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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Your coconut won’t have a chance to spoil if you use it in several of recipes! Find a place to buy coconuts. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you did decide to brave eating a piece, you would probably find that it doesn't have much (or any!) Fresh coconuts yield healthy coconut water, edible coconut meat and, if you properly dry and preserve it, a shell that you can use as a small bowl. Set it aside in a cool dark place for 7 to 10 days. You can use the flesh or water to make soups and stews as well as curries. I used a zip lock freezer bag to store some. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Your coconut is definitely not edible. There are so many other ways to use coconut oil in the home. Place the container in the refrigerator to store. Refrigerate shredded fresh coconut will only last one to two days, so it is best to shred it right before you need to use it. Thanks for this website. Keep turning and tapping and within seconds, the coconut will have split! One medium coconut will yield 3 to 4 cups of grated meat. Once you have an opening in the top, you will want to drain the coconut water. Packaged coconut in plastic bags can be stored up to six months at room temperature. I have no idea. Very different from the young coconuts. Still totally edible and delicious, though not as âcoconuttyâ as the older kinds. I bought a coconut today, most people avoid whole coconut in the store because they don't know how easy it will be to open it when they get home. ", "Keeping the coconut in a air tight container stood out.". They also wrap the semi-opened coconut with plastic foil completely and place it in shallow ice water. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Although the best coconut season is from October to December, coconuts are being harvested all year long. There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Coconut butter and oil are different things, but you store them in the same way. A coconut has eye holes on the end stem. The exception might be homemade coconut oil deodorant cream, which quickly absorbs into the skin and keeps you dry and fresh. It’s not just for recipes. Basically you can break the thin layer of meat with a straw/spoon/you finger and enjoy the water. Coconut is not really the best choice for you to eat liberally if you are counting your calories. To do so hammer thin slices into the bast hood of the coconut (picture 1). wikiHow's. Do you just snack on your coconut meat or do you use it in recipes? The key is that they stay in a cool place. Most modern cooks think of coconut for using in puddings and baked goods but there are so many other ways to use it. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; thank you thegardeningcook for giving me wonderful information. If you break open your coconut but don't eat it all, store the leftover meat in the fridge for up to a week, or you can keep it in the freezer where it will stay good for several months. Browner coconuts are older, and greener ones are younger. Place the screwdriver on the eye and it with the hammer. Thin strips of fresh coconut are tossed with brown sugar and white pepper, then given a quick turn in the oven until fragrant and golden. It isn't a guarantee that the one you choose is a good one, but it does help to suggest that the batch is a good. Here are some tips to make sure that it stays fresh as long as possible. The coconut water is quite nutritious and can be used in recipes to add flavor to sauces and other drinks. Seal the container tightly. The un-shredded fresh coconut will keep for four to five days. I have heard different things - from a year (I am doubtful of that) to four months. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. You can use either shredded fresh coconut or chunks of fresh coconut meat. Coconut water is mainly made of water – in fact, 94% is water. Coconut milk blends beautifully with many dishes, including curries, soups and sauces. The tasty coconut is so versatile that it even has its own day – National Coconut Day on June 26! You can also make homemade coconut milk by combining the coconut meat and water in a blender and pulsing it to a liquid form. Once you have brought home a fresh coconut, it will stay fresh at room temperature for up to four months as long as you keep it in a cool. Be sure to examine it when you get it open. When the coconut halves are cool, use a flat-head screwdriver wedged in between the meat and shell to pry them apart. If the liquid from the coconut tasted bitter, it may mean that the coconut meat will not taste very sweet. Just pin this image to one of your cooking tips boards on Pinterest. If you finished hammering your slice rip it off (picture 2 and 3). Seal it in an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator or freezer. I bought 3 on friday from whole foods, opened two and froze the meat and juice separately (you could also blend together and freeze) and then I opened the last one on Sunday night and it was perfect, lots … This might be at a grocery store near you with a great produce section, or perhaps you know of a coconut tree nearby. Use the hammer and nail to pierce a hole in each of the coconut's three "eyes." amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; These areas are usually the weakest. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. For longer storage, grate the whole coconut pieces, squeeze out the liquid and place in the freezer. Copyright & Permissions © 2020 – Carol G Speake. Click to see our Privacy policy. You will know immediately if it is moldy. You can also get special coconut tools that make opening a coconut easy, as well. Storing fresh coconut flesh once you have cracked the coconut is easy. A browner coconut will have more white meat on the inside, while a green coconut will be filled with more electrolyte-filled juice. Give the coconut a good shake, too, to make sure that you hear plenty of water moving around inside the shell. References. Store desiccated and shredded coconut in an airtight container and keep in a cool, dry cupboard. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Coconut milk is not the thin liquid that drains from a fresh coconut when split open; it is made from a process of cooking shredded coconut meat and water. The trick is keeping it cool. You can put the coconut milk in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer as well. dry spot. The coconut you buy in the store is pure white, it does not have brown bits in it. I have updated the post to show how to buy and open a coconut, as well as giving ideas for recipes to use the meat. amzn_assoc_title = ""; Make sure that you have a good selection of coconuts to choose from. Super delicious coconut macaroons handmade from premium flake, non-GMO, organic coconut. I agree with ChefOno, the only way to know is opening up and taking a sniff. What they do is they break a hole on the top of the shell but leave the thin layer of meat unbroken. To make it, just blend 6 tablespoons (88.7 ml) of coconut oil with 4 tablespoons (59.1 ml) of baking powder and 4 tablespoons (59.1 ml) of cornstarch. This happens if you purchase through an affiliate link but the price is the same for you. Look at the eyes of the coconut and find the one which seems to be the softest. Cut it into thin strips and heat it in a skillet over low heat to make “coconut toast.”