The storage life of a coconut can be based on some simple points:
- Since when they got picked from the tree,
- The time is taken to trade it to the market and then you,
- At last, how will you store them?
Can Coconuts Go Bad?
Coconuts name confused people about if it is a fruit or a nut? Coconut is a fruit. It is full of nutrients and fiber. They are mostly available in two packages, whole coconut or powdered.
Coconut is often said to a full of life. Coconuts are used in so many ways for example as a drink, food, utensils, fiber, medicinal purposes, and fuel.
What is Coconut Flour?
It is very popular as it is often used as a replacement. It is used specifically for baking purposes. It is chosen by people who are strictly following the keto diet plan for people with intestinal disease, gluten sensitivity, or any allergic reactions to others products. Additionally, it is loaded in fat, fiber, oils, and it is very simple to consume in any recipe.
However, coconut has “nut” in its name but the coconut flour doesn’t contain any nut in its flour as almond flour. The coconut flour is created from the pulpy white part of the coconut.
It is dried and then coconut pulp gets grind into a smooth powder-like flour. The white pulp of coconut also produces cream and milk.
After the extract of coconut produces milk, now from the leftover part you can get the chance to make it from the pulpy part. Blend it properly to gain a smooth and fine flour.
In this process, you can make 2 forms from this.
- Coconut Powder
- Coconut Flour
What is the Difference Between Them?
Coconut powder is coconut milk extracted from coconut white. It is then dehydrated to form it in powder. Coconut powder is added in many recipes when mixing it in the batter.
Coconut flour is used as a substitute for other flour which contains grains such as wheat flour other flours. It is made from the white part of coconut after extraction of the milk in it. This part is now dried and when grinding it in thin powder form.
Content and its Texture:
- Coconut flour contains a fibery texture. Coconut flour has a fibery texture gives a crumbly and scratchy texture. This texture sometimes doesn’t support some recipes because it looks crumbly and unattractive.
- Coconut powder gives a smooth and creamy texture to the recipe. When tasting any recipe made from it, you will feel as if you are tasting something soft, delicious, and creamy.
How To Tell If The Flour is Bad?
- Rough and Clumpy flour
- Smells weird
- Tiny insects can be seen in the flour
- Sour and bitter
These bad signs start to show up when the flour is almost near to its best before date or we can say expiry date.
Foulness or fungus is the final and unavoidable sign of coconut flour or other types of flour. It is very important to store it safely. You can even freeze it.
The rancidness causes a bad smell that we might hate. It may change the taste eventually. If insects in the flour then definitely they made clumps.
If they are tiny and a few to be seen then you can simply filter the flour and it can be still used normally.
Keeping the flour in the freezer may last longer but still, it will have an expiry date. After an extinct, the flour will slowly lose its worth, taste, and smell.
In the end, coconut flour is healthy and beneficial for health-conscious people. It is perfect to consume instantly. However, It provides you delicious recipe or dish that is full of nutrients and how can we forget that it is a great substitute for other grain flours.
What Does Coconut Flour Taste Like?
Coconut flour has a sweet, fine taste that is markable. Coconut tastes a bit different to some who are not used to the taste of it otherwise if you are a coconut lover you will never feel any difference in its taste.
Like coffee, papaya, bananas, cacao are strong flavors far different from coconut flavor. Coconut flavor will not be as prominent as compared to other strong flavors but it has a nice and fine flavor that you can recognize well.
Coconut Flour Used For The Baking Purpose:
In common measures of coconut flour, add 3 or 4 tablespoons in one cup of other flour to mix as in almond flour or grain flour. This may vary from recipe to recipe if you are being creative in the kitchen and want to discover new recipes or a twist in recipes.
Coconut flour is dry in texture. So, you will need to add it in any liquid or mix it in any liquid item such as Eggs and milk. Eggs are mostly consumed in baking recipes along with coconut flour.
They are perfect together as Egg provides moisture when baking any recipe. Some other moisture makers include milk, butter, oil, mashed fruit, yogurt, and vinegar, etc.
How Long Does Coconut Flour Last?
As compared to the other flours like grain or wheat flour, coconut flour may not last long. Containing rich oils and nutrients making it elegant but they are the main factor that leads to its rancidness after some time.
