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Here’s how to make coconut milk that’s silky and low-pulp, with only three ingredients. A hot soak softens the flakes, and a double strain catches the pulp. The result is a creamy non-dairy milk with no gums, artificial flavors or sweeteners.
If you’ve ever pulled a gritty jar of homemade plant milk from the fridge, this method is for you. Making my own also changed how I shop for cartons. When I buy one now, I look for a short ingredient list without fillers or sweeteners.
Table of Contents
Why This Method Works
Many recipes blend the flakes straight into the water. This one adds two small steps, and both change the texture.
- A hot soak. Boiling water softens the flakes before they reach the blender. In my kitchen, that means a smoother blend with less pulp.
- A double strain. A nut milk bag or cheesecloth lines a mesh strainer, so two layers catch the fine pulp.
- Three simple ingredients. You need coconut, boiling water and a pinch of salt. Nothing else goes in.
- Fifteen minutes. Prep takes 5 minutes, and the soak takes 10.
Homemade Coconut Milk Ingredients
- Unsweetened shredded coconut: Choose the unsweetened kind. Sweetened flakes add sugar and make the milk taste candied.
- Boiling filtered water: The heat softens the coconut so it blends smooth. Water just off the boil works too, though the milk may turn out a little more pulpy.
- Sea salt: A pinch rounds out the coconut’s natural sweetness. You can skip it.
- High-speed blender: A powerful blender breaks the soaked flakes down fully. If yours struggles, my blender guide walks through the options.
- Mesh strainer and nut milk bag: Together they make the double strain. A mesh strainer holds the bag, and cheesecloth or a thin tea towel works in its place.
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How to Make Coconut Milk
- Soak the coconut. Place the coconut in a heatproof bowl and pour in the boiling water. Stir so every flake stays submerged. Then let it sit at least 10 minutes, until the flakes turn soft.
- Blend. Pour the coconut and all of the soaking water into a high-speed blender. Start on low and vent the lid, since hot liquid expands. Then blend until thick and creamy.
- Strain through two layers. Set a mesh strainer over a bowl and line it with a nut milk bag, cheesecloth or thin tea towel. Pour in the blend slowly.
- Squeeze. Gather the cloth, twist and press gently. Keep going until the pulp feels fairly dry.
- Store. Pour the milk into an airtight jar and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.
Save the pulp. It adds fiber to baked goods and smoothies.
Substitutions and Variations
- Water temperature: Water just off the boil works. Expect a little more pulp than you’d get from a full boil.
- Thicker milk: Use less water for a creamier result. A single layer of cheesecloth also gives a thicker pour with a bit more pulp.
- Strainer swap: Cheesecloth or a thin tea towel replaces the nut milk bag.
- Extra smooth: If you spot any grit, pour the milk through the strainer one more time.
- Flavor: Stir in a splash of vanilla or a teaspoon of maple syrup for a sweeter milk.
How to Store Homemade Coconut Milk
- Refrigerator: Keep it in an airtight glass jar, like a wide-mouth quart jar, for 3 to 4 days.
- Separation: The fat rises as the milk chills. Give the jar a good shake before every pour.
- Coconut cream: The top layer is coconut cream. Spoon it off for recipes that call for a richer milk.
- Freezer: Freeze the milk in an ice cube tray for up to 2 months. Then thaw it in the fridge and shake or re-blend.
Nutrition at a Glance
Each 1-cup serving has 1 g protein, 3 g fiber and 2 g sugar, based on the recipe card. The recipe has no added sugar.
How to Use Coconut Milk
Next, use your milk anywhere a carton of coconut milk works. It tastes naturally sweet, so desserts and smoothies make an easy start. That said, it has less fat than canned coconut milk, so save the canned kind for curries. Try it in these:
- Spiced Golden Milk: a warm, comforting drink for the end of the day.
- Creamy Blackberry Coconut Sorbet: cold, fruity and refreshing on a warm day.
- Peach Coconut Milk Smoothie: quick, easy and silky.
How to Make Coconut Milk
Jen HansardIngredients
- 1 cup raw coconut flakes
- 3 cup water boiling
- pinch sea salt, unrefined
Instructions
- Soak the coconut flakes in the boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
- Transfer the coconut and water to a blender and carefully blend until smooth.
- Set a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a tea towel over a bowl, or use a nut milk bag, and pour in the mixture. Let the coconut milk drip into the bowl.
- Gather the cloth at the top, twist and gently squeeze out as much coconut milk as possible; the remaining pulp should be fairly dry. Stir the salt into the coconut milk.
- Transfer to an airtight jar or bottle and refrigerate until ready to use.
Recipe Notes
- Blender Tip: The water is hot, so blend with the center cap removed and a towel over the opening to let steam escape.
- Texture Tip: This makes a milk similar to refrigerated carton coconut milk, not the richer canned kind. Use less water for a thicker, creamier result.
- Coconut Cream: The layer that rises to the top is coconut cream. Spoon it off for recipes that call for full-fat coconut milk.
- Storing: It keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It separates as it sits, so shake well before using.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Soak unsweetened shredded coconut in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Then blend it with the soaking water until creamy. Finally, squeeze the blend through a nut milk bag.
Soak the coconut in boiling water first so the flakes soften. Next, blend until the mixture turns thick and creamy. Then pour it through two layers, a mesh strainer and a nut milk bag. Squeeze until the pulp feels dry.
No, water just off the boil also works. However, a full boil softens the flakes more. In my kitchen, that means less pulp after blending.
Homemade coconut milk keeps for 3 to 4 days in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Because it has no stabilizers, the layers separate as it sits, so stir or shake it before pouring.
No. This recipe makes a milk similar to refrigerated carton coconut milk. It has less fat than canned coconut milk, so use the canned kind for rich curries.
Add the leftover pulp to baked goods or smoothies for extra fiber.
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Question. I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m excited about makin my own milk. At first I was more reserved, but now it’s exciting. I’m so very thankful for all your help. Why do you put it into boiling water? Doesn’t that kill enzymes? What is the temperature line that you can’t cross before something goes from being alive to dead? Baruch
Hi Kimberly! You can definitely heat up water not quite to boiling and it will turn out fine. I find that boiling helps in the sense that when blended it’s not as “pulpy”. Hope this helps!
How long do you soak the coconut in the hot water? Is more water added before putting in the blender?
Hi there Joyce,
Go ahead and soak the coconut flakes for a minimum of 10-minutes, until soft. You’ll transfer the coconut flakes with the same 3 c soaking water to a blender. If you want a thicker coconut milk, you could leave some of the soaking water out. I hope this helps!