How to Dilute Coconut Cream to Make Coconut Milk (Exact Ratios)

One product, three uses. Buy coconut cream, dilute to coconut milk, and cut your ingredient costs in half.

Here's a secret that experienced restaurant kitchens already know: you don't need to buy coconut milk and coconut cream separately. Coconut cream dilutes with water to make coconut milk — giving you one SKU that replaces two or three products.

Kara coconut cream has a fat content of 24% (± 1%). Regular coconut milk is 12-15% fat, and light coconut milk is 5-7%. Simple math: add water to bring the fat percentage down.

The Exact Ratios

Full-Fat Coconut Milk
1 part cream : 1 part water
~12% fat
1L cream → 2L milk

Use for: curries, soups, tom kha, laksa, coconut rice, bubble tea

Light Coconut Milk
1 part cream : 2 parts water
~8% fat
1L cream → 3L milk

Use for: smoothies, light curries, cereal, coffee drinks, dairy-free beverages

Coconut Cream (undiluted)
Use as-is
24% fat
Rich & thick

Use for: ice cream bases, whipped toppings, thick curries, desserts, sauces, marinades

How to Mix

  1. Measure your coconut cream into a container.
  2. Add warm water (not boiling) at the ratio above. Warm water blends more smoothly than cold.
  3. Whisk or blend until fully combined. A stick blender works best for large batches. Coconut fat can separate if not mixed well.
  4. Use immediately or refrigerate. Diluted coconut milk keeps 3-4 days refrigerated.

The Cost Savings

Let's do the math. A case of Kara 1000ml coconut cream (12 packs) costs $42. That's 12 liters of coconut cream.

  • Used as cream: 12 liters at $3.50/liter
  • Diluted to coconut milk (1:1): 24 liters at $1.75/liter
  • Diluted to light coconut milk (1:2): 36 liters at $1.17/liter

Compare that to buying canned coconut milk at $2.50-3.50 per liter. You're saving 30-50% per liter while getting the flexibility to use the same product as cream when you need it.

Why Restaurants Buy Cream Instead of Milk

  • One SKU, three products — cream, milk, and light milk from the same pack
  • Less warehouse space — 45 cases of cream replaces what would be 135+ cases of coconut milk
  • 18-month shelf life — UHT processing, no refrigeration needed until opened
  • Consistent quality — 24% fat every time, so your recipes are always consistent
  • No preservatives — vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, no artificial anything

About Kara Coconut Cream

Kara is manufactured by Sambu Group in Indonesia — the world's largest integrated coconut processor, handling 5 million coconuts daily. Unlike Thai brands (Chaokoh, Aroy-D), Kara is verified monkey-labor-free. It carries Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO, and Rainforest Alliance certifications.

Ready to switch to coconut cream?

Kara 1000ml UHT Coconut Cream — $42/case (12 packs). Minimum order 45 cases. Fast East Coast delivery.

Order Now