| Pantry | Fridge | Frezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Shell | 2-3 Weeks | 2 Months | - |
| Green Husk | 1 Month | 2 Months | - |
The shelf life of Coconut:
Coconut is usually used in the shredded and dried form. First, it’s shredded and then dried, although it can be dried as a whole, that’s quite a time-consuming process. The shredded form is obtained by different types of methods, and that’s one of the elements that suggest the shelf life of coconut. On the counter, it can live up to 4-6 months without going rancid, and if you are preserving it in the refrigerator or a freezer, it can last for 8-10 months without showing any signs of spoilage.
Purchasing Coconut:
While purchasing coconut, there aren’t many specifications to be taken care of. It comes in a grated or shredded form, so it totally depends on your purpose of buying. It must always be purchased from a reliable superstore. While buying it, you must look up for the preservative used in it. The preservative should be safe from health point of view. Since coconut is fiber-rich, the fiber content should be higher to meet your requirements.
Storing Coconut:
Fresh coconuts may go rancid within days because of the water present in it. The water is prone to bacterial growth and oxidation so make sure your product is majorly moisture free or with less moisture content. On the contrary, dried coconut is already in desiccated form so it can be stored under normal conditions for a long time.
If you wish to preserve it for the longer time period, it must be stored in a refrigerator in an air-tight jar. At lower temperature, the bacteria are less likely to attack the product. If your coconut isn’t white and changes its color from white to yellow or gives off a bad odor, it’s unhealthy to use.
Handling Coconut:
Handling of coconut is no hard nut to crack. If you have refrigerated it and wished to use it, it is first thawed or brought back to room temperature and then used. If it is to be used in cooking, it can be added as such. In case of any indication of rancidity, it is highly prohibited. Clumping of your grated coconut is another indication of it being unfit for use.
Cooking with Coconut:
Since coconut is rich in dietary fibers, it is exceedingly used in cooking. Being sweet in taste, it is mostly used in deserts and sweet delights. Grated coconut adds up to the garnishing of any sweet dish. You can even make coconut milk with it by adding appropriate amounts of milk and water and by bringing it to boiling point results in the production of highly rich coconut milk.
You can add up oats, raisins, and coconut to make a scrumptious Coconut granola that’s not only tasty but could prove to be a highly enriched snack. Adding dried coconut to your food could make you meet your daily requirement of fibers as well as minerals. If the good taste of coconut alone isn’t convincing you to use it, then its nutritious value might do the job for you.