The process of finding and choosing a good coconut in your local market can be a challenge. The following will offer tips on how to choose a quality coconut by identifying some key things to look for when selecting a coconut:

• The coconut should be heavy.
• You should hear the coconut juice sloshing back and forth when you shake the coconut. The more “water”, the better.
• Check the “eyes” (the dots / holes at the end of the coconut). They should be sealed and dry and not dark or moldy.
• Choose a coconut with dark shells for best results if planning to prepare coconut milk.
• Test and handle several coconuts so that you can get an idea of the differences.

The next challenge, after selecting a coconut, is opening the coconut. The following page explains how to open a coconut:
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/crackcoc.html

Note that when you crack open the coconut, the meat should be white (not yellow) and firm. The coconut water / coconut juice should be clear.

Fresh coconuts that have not been cracked open will keep at room temperature for one to two months (note that, due to the length of delivery, coconuts in your stores may already be somewhat aged).