coconut cream or coconut milk?

[rcalaimo]

For those who have to use canned coconut milk or coconut cream for cooking,
which do you prefer and why?

[Eun Seo]

Canned coconut is convenience but i prefer fresh coconut milk which squeeze from cocnut rub.

[rcalaimo]

Eun, ok So you get the fresh coconut ,grate the inside and ? squeeze?or add water and squeeze? I have seen fresh coconut milk turn a slight pink color.
I take it, the first "squeeze " is the cream? and any squeezing after is the milk?

[iGotNoTime]

I personally prefer the dry coconut cream powder. It is so much easier for storage and the 2-3 meters of snow here prevent me from squeezing fresh. Too when we buy a can of coconut milk it must be opened and we have to let it sit for 15-20 minutes so the cream rises to the top, who has this kind of time when hungry? My kids are not patient enough to wait on it. All that work when you can buy a can for 50 baht? Thta is like changing your own oil on your car. My time is not worth the $3 in labor charges.

I have never squeezed my own, and never heard that when squeezed it is pink. You now have my attention.

[Eun Seo]

Uhm I wonder I misunderstand your topic...

For me, first I add a little water and squeeze it, I will get concentrated coconut milk. Continue squeeze in second time and put more water I will get coconut milk but for canned coconut milk some brand you will get concentrated coconut milk and some brand you will get coconut milk. For those who not have much time to cook, canned coconut milk is O.K. but I think fresh coconut milk better.

Uh..I never squeeze it until pink..

[mikeize]

We buy canned milk and cream here in the US. What we use depends on what we cook! Milk for curries, cream for some kanom, etc. For a while we could get milk in a foil-lined carton, and it was the BEST/freshest! We have found that there are wide differences in quality between brands of coconut milk as well. Some seem oily, and reconstituted. We personally like to use "Chaokoh" brand when available.

-mike

[rcalaimo]

Thank you everybody for you replies
Yes, I have seen the pink a few times
One thing about canned is that it tends to be a little grey at times. I guess I see to much color lol.
but now I have a better understanding. Yes fresh is the best

[Tim]

Here is a site I came across that has quite a bit of coconut information.

http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/ing...s/cocmilk.html

[ThaiFoodLover]

Both coconut cream and coconut milk have their uses depending on the kind of 'finish' you want in your cooking. Coconut cream has a smoother finish while Coconut milk has a more of a texture which is nice in curries. I've never used the powdered version of coconut cream yet - will give it a go and let you know what I think.

[Susana]

I use coconut milk. I sometimes buy the 'Chaokoh' brand also, and I sometimes buy the Mexican brand. I use it mainly for curry. I have not yet had the opportunity to buy the powdered type, but I will look for it the next time I go to an Asian food store.

I occasionally buy the sweeter coconut creme for a cool lime coconut drink in the summertime. Yum!