Helpful tips on how to properly store coconut milk

Coconut milk is becoming increasingly popular these days. The scope of its application is wide.

In cooking, the product is used for making cocktails, desserts, smoothies, and puree soups; in cosmetology, skin and hair care products are made on its basis.

How to properly store this exotic drink? And if you didn’t use all the milk right away, where can you use it? We will tell you further how you can and cannot store coconut milk.

Rules and storage time

Coconut milk should not be confused with juice. Many people believe that milk is the liquid that formed inside the coconut as it ripened. This is incorrect, such a liquid is called juice, it is completely fat-free and consists of 95% water.

You can make your own coconut milk. But Now this product is no longer so exotic and is sold in any supermarket. To prevent its premature deterioration, it is imperative to monitor the expiration date and comply with certain storage conditions.

General recommendations

Coconut milk is sold in tetra packs or cans.

The packaging indicates the production date and shelf life (usually from 24 to 36 months). Temperature conditions for storing unopened packaging: from +2° to +30°.

When buying a product in a store, choose one with a shorter shelf life. This ensures that it contains fewer preservatives and harmful additives. The ideal drink contains only water and concentrated coconut milk.

In the refrigerator after opening the package

If you open a jar and don’t use it all at once, then the remaining the contents should be poured into a non-metallic container and kept in the refrigerator. It is not recommended to leave a drink in a tin container!

It is advisable to pour the coconut milk from the Tetropack into a glass container and tightly close the lid. The shelf life of the drink in this form is no more than three days.

It should also be taken into account that coconut milk easily absorbs foreign odors. Do not store it near strong-smelling foods (smoked sausages, Korean salads, fish). And don’t forget to tightly close the lid on the milk container. If you prepared the drink yourself at home, then you need to use it within 1-2 days.

In the freezer

It is in vain that some housewives consider freezing not the most successful way to store food. Such food is called “dead”, losing vitamins, beneficial microelements and taste. There are a number of products to which this does not apply in any way. And one of them is coconut milk.

So if you are not going to use the opened milk in the coming days, then you can safely freeze it and then defrost it without fear that the drink will lose its taste.

Basic rules for freezing coconut milk:

1. It is advisable to freeze the product in small containers. You can use a container or plastic jar, but do not fill it to the top as milk expands when frozen.
2. Defrosting should be done gradually - do not immediately leave the milk at room temperature, but after putting it in the freezer, keep it on the refrigerator shelf for 24 hours.
3. Place a container with completely defrosted coconut milk in hot water for 5-10 minutes, mix the contents well and only then drink or use for cooking.

Coconut milk cannot be re-frozen. A frozen product must be used within 3-4 months.

This is done as follows:

1. Pour the drink into molds and place in the freezer.
2. Wait until it freezes completely.
3. Remove the milk cubes from the molds and place them in a container or plastic bag.
4. Place in the freezer again.

This is a very convenient way! When you need to use milk, you defrost exactly as much as you need. Details - in this article.

How much in room conditions?

Store unopened containers of coconut milk at room temperature. But cold rooms (such as pantries, cellars, balconies), where the temperature can drop below +2°, are best avoided. Otherwise, flakes will form in the drink.

Features of use

If you bought coconut milk and when you get home you want to drink it right away, then All you need to do is shake it well before using it.. This must be done, because during storage the product separates, that is, water appears at the bottom, and a thick white mass collects at the top. This does not affect the taste in any way.

Do not forget that the consumption rate of coconut milk is far from the same as that of cow's milk. For an adult, 100 ml every 3-4 days is enough, for children over 3 years old - no more than 50 ml.

What do the resulting flakes indicate?

It happens that when you open a can of coconut drink, you can find flakes formed in it.

This is not yet a reason to think that it has deteriorated. It was simply stored or transported at the wrong temperature (in cold conditions). The buyer has every right to return such product to the point of sale.

The flakes do not have any effect on the taste of the prepared dishes. It is quite acceptable to use such milk for confectionery and baked goods, soups and cereals, cocktails and smoothies. But it is not recommended to add it to granola or coffee, as the flakes will spoil the taste.

Is it possible to increase the time frame?

If after opening the can the milk is stored in the refrigerator for a long time, then be sure to Check it periodically for signs of deterioration:

• stale taste, reminiscent of tin (this is why it is not recommended to store the product in an open tin container, as coconut milk begins to gradually absorb the smell of the can);
• the surface of the milk is covered with pink mold;
• the product has acquired a grayish color.

To prevent spoilage of an open drink, it is better to immediately pour it into small containers and freeze it. This way you can extend the shelf life up to four months.

What to do with the product if it is expired?

Don't rush to throw it away Coconut milk that has expired:

1. Use it to cleanse your acne.
2. Apply as a mask to strengthen weakened hair.
3. To add shine to your curls, combine this milk with coconut oil in equal proportions, add egg yolk and apply the resulting mixture to your hair. After 30 minutes, rinse with warm water.
4. Regularly wipe your skin with coconut milk, this can give it elasticity and slow down the aging process.
5. If your hair is dry, then combine coconut milk with honey in a 2:1 ratio, and rub the resulting mixture into the skin and distribute along the entire length of the strands. Leave for 1 hour under a warm hood. Repeat the procedure once a week.

Useful tips

Tips to help when storing the product:

1. Coconut milk is not a cheap product. If such a luxury is not permissible, then try making a delicious drink yourself at home.

   The nut pulp must be carefully cut off, crushed in a blender and poured with warm water (400 ml per 1 coconut). Let it brew a little, squeeze it out with gauze and pour the resulting drink into a container.

2. Coconut milk cannot be called low-calorie, but it is absorbed by the body better and faster, so it does not have time to be deposited as fat.In addition, this product contains no cholesterol. So for people losing weight, its use is quite acceptable.
3. Due to the fat content of coconut drink, it is recommended to dilute it with water. For example, to cook porridge with it, take 1 part milk and 2 more parts water.
4. When choosing a coconut drink in the store, give preference to producers from tropical countries. Powdered milk is produced in Russia and Europe.
5. Coconut milk should not be boiled, otherwise it will separate into flakes and water.
6. You can replace coconut milk in recipes with cow's product with the addition of coconut flakes.

Conclusion

There is nothing difficult in choosing, purchasing and storing coconut milk. Don't let the exotic product scare you. If you don't want to drink a canned drink, you can easily make your own milk. Just remember to observe the temperature conditions, storage conditions and periods.