. Just press the point of the screwdriver into the eye and tap it with a hammer to go through the flesh until you reach the center. You don’t have to make a trip to the tropics to enjoy fresh coconut. This tutorial shows tips for storing fresh coconut as well as how to buy, open, and use the coconut meat in your favorite recipes. Expired food can make you sick. They are available year round, but best from October to December. The flesh is pure coconut heaven. Place the coconut over the glass or bowl, eyes downward, to drain its milk. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. (It will take a while for the liquid to drain from the coconut.). Put the coconut upside down and drain the water. The milk is wonderful as a base of many recipes, including Indian curry dishes. Opening coconuts is not easy and requires great care. If your coconut looks or tastes “off,” do not eat it! Whole Foods sometimes sells opened coconut. someone gave me a coconut which had the shell removed…it was packaged that way. Fresh coconuts have a dark brown outer shell, tasty milk and pure white flesh, (also called coconut meat) that is perfect for all sorts of recipes from savory dishes, to sweet treats. I also like knowing how long they will stay good in the refrigerator, and all the other wonderful hints you gave! It’s simple to do: add several tablespoons of the fresh coconut meat to half a cup of vodka in a small glass container with a tight fitting lid. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Use a screwdriver to gently make a hole in the softest coconut eye and the other two eyes. Place the container into the refrigerator. You can eat it or remove it as desired. In the photo above, the eye on the right side is darker around the edges and looks a bit different. The finished bowl makes a practical vessel for holding dry items, or you can simply preserve it as a decoration. Hope it works. Be sure to leave some room in the container for expansion when freezing. Check them out! The main way for this to happen is for bacteria to get inside the coconut through weaknesses on the end of it, or cracks in the outer shell. Many experts suggest not storing coconut water outside of refrigeration for more than 3 or 4 hours. If you want to learn how to buy and store dried coconut, keep reading the article! Dehydrate the coconut at the lowest setting (I used 95 F) until completely dried. Your email address will not be published. Check the entire coconut for mold, cracks or sogginesss. Cut fresh coconut into chunks and use it to garnish mixed drinks and cocktails. Homemade roasted coconut lasts for two to three months in an airtight container. I love to snack on fresh coconut. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. It will normally pop into two pieces. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 245,410 times. If you want to keep it fresh longer, you can freeze it in ice cube trays or plastic zip lock bags. Their high oil content makes coconuts turn rancid quickly if you do not store them properly. The un-shredded fresh coconut will keep for four to five days. Examine them to make sure that there is no mold or moisture there. But now you have the problem of storing fresh coconut. Examine the other areas of the coconut shell. Fresh un-cracked coconuts can be stored at room temperature for up to four months, but this depends a bit on their original freshness when they were purchased. I am assuming the whole husk is intact, not the coconuts that have had the husk taken off on the top. Are you supposed to eat the fibrous dark brown outside attached to the white coconut flesh? A damp coconut likely means that there is a crack or multiple cracks and the water has started to drain out. Unopened canned coconut can be stored at room temperature for up to 18 months. amzn_assoc_linkid = "c452379e7605eaef92cc6a35553b7854"; These tips will show how to get inside a fresh coconut easily with just a few tools. Do you enjoy cooking with coconut oil? Learn more... Coconut is a delicious and healthy food to eat, whether it’s fresh coconut meat or dried coconut pieces. (**)", http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/perfect_prod_detail.asp?ppid=29, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/how-to-break-down-a-coconut.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85uz6owig-Y, http://thenaughtyvegan.com/how-to-remove-coconut-meat.htm, http://www.eatbydate.com/fruits/fresh/how-long-do-coconuts-last-shelf-life/, http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-coconut-water-273i, http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16916, http://www.thekitchn.com/a-complete-guide-to-storing-your-flour-204729, http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/06/30/coconut-butter-and-coconut-oil/, https://kelapo.com/frequently-asked-questions/, Acquistare e Conservare una Noce di Cocco, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Flaked coconut makes a wonderful addition to frosting recipes, and pieces of fresh coconut make a healthy and nutritious Paleo or Ketogenic snack. You can buy many different kinds of coconut, especially at health food stores that specialize in alternatives to dairy. When you purchase a coconut … It should last for 2-3 weeks in the fridge and 6-8 months in the freezer. How do you keep that delightful, flaky bit of goodness in a state that will stay edible for as long as possible? Check out the rest of our Homemade Veggie and Fruit Chips to Snack on Instead of Potato Chips. The chunks of fresh coconut will keep for four to five days, and shredded fresh coconut will keep for one to two days. This is the hardest part! Admin note: This post first appeared on the blog in August of 2013. Place a whole mature coconut in a preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 15 minutes. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Grated, fresh coconut should be put in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag.
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Mold or wet spots, give that coconut a good shake, too, to the! Turning the coconut upside down and drain the coconut can be annoying, but store... A flat-head screwdriver wedged in between the meat gets thicker as it ages many stores and ’... Team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness when you the... Packaged coconut in the refrigerator refrigerated in an airtight container them to make all of available..., the only way to store some, flaky bit of goodness in a tightly sealed container zip... Have the problem of storing fresh coconut. ) gets thicker as ages! Intact, not cause issues different things - from a year ( used! Often, a store will have more white meat on the outside many... Lot of fiber how to keep whole coconut fresh and turning the coconut while you turn it ll hear the water has started drain!