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How does a coconut Harden?
Ripening Process As the young coconut matures, the coconut juice slowly solidifies, creating a thin layer of white flesh, or “meat,” around the inside of the coconut. Soft at first, the meat of the coconut gradually hardens as more and more of the coconut juice dries.
Is soft coconut meat bad?
The young coconut will be more like the king coconut – lots of coconut water, only a small amount of gelatinous translucent meat. More mature coconut will have less coconut water and more meat. The coconut meat at all stages is perfectly safe to eat, and the coconut water at all stages is perfectly safe to drink.
Is coconut meat supposed to be hard?
The meat of the ripe coconut is firm but moist, sweet and nutritous. It is easily ‘snapped’ out of the shell with a knife blade or grated out with a hard coconut inner shell with some teeth cut into it.
What happens when you boil coconut meat?
By boiling a coconut, you extract lauric acid as well as the sweet taste of coconut milk. Strike the middle of the coconut with the meat cleaver. The coconut should split in half. Because the shell of the coconut is extremely hard, it may take a few tries to crack it open.
Does coconut meat need to be refrigerated?
Keep coconut in the fridge Keep in mind that you can separate the water from the coconut meat, and keep both in the fridge. You will have to use airtight containers for both. Fresh coconut meat ca last 3-4 days in the fridge, while coconut water can last 2-3 days before turning funky.
Why is some coconut meat soft?
Young coconuts: Sealed in plastic wrap, their husks are shaved down to look like off-white huts, cylindrical on the bottom half and shaved to a pyramid point at the top. The coconut’s immature exterior is penetrable, and the flesh is still soft.
Can you eat soft coconut meat?
This young coconut meat is different from the firm, opaque white flesh found in mature coconuts, which are brown with hairy shells. However, you can still eat young coconut meat on its own, on a salad or in other dishes.
How do you cook with coconut meat?
How to Use Coconut Meat
- Blend into to smoothies and smoothie bowls.
- Cut into chunks and add to stir-fries and stews.
- Fold pieces into cooked grains.
- Make coconut bacon/jerky.
- Use as a garnish.
- Blend into dips and spreads.
- Make it into dairy-free cheese.
- Make shredded coconut (see instructions below)
How do you soften a coconut?
To rehydrate desiccated coconut, boil 1″ water in a 14″ flat-bottom wok fitted with an 11″ bamboo steamer. Spread a layer of coconut in a 9″ pie plate and place the plate in the steamer base. Cover and steam the coconut, stirring occasionally, until it is moist and fluffy, about 10 minutes.