How can I tell if a young coconut is bad?

[Shoshannah]

I love young coconuts and have bought many. Unfortunately, while some are excellent, others leave much to be desired. I have wasted so much money on coconuts that look great only to find them full of brownish water and the flesh a sickly, thin grey color.

Any hints on what to look for to avoid this? I get them at our organic food co-op-- maybe an Asian market would be better?

[barose]

This is how I buy them (not sure about anyone else)

• Make sure they are refrigerated at the store - a few of the stores I've seen (Berkeley Whole Foods included) do not refrigerate them and they should be
• Make sure they don't have mold anywhere on it
• Make sure they don't have deep cuts or splits
• Make sure they are not turning gray or brown

I haven't brought them at an Asian market yet, but I get them at our local large produce store; in this case its Berkeley Bowl and I haven't gotten a bad one yet.

[Ama]

I've never had a bad young coconut but I have had some REALLY young ones that were a purplish tint - almost translucent and you can see the shell because there isn't a lot of meat there. These are fine. There is hardly and meat at all and it isn't solid, more of a jelly kind of consistency. If the water or meat is brown I'd chuck it. That doesn't sound good at all.

barose gave you some good advice. Make sure to look at the bottom of the coconut (the flat part). That is where it tends to mold or get purple/bluish/blackish dots.

[barose]

Make sure to look at the bottom of the coconut (the flat part). That is where it tends to mold or get purple/bluish/blackish dots.

So true! They could look fine on top but have spots on the bottom.

[RowanC]

The young coconuts I've bought in portland at the coop, at natural food stores, from stands in the caribbearn or at the asian markets are NEVER refrigerated.. never.

They are stacked up on the display.

I never refrigerate them at home, either, until they've been opened. Then I just leave the "lid" on them and keep them in the fridge until next day. Rarely does one stay more than 24 hours w/o being used.

If the meat is light grey, purple, brownish or white, it's still good unless it stinks. Your nose will tell you. They vary. I've checked this several times with both my asian daughter in law and her mother and with my produce managers. So... as long as they smell fresh, I eat them and so far, I'm alive.

That's all I can tell you, is my own experience.

[barose]

The young coconuts I've bought in portland at the coop, at natural food stores, from stands in the caribbearn or at the asian markets are NEVER refrigerated.. never.

.

I think (the bolded part) is key. I mean, its not like it has to go very far in the Caribbean. The ones in the Asian markets I've seen (at least in the Chinatowns we have) have been refrigerated. I just haven't purchased one yet. So strange you've never seen one that was refergrated because half of the ones I buy that are not taste spoiled (but not brown). It could be just age.

[Davylp25]

My whole foods place never has them refrigerated. When I pick them, I make sure to look at the bottom, I make sure it's not soft, purple tint, or with tons of slits. I make sure its firm and white.

I have purchased up to 14 at a time of these Young's and had no problems. But when I first started purchasing them, never checking the bottoms etc I didn't know, and at times the water would be sour, the meat purple-ish. Yuck.

And some of the times it's just the luck of the draw, they may look great, but taste sour. That is rare for me though. But it can happen.

But once I get them I always store mine in the fridge. Always. Like them cold. Yum!

[RawVee]

There's no need to refrigerate unopened Thai coconuts. Just as you can leave oranges, apples, mangoes, etc. out on the kitchen counter, you can do the same with the 'nuts. The water won't go bad--a coconut's natural state of existence isn't in a refrigerated climate, but rather a tropical one.

When you buy them, look for moisture and mold under the plastic wrapping and avoid those. Press on the flat bottom with your thumb; if it's really spongy and soft, pass on it. Bottoms should be firm and resilient to the touch.

:)

[Dj 247]

There's no need to refrigerate unopened Thai coconuts. Just as you can leave oranges, apples, mangoes, etc. out on the kitchen counter, you can do the same with the 'nuts. The water won't go bad--a coconut's natural state of existence isn't in a refrigerated climate, but rather a tropical one.

When you buy them, look for moisture and mold under the plastic wrapping and avoid those. Press on the flat bottom with your thumb; if it's really spongy and soft, pass on it. Bottoms should be firm and resilient to the touch.

:)

Bottoms should be firm and resilient to the touch? My bottom is some where between a good coconut and one you should pass on! Ha Ha! I could not resist.

[RawVee]

Bottoms should be firm and resilient to the touch? My bottom is some where between a good coconut and one you should pass on! Ha Ha! I could not resist.

ROFLMBO

Thanks, Dj. I needed that. :)

[Shoshannah]

Wow ladies,
Thanks for all the great replies! I wonder if mine are really bad after all-- the meat is thin and gray, almost like a gelatin consistency. The water appears brownish gray, but doesn't have any foul odor.

Perhaps I am just being a bit too picky and hasty in labelling the less than perfect ones as "bad". Maybe I will give them a try--I work out on a treadmill for an hour an day and rehydrate with the coconut water afterwards...it is absolutely the best sports drink ever!

[RowanC]

I live in Portland, Oregon and you will not find the young thai coconuts refrigerated at People's coop (when they carry them), at Whole Foods, at the very LARGE Uwajimaya asian food market in Beaverton, at Wild Oats, or at New Seasons market.

[barose]

I live in Portland, Oregon and you will not find the young thai coconuts refrigerated at People's coop (when they carry them), at Whole Foods, at the very LARGE Uwajimaya asian food market in Beaverton, at Wild Oats, or at New Seasons market.

I guess Portland is better.