Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Canned has preservatives, Carton has additives, which is the lesser evil?

edited Nov 15 2011 at 12:11

Matt
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asked Nov 14 2011 at 22:53

jonathan
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Kewpie · Answer 1 · 2011-11-14 23:06:31Z UTC

I'm assuming you are talking about the refrigerated cartons not the aseptic cartons. If that assumption is correct, I would go for the canned. Here's why: The refrigerated stuff is essentially just watered down canned coconut milk with some extra flavorings and other ingredients added it.

I've never seen canned coconut milk with preservatives. You might be thinking of guar gum which is added to many coconut milks, but that isn't a preservative--it's a thickener that keeps the coconut milk from separating. There are some brands that don't have guar gum, but so far none of the ones I've found have been organic and none of them are in BPA free cans. I'm far more concerned about BPA than I am about guar gum, but everyone has different priorities.

If you can get the Native Forest canned coconut milk it is organic and the cans are BPA free. If you prefer the drinkability of the refrigerated kind all you have to do is add some water (and vanilla) to taste and pop it in the fridge. It's cheaper and you don't get all the other additives.

Jules · Answer 2 · 2011-11-15 00:57:46Z UTC

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Aroy-D makes an in-the-carton version that has no additives/preservatives, is NOT refrigerated, and tastes pretty good too. Aroy-D coconut milk - scroll down to the one in the carton.

answered Nov 15 2011 at 0:57

Jules
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This! It's good, cheap (where I live), and has no additives. Good call. – see Nov 15 2011 at 5:03

Case · Answer 3 · 2011-11-14 23:05:10Z UTC

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Id say the guar gum in the can is the lesser of the evil. The carrageenan in the carton is a major gut irritant. Both can be bothersome, but I find the canned is tolerated alot better for me!

answered Nov 14 2011 at 23:05

Case
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vdh1979 · Answer 4 · 2011-11-14 23:05:14Z UTC

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Star brand coconut milk in can from Walmart has no listed additives or preservatives.

answered Nov 14 2011 at 23:05

vdh1979
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Couple days ago I compared that "Gold Star" (I think) WalMart stuff with my old favorite Savoy coconut cream. I gotta give it thumbs down. It's got guar gum or something that just doesn't belong. Sorry. – Huey Nov 14 2011 at 23:34

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None that is listed. You're talking about the stuff in the green can right? Yeah the name brand is Golden Star. Only ingredients listed are coconut milk, water. I've had some with guar gum and this stuff definitely doesn't. – vdh1979 Nov 14 2011 at 23:45

The other thing you have to watch with some of the cheaper stuff is how many calories (and fat) there are per serving. Some of the canned stuff is pretty watered down. – Kewpie Nov 15 2011 at 1:45

The stuff I get is almost completely cream in the can with some separated water. I store it in a glass jar and have to scoop it out with a spoon. This stuff is really good quality despite its low cost. – vdh1979 Nov 15 2011 at 2:19

missionman · Answer 5 · 2011-11-15 00:01:49Z UTC

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What do you guys think about creamed coconut. With this you can use it straight or make your own milk at whatever concentration you want, Here in Canada it costs about $1.50 for a 170g brick so its almost like buying in bulk, Here are some links: http://www.harvardcocopro.com/Creamed_Coconut.html and http://www.foodfacts.com/NutritionFacts/Coconut/Grace-Pure-Creamed-Coconut-6-oz/15064

answered Nov 15 2011 at 0:01

missionman
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	Creamed coconut is awesome. You can definitely use it to easily make coconut milk, it keeps well, and it is usually 100% coconut without any additives. – FED at LiveCaveman.com Nov 15 2011 at 0:17
	i bought some of the Grace brand months ago to add to my coffee. it was horrible. maybe i added too much? – sage_ Nov 15 2011 at 5:01

sage_ · Answer 6 · 2011-11-14 23:04:06Z UTC

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i buy canned that is nothing but 60% coconut and water.

answered Nov 14 2011 at 23:04

sage_
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Jenn · Answer 7 · 2011-11-14 23:27:44Z UTC

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In the book Healing Foods, Cooking for Celiacs, Colitis, Crohn's and IBS it says you can make your own coconut milk using 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flour and 3 cups of water. Combine in food processor and process for 3 minutes. Line a sieve with 4 kitchen cloths and pour in the mixture. Let drain, squeezing out as much milk as possible. I haven't tried it as I just got it. Worth experimenting with though. No bpa's no crap - can't beat that. Just hope it tastes good.

answered Nov 14 2011 at 23:27

Jenn
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Are you sure it was coconut flour and not shredded coconut? – Kewpie Nov 14 2011 at 23:30

Interesting. What about the wonderful fat content though. Isn't most of that removed from the flour? Guess you could add coconut oil, but it would separate. I think I will try it just to see what it tastes like. – Kathi Nov 14 2011 at 23:59

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Lol! I can guarantee that if the recipe calls for coconut "flour" (as in defatted desiccated coconut solids) it is a typo. 1 1/2 cups of coconut flour would absorb 3 cups of water no problem and you would be left with a ball of coconut paste. This is definitely a recipe for "unsweetened shredded coconut" or coconut flakes. Either of them can be used in this way to make home-made coconut milk. :) – FED at LiveCaveman.com Nov 15 2011 at 0:16

I think you need to use shredded coconut, which still has the fat in it. And the water needs to be warm, but not boiling. There's a video of someone doing it here... youtube.com/watch?v=fpxPoizVT9c (gotta love the elevator music) Plus this way you can dry out the leftover pulp and use it for coconut flour. – gydle Nov 15 2011 at 9:00

This is what we do with shredded coconut. Then I save the pulp, dehydrate, and shred it further to use as coconut flour. Very cost-efficient! – jess6 Nov 15 2011 at 14:46

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San Diego Dude · Answer 8 · 2011-11-15 01:13:25Z UTC

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TJ's Carton coconut milk is garbage...definitely go canned.

answered Nov 15 2011 at 1:13

San Diego Dude
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tony · Answer 9 · 2012-08-30 16:13:46Z UTC

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http://chriskresser.com/3-reasons-why-coconut-milk-may-not-be-your-friend

answered Aug 30 at 16:13

tony
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Scramblendan · Answer 10 · 2012-09-25 22:24:58Z UTC

Hi everyone, I am new to the site but I like it already. I purchased a carton of the "Silk" brand coconut milk and it contains more ingredients than any of you would probably approve of but probably not BPA. This was my first purchase of any type of coconut milk and I also bought (but didn't open yet) a "can" of Golden Star coconut milk and I noticed the higher fat content. So from reading here what I have in the can (according to the label) is coconut milk and water. Is what's in the can; condensed (coconut cream) milk which increases fat content of the canned product?

Emily · Answer 11 · 2013-02-03 15:34:46Z UTC

I have tried the So Delicious in a carton (refridgerated). It was too watery with no coconut flavour, and a lot of useless ingredients. I am using Trader Joe's light coconut milk in a can. They tell me the can is BPA-free, and I am so glad because it is the best stuff. For "light" it is so creamy and has a nice coconut flavour. The ingredients are only coconut milk and water. It would be perfect if it had a kosher sign, so I will have to keep looking for other brands, but so far it is the one I would highly recommend.

Coconut Milk - Canned or Carton?

11 Answers