Today is a quick little tip I discovered through forgetfulness. I usually keep cans of coconut milk in my preps. Since going paleo I got over my long standing hatred for the mighty coconut and keep it in it’s many forms in storage. Since coconut milk has a long storage life It stays in the pantry unless I open a can and don’t use it all. Recently I forgot that I had opened a can and left in the fridge for a few weeks…or maybe months. When I discovered it in the back of the fridge I was scared it might have mutated and would attack me. The odd thing was when I picked it up I noticed it was no longer a liquid. It had become a solid during it’s time hiding in the fridge. This transformation piqued my curiosity. I was too afraid of all the possible botulism that had infested this can of formerly coconut goodness and promptly tossed it out. Since then I’ve played around a bit more and will share my non toxic discoveries with you.
Keep a lid on it
For my next experiment I just placed some coconut milk cans in the fridge, unopened for a few days. With the occasional shake of the can. One brand in particular, Golden Star, Solidified the most. So you will have to try a few different brands. The other brand I tested was called Imperial Dragon, and I could tell no difference in it from before refrigeration. Comparing the two cans The Golden Star contains the following ingredients: Coconut Milk, Water. The Imperial dragon has a ton of weird things in it. So If I had to make a guess try to get Coconut Milk with nothing in it but Coconut Milk and Water.
Texture
After opening it up you will have a very solid like coconut “cheese” with the water separated to the bottom. It is harder than cream cheese and fresh mozzarella but not quite as firm as an aged cheddar. Somewhere in between. When heated it turns back to a liquid. Also during on experiment I re-heated it and added salt and a tbsp of vinegar to add a touch of saltiness and tang to be more cheesy. After which it wouldn’t set back up to a solid. So more playing around is due.
Uses?
What can you use this Coconut “Cheese” for. It kind of reminds me of frozen cool whip. So as a topping for paleo cheesecake or pumpkin pie it would be awesome. If you made paleo tacos this would give you the missing creaminess of sour cream. I can think of a million uses for this creamy concoction. My favorite though is to eat from the can with a spoon. It’s like a creamy melt in your mouth ice cream. Toss a can in the fridge and make some Coconut “Cheese” and enjoy.
Try this out and let me know what you think! What was your favorite use for it? Let me know in the comments!
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I too cringe at Coconut milk. Brought up in northern climes, coconut was never a staple in my house). but am increasingly reading about all it’s inherent goodness, I have been using coconut oil for many of my herbal preparations and it’s use is always expanding, especially with topical herbal applications. but coconut Cheese? This sounds too good to be true. I am definitely going to try this soon. I have been looking for a substitute for sour cream. This sounds great and can’t wait to try it.
TinMan
Definitely Tinman. My favorite coconut product has been the oil with flour being second.
Golden Star is the only brand of coconut milk I’ve ever found that does NOT have all kinds of icky shit added to it (guar gum, carrageen-something, etc.). I got all excited to see coconut milk in cartons at Costco until I read the ingredients – some coconut and a whole bunch of other crap I don’t want – sheeeese, so annoying.
I use some brand of fridge coconut milk for coffee but haven’t looked. I’m sure it’s full of shit
Try adding a little ‘starter’ to ferment it. Cultures for Health has a variety of starters that promote natural fermentation. Much better than using carageenan or flour.
If anyone tries a little starter, as Lucy suggested, and finds that any resulting ‘cheese’ can then be heated without turning to liquid again, I would be very grateful if the information could be posted back here. I understand this is a paleo tip page, however, I am hoping to use this for a pizza trick.