Where do you buy dried coconut?

[Taedareth]

Where do you get your dried, shredded coconut and how much do you pay per pound?

Also, do you think it's cheaper to make your own coconut milk from the dried coconut, or is it cheaper to buy it in cans (our Asian grocery store has cans for about 99 cents apiece.)

Is gluten commonly added to dried coconut as an anti-caking agent, btw? Since gluten doesn't have to be listed on the label, I just want to be careful (for DH's sake since he's a celiac). Thanks!

[guestmama9904]

i have never seen it in cans, is that for sure dried shredded coconut? not condensed coconut powder or something?

anyways, i pay 2.29 per lb at my local hfs or my local big box store in the bulk section. the ingredients simply say shredded coconut and maybe it is sulferized, but it does not state gluten.

[sixgifts]

We order our's online at wildernessfamily.com. I can't remember the price right now, but we order the dehydrated and lightly sweetened type in bulk so we can get the cheapest price per pound. It's very good. We use it in trail mix and sprinkle in on oatmeal. You could email or call them and ask them about the gluten thing. They are easy to contact.

[quietserena]

I get it from the bins at the health food store. No idea on price though, I just ran out and threw away the bag with the tag.

I've found that the cheapest regarding coconut milk is to use creamed coconut. Either Cococnut Cream Concentrate from TT or that Creamed Coconut stuff from Let's Go Organic though I think that's more expensive. I've started to be worried about cocout milk in cans because I've not been able to find anything cheap that doesn't have a bunch of stabilizers and such.

Oh, no idea on gluten but I'll ask the mom of the one of the kids I babysit. She's gluten free (allergy though, not celiac) and she's likely to know.

[Taedareth]

Good info, thanks ladies!

Do you think it would be cheaper to buy the good quality dehydrated flakes from someplace like Wilderness Family Naturals (about $6/lb) or to get a coconut shredding device and buy fresh coconuts to grind into flakes?

Edit: About that coconut shredding device - Wilderness Family says they're no longer stocking them (although they hope to find a new supplier at some point). Doh.

[Leilalu]

I get mine at Azure

[Taedareth]

How much do you pay at Azure and how is their dried coconut processed?



Interesting quote from Wilderness Family's website about the quality of their flaked coconut versus what you may find elsewhere:

Most shredded, dried coconut available on line and in health food stores is actually desiccated coconut, which has less flavor. Chlorinated water is used to clean and sterilize the coconuts once they are opened and peeled. The coconut meat is grated, often lightly pressed to remove some of the milk (moisture) and the it is dried in huge ovens at temperataures between 170°-180° F (76°-82° C). This coconut tastes kind of like coconut flavored cardboard.

The coconut sold in grocery store is simply the above dessicated coconut soaked in corn syrup, propylene glycol and sodium metabisulfate to preserve it.

We are excited to now offer a low temperature dehydrated coconut that tastes absolutely wonderful....

We start with organic coconuts grown in the beautiful, tropical Philippine Islands. The coconut is removed from the shells, and washed in pure, filtered water (no chlorine is present). The coconut is then shredded and slowly dehydrated at 98.6° F (37° C). Because we dehydrate the coconut at such a low temperature, the enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and life force are all preserved. The result is shredded, raw coconut that tastes great, has a wonderful texture, and contains the health benefits of our raw coconut oil...

We offer raw, dehydrated coconut flakes in two versions: unsweetened and lightly sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice.

[cristeen]

I pay $1.99/lb if I buy it in bulk at the produce stand about an hour from my house. If I buy it locally, I usually get 10 oz/$2.19, or if I have to buy Bob's Red Mill it's a bit more. All of this is unsweetened, none of it is organic.

If you're concerned about either the additives in canned coconut milk or the lining of the cans, I would definitely make it myself. I really should, since we use a lot of it, but have been pretty lazy and just buying cans.

I do know you can also buy the coconut concentrate and just add water to get the coconut milk, that may be cheaper.

[Leilalu]

here is mine:
http://www.azurestandard.com/product.php?id=BP257

I guess I never really thought about it
I have no idea how they process it. I don't think the new site tells you...

Originally Posted by Taedareth

How much do you pay at Azure and how is their dried coconut processed?



Interesting quote from Wilderness Family's website about the quality of their flaked coconut versus what you may find elsewhere:

Most shredded, dried coconut available on line and in health food stores is actually desiccated coconut, which has less flavor. Chlorinated water is used to clean and sterilize the coconuts once they are opened and peeled. The coconut meat is grated, often lightly pressed to remove some of the milk (moisture) and the it is dried in huge ovens at temperataures between 170°-180° F (76°-82° C). This coconut tastes kind of like coconut flavored cardboard.

The coconut sold in grocery store is simply the above dessicated coconut soaked in corn syrup, propylene glycol and sodium metabisulfate to preserve it.

We are excited to now offer a low temperature dehydrated coconut that tastes absolutely wonderful....

We start with organic coconuts grown in the beautiful, tropical Philippine Islands. The coconut is removed from the shells, and washed in pure, filtered water (no chlorine is present). The coconut is then shredded and slowly dehydrated at 98.6° F (37° C). Because we dehydrate the coconut at such a low temperature, the enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and life force are all preserved. The result is shredded, raw coconut that tastes great, has a wonderful texture, and contains the health benefits of our raw coconut oil...

We offer raw, dehydrated coconut flakes in two versions: unsweetened and lightly sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice.