The differences between Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream and Cream of Coconut 🌴🥥

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While it may seem simple and basic, one of the most confusing mix-ups in tropical recipes is between "cream of coconut" and "coconut cream." I'll often say it wrong out of habit and many recipes you'll come across use the words interchangeably. One of the most common questions I'm asked is if you can sub them for each other... which you can't.

So this video is a basic explanation of coconut milk, coconut cream, and cream of coconut. Many cocktail recipes call for "coconut cream" when they really mean "cream of coconut." But I think that confusion mainly stems from the proliferation of coconut products in recent decades due to increased coconut and palm oil production and consumption. The byproduct ends up being more coconut water, coconut milk, and coconut cream, and back in the day "coconut milk" was less common and "coconut cream" was not around.

TL;DR In a cocktail recipe, coconut cream means "cream of coconut" and vice versa.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Fresh Coconut
00:43 Coconut Milk
01:12 Coconut Cream
02:00 Cream of Coconut
03:08 Comparing them
05:10 The winner

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Featured in this video:
@RealInfusedExotics @traderjoes

#Coconut #CoconutMilk #CreamOfCoconut

[MrChrisPietrzak]

I just have to say, the production values are *absurd* for a relatively new channel with just a few thousand subscribers. The set, the lighting, the multiple camera angles, the depth of field, the editing... These look like videos from a much bigger, more established channel, which I'm sure will be the case before too long. :)

[ethand]

I had no idea cream of coconut and coconut cream were different! Saved me a bad pina colada experience! 😂

[baguette]

Thank you so much for this education.
I live in a tropical country where I could literally make my own fresh coconut milk. But most dairy free recipes in the internet are using all those coconut cans and I had no idea of what they're using before. Now I understand :)

[jcloiseau]

This is an absolutely great educational video!
Educated barfly and other youtubers have struggled with this in the past.
Cream of coconut should really be called coconut syrup like orgeat is just almond syrup.
That would make it much clearer for the greater public.

[markfeldman]

I like to mix López and coconut milk 1:1 especially for painkillers. More body, less sweetness.

[kimurafrank]

i think the best way to use the REAL coconut is to add 1/4 oz less, than mentioned in the recipe. it will make the cocktail more balanced, and less sweet. That's why I prefer the canned ones lately over the real bottle.

[seanpannebaker]

This episode was great! Good to know the Real is worth using. Especially since I don't have the Coco Lopez near me. I don't make many drinks with it but there are a few and I have no complaints. Cheers!

[cristinacarlay]

I’m happy what I have learned from thus video. Thank you!

[jcloiseau]

I have not been able to find coco lopez and real when i was in the usa. But i get access to plenty of nice coconut milk here in asia and honestly, coconut milk, immersion blender warm to 40°c on pot, add sugar mix then whisk and the result is scrumptious in 5 min

[jessicawoodard-lvyy]

Hahaha THANK YOU for this explanation!! 👏👏🤗 Cheers!

[benslease]

Weird quirk of mine: Prefer Coco Lopez for shaken drinks (a little less viscosity makes it mix more evenly imo). But Real works so well for anything blended.

[jessejules]

Oh my goodness. Thank you! I have been searching for 'coconut cream' for months and always being referred to cream of coconut. It's been so frustrating. I type in coconut cream for shopping and all I get is suggestions for cream of coconut.

[blakeanderson]

I’ve found as well when using Real, u can sometimes even skip adding simple syrup to the drinks to help tamper the sweetness

[OMGWTFLOLSMH]

They should make these cream of coconut mixes with about 1/3 to 1/2 the sugar. They are way too sweet. Why does everything processed have to be loaded with sugar or salt?

[f]

Thank you for this Video. I agree, at one time I was at a crossroads between both and it seemed like everyone on YouTube recommended the coco Lopez, but honestly I enjoy the Real stuff.

[jonspliid]

I use a mix of Coco Lopez and coconut milk. And then I out it in the freezer I do that with all my syrups that isn't just sugar/water. They don't go solid, so I can stil use them and they haven't gone bad yet.

[terrymar]

Coco lopez tastes so good I can eat it by itself.

[elbob]

If you're into Thai curries, you're good with either Coconut Cream or Coconut Milk.

[johnrichard]

Thanks for the tip on making home made. I read the ingredients on the 2 commercial versions and ran away!!! (have used both in the past) Now I have an option.👍

[SandstormGT]

REAL Protip: Store the squeeze bottle capside up, don't know if something has changed but the last couple of bottles I've had has slowly leaked syrup around the seal when storing them capside down in the fridge.