Plant Milks
Coconut Milk in gelato
Full-fat canned coconut milk is the liquid pressed from grated coconut flesh and water, roughly 21% fat and 74% water. In gelato it is the primary fat and structure source for dairy-free and vegan formulas, standing in for cream.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 26% |
| Water | 74% |
| Sugars | 3% |
| Fat | 21% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 2% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 3 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 4 |
Typical use: 20-45% of the mix in dairy-free/vegan bases (higher when it is the sole fat source); a smaller 5-15% as a flavor/fat accent in dairy bases.
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Coconut milk is used mainly as a plant-based fat and body source in vegan and dairy-free gelato, replacing milk and cream. Its ~21% fat (highly saturated, so it firms structure and gives a rich, coating mouthfeel) is the key contribution; its own sugars are minimal (~2-3g/100g, mostly sucrose), so it barely moves PAC/POD and freezing point must be set with your added sugars and dextrose. Because it carries no milk non-fat solids (MSNF = 0), pair it with another plant solids source (coconut cream, nut pastes, inulin, or dried glucose/maltodextrin) to avoid a thin, icy body. Emulsifiers or the coconut's native proteins help stabilize the fat; expect a distinct coconut flavor that suits tropical, chocolate, and nut gelati.
Origin & background
Coconut milk has been a staple of South and Southeast Asian and Pacific cuisines for centuries, traditionally made by grating mature coconut meat and squeezing it with warm water. Industrial canned coconut milk was standardized in the 20th century; the USDA characterizes the reference product as 'liquid expressed from grated meat and water' (FDC 170173), containing about 21% fat and 2% protein.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 170173 — Nuts, coconut milk, canned (liquid expressed from grated meat and water): water ~72.9g, total fat ~21.3g, protein ~2.0g, carbohydrate ~2.8g, sugars low. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/ (mirror: https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts/170173/wt1)
- Matvaretabellen (Norwegian Food Composition Table), 'Coconut milk, canned' — per 100g: water 74g, fat 21.3g, carbohydrate 1.5g, sugar 1.5g, protein 2.0g. https://www.matvaretabellen.no/en/coconut-milk-canned/
- Sugar profile corroboration (sucrose-dominant): coconut milk ~1.6g sucrose, 0.3g glucose, 0.1g fructose per 100g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_milk