  • 316 milligrams of potassium
  • 18 milligrams of sodium
  • 44 milligrams of magnesium
  • 2 milligrams of iron

Amounts per serving:

1 serving is half a cup of milk

  • Protein 3g 6.5% 6.5%
  • Carbohydrates 7g 15% 15%
  • of Which Sugar is 4g 9% 9%
  • Fiber 3g 6,5% 6,5%
  • Fat 29g 63% 63%

Uses Of Coconut Milk

Once you’ve made this delicious coconut milk, you can read my post on How to Cook With Coconut Milk

Mixing this milk with a variety of ingredients offers a wide range of tastes. From creamy pasta recipes to cheesy sauces, there’s something for everyone

What Should You Do With the Coconut Water?

Put the drained coconut water in the fridge and drink it when it’s cold. Coconut water is good for you in many ways and has a lot of electrolytes.

Surprisingly, it looks so much like human plasma that it can be given through an IV in an emergency (1)

Making Coconut Milk
Coconut opened, coconut water and milk flatlay

Coconut Milk From Scratch. The Recipe

Simlpe step-by step approach to making your very own delicious coconut milk.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Drinks, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Cups
Calories 276 kcal

Equipment

  • hammer
  • sharp knife
  • kitchen towel
  • medium bowl
  • Large cup
  • Muslin cloth or Nut bag.
  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Large Coconut
  • 3 Cups Water. Hot water is preferred over cold to produce richer coconut milk that had a higher coconut oil content.

Instructions
 

  • Prepare The Coconut
    Remove as much hair off of the coconut as possible
    a whole coconut
  • Locate The Eyes
    Find the 3 soft 'eyes' of the coconut.
    Making Coconut Milk
  • Drill Holes
    Pierce the soft eyes of the coconut with a butter knife. You will need to pierce two holes (there are 3 in total) for proper drainage.
  • Remove Liquid
    Turn the coconut upside down and drain the coconut water into a cup.
    Making Coconut Milk. pouring water out
  • Give it a Bash.
    cover the coconut in a kitchen towel and gently knock it against a hard surface. In the knocking action, we will be loosening the coconut flesh from its hard shell layer. This makes our job a little easier in the next step.
  • Crack It Open
    After knocking a few times, start using a bit more force and crack the shell open. Break the coconut up into a few pieces.
  • Separate Flesh From Shell
    The hardest and most injury-prone step is prying the coconut meat away from its shell, so be careful! With a butter knife, pry the coconut meat from its shell.
    Making Coconut Milk
  • Blend With Water
    Place the coconut flesh in a blender and add one cup of hot water at a time, blending in between.
    Making Coconut Milk in a blender
  • Once the coconut and water mixture forms a smooth and creamy slurry, the mixture is ready to sieve (about 3 or 4 cups of water).
  • Sieve Through Bag
    Pour the coconut mixture through a muslin bag or nut milk bag into a bowl. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, and transfer the coconut milk to the refrigerator.
    Making Coconut Milk
  • Store in Fridge or Freezer
    Homemade coconut milk will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. freeze the milk in ice trays and use coconut milk blocks as needed. Store this way for up to 2 months!
Keyword coconut, coconut milk, dairy free, milk alternative, vegan

How do I store coconut milk that I made myself?

Coconut milk you make at home can last up to three days in the fridge. Because it doesn’t have any preservatives, fresh coconut milk doesn’t last as long as canned or packaged coconut milk.

Freeze Cocount Milk

You could also put the coconut milk in ice cube trays and freeze it. This is how you can keep it for up to two months!

Coconut Milk cream

How to Make Use of the Extra Coconut Pulp

Instead of throwing away the “pulp” in the muslin bag, mix the coconut pieces with sugar and different spices to make a great Coconut Chai Body Scrub, which is one of my 5 Best Homemade Body Scrub Recipes.

Alternatively, add the dried coconut pulp to cocoa powder or cinamon and sprinkle over homemade microwave popcorn.

Making Coconut Milk
Making Coconut Milk
Bridget Beguin Health Coaching

Hi I'm Bridget Beguin

I’m a health coach who helps high-achieving professionals regain control of their health and well-being.

Whole Foods Living

Heal & Thrive with this practical guide to eating home-cooked & nourishing meals

Burn Bright, Not Out

A Practical Guide For Career-Driven Individuals Looking To Conquer Stress And Reclaim Their Health