Generally, coconut flour is perfectly good for about 12 to 16 months since its production. The expiry date or we can say the expiry date given on the label of the package should be seen keenly.
This tells you that this product will remain good till the given date. This information should be observed at the time of purchase or just before opening to make sure to use it in time.
Properly stored items lead to remain their quality and long life. Any product mishandled or mistreated may end getting rancid much before its expiry date.
Coconut flour made in home remains fresh for up to 2 weeks at normal temperature. It remains fresh when kept in the refrigerator for 2 months or more. Make sure the lid is tight after every use to maintain its quality for a long time.
Coconut flour bought in packaged form from the nearest store should be consumed within the time given as the expiry date. Consuming anything within the given date on the label doesn’t exactly denote that it fouls immediately after that date. It means that it may not remain as fresh as it was at the time of manufacture.
How Long Does Coconut Powder Last?
A sealed packing of coconut flour may stay good for many months or nearly a year if properly stored in the refrigerator.
Once the seal is opened, coconut flour is supposed to be consumed before its expiry date otherwise it can go bad.
If properly stored it should be consumed within 3 to 6 months. When buying or consuming always check the date, its quality, nutritions level. If not checked on the time it may not end up with your wanted results.
What is Coconut Powder?
Coconut powder is added in many recipes when mixing it in the batter.
It may be suitable for people who consume gluten-free, anti-allergic food choices. It is ideal because it doesn’t contain gluten and allergic components as compared to the other food items.
It’s rich in nutrients, fats and it is naturally a healthy food proven. Coconut powder also balances blood pressure and sugar level in your body.
Coconut powder containing these qualities makes it the best of all.
Does Coconut Flour Go Bad?
It is proven bad at many stages. Coconut flour goes bad indeed. As a matter of fact, This lasts not long, compared with the other flours and it can degrade its quality very rapidly.
Opened sealed coconut flour doesn’t last very long. It remains perfect in the cupboard and,
- 3 to 6 months when kept in the fridge
- 6 to 12 months when frozen before its best before date.
- 3 to 6 when seal packed coconut flour
- 6 to 12 months when in the pantry
- 12-24 months when frozen after the due date.
Coconut flour is a bit sensitive to other grain flours but it is similar to almond flour because fats and oils in it contribute to give reaction when getting in contact with air and start the process to get rancid.
There is an obvious difference between the expiry dates of coconut flour and other grain flours.
Rancid flour loses its quality goes critically down. Moreover, foods that go rancid reduce their nutritional value. It may cause any harm to you in some ways.
In these cases, it is better to buy another pack of coconut flour and dispose of it without knowing how it will affect your body or will it show any allergic reactions.
Coconut flour shelf life?
The storage life will keep the Coconut Flour perfectly fine is up to 1 year. This means that we guarantee about the product’s life if you don’t take care of the product it will leave its best state maybe before the expiry date. Coconut flour if rancid can affect the taste and smell of your recipe is added to the recipe before checking it.
How To Store Coconut Flour?
Some common guidelines are typically the same as the other flours, like almond flour.
You should keep seal-packed coconut flour in a dry and cool place. Place it in your cupboard or pantry, somewhere away from direct sunlight and heat
Once opened, tightly sealed the pack if necessary, or you can pour the flour in any other jar or container, the container must be airtight. If it is homemade coconut flour then store it in an airtight jar or container.
If you don’t want to finish it immediately then store it in the fridge or freeze it.
How Long is Coconut Water Good For After Opening?
Coconut flour contains oil that allows the oxidation process to occur and causes the product to go foul rapidly. A bad smell from your flour denotes it has become rancid and it is time to discharge it. If still used then it will ruin your recipe.
Coconut flour contains fiber that allows moisture to get soaked very quickly. If the moisture gets absorbed in the flour, clumps will be seen in the flour visibly.
Some common signs:
- Molds in the flour
- Bugs or tiny insects to be seen,
- Weird smell
If any of these signs are seen you must discharge it immediately or it may harm you if consumed by mistake.
Conclusion
Coconut flour is good for some health-conscious people because it is full of nutrients but keep it in mind to consume it in its properly edible condition soon.
However, coconut flour is a good substitute for other flour when added to any recipe. It provides a soft and creamy taste to recipes.
