Coconut Milk vs Buttermilk: Which is Better?

Coconut milk and buttermilk are likely two types of milk you’ve heard of – and maybe even used!

On the one hand, coconut milk is a popular plant-based milk that acts as a delicious dairy-alternative. It provides a tropical twist to the many things you can add it to, and it has an amazing dietary versatility!

Buttermilk, on the other hand, is super popular in baking and cooking, as its unique tangy flavor adds a punch to many dishes, along with its great ability to add moisture to bakes! 

Both of these milks sound great, although they are very different…let’s take a closer look at each of them, and compare everything about them to ultimately see which one is better!

Let’s dive in!

Comparing coconut milk vs buttermilk 

Coconut milk is a plant-based milk that has tree nuts as an allergen – a lot of people with that type of allergy can still consume coconut products, so talk to your physician to be safe! It’s also a great milk to drink for vegan, paleo, and keto diets – it’s super versatile!

Buttermilk is animal-based, and has milk as an allergen. Unlike coconut milk, you can’t use it for vegan, paleo, or keto diets. Also, it contains lactose.

	Coconut milk	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Type	Plant-based (nut milk)	Animal-based
Allergens	Tree nuts*	Milk
Vegan?	Yes	No
Paleo?	Yes	No
Keto?	Yes	No

*Most people with tree nut allergies can consume coconut products, so talk to your physician!

Differences between coconut milk and buttermilk

The main difference between coconut milk and buttermilk is their source, along with differences in their flavors and textures.

Coconut milk is made from coconuts, and comes in carton and canned versions. 

Carton coconut milk tastes like coconuts with a nutty undertone, and has a thin, creamy texture that’s perfect for drinking. Canned coconut is almost solid at room temperature, and is used for baking and cooking. 

To make carton coconut milk, thicker coconut milk or coconut cream is blended with water, but canned coconut milk is made by heating high-fat coconut pulp in hot water and then extracting the liquid from the solid pulp.

Buttermilk is made by adding a probiotic culture to homogenized or pasteurized milk, which ferments it to give us a thick, creamy, tangy, and slightly sour product! It’s mainly used in baking, and many recipes call for its unique flavor and moistening capabilities.

How to use coconut milk vs buttermilk 

Coconut milk and buttermilk can both be used in many delicious ways:

Coconut milk:

• Enjoy it as a dairy-free beverage.
• Make coconut creamer with it.
• Add it to your smoothies.
• Splash it over your cereal or into your oatmeal.
• Bake and cook with it for a tropical addition.
• Make coconut yogurt.

Buttermilk:

• Drink it by itself or use it like kefir.
• Use it for marinades and brines.
• Tenderize meat with it.
• Add its tangy flavor and creamy texture to recipes.
• Moisten different bakes like pancakes, cookies, and cakes.
• Use it to make thick and creamy dressings and dips.

Can you substitute coconut milk for buttermilk?

These two have such different flavor and texture profiles that it would be very tricky to use them interchangeably, although you can experiment with their different flavor profiles in things like smoothies, pancakes, waffles, etc. 

That said, if your recipe calls for buttermilk specifically, it likely needs that tangy taste and thick, creamy texture – plus, buttermilk moistens things really well. In that case, don’t substitute it out for coconut milk. 

Nutrition: Coconut milk vs buttermilk

Coconut milk is very low in calories as compared to buttermilk, and has a bit more fat. Coconut milk is also very low in carbs, with just 2 grams per serving. There’s next to no sugar in coconut milk, while buttermilk has 11 grams per serving. 

Buttermilk has 10 grams of protein per serving, while coconut milk has a poor protein source of 0 grams. Coconut milk has a better calcium and vitamin D content, but buttermilk contains probiotics which are great for overall health!

Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.)	Coconut milk	Buttermilk (lowfat/1%)
Calories	40	120
Total fat (saturated)	4 g (3.5 g)	2.5 g (2 g)
Total carbs	2 g	15 g
Total sugars (incl. added)	<1 g (0 g)	11 g (0 g)
Protein	0 g	10 g
Calcium	45% DV	25% DV
Vit D	20% DV	10% DV

How to store coconut milk and buttermilk

Carton coconut milk should be stored in the fridge. Try to finish it within 5-7 days after opening for the best freshness – full-fat coconut milk lasts longer than low-fat types, so keep that in mind when storing these! Canned coconut milk should also be stored in the fridge and in an airtight container, and should last about 7 days.

Buttermilk should be stored in the fridge, and will last about 7 days unopened. Once you open it, use it within 5 days for the best freshness, although some brands claim it’ll last for up to 14 days – make sure to give it a sniff and taste test if you’re keeping it for that long.

Coconut milk vs buttermilk: Which is better?

Coconut milk and buttermilk offer unique advantages and disadvantages over one another, and it’s hard to crown one the winner because they’re so different…

It’s also important to consider their different allergens and dietary versatility, which may make the choice easier for you.

That said, coconut milk tends to be better for things like cereal, smoothies, and drinking on its own because its distinct coconut taste provides a tropical vibe! Buttermilk is better for baking in recipes that call for it, and it adds moisture to bakes better than coconut milk does – pick the one that fits your needs best!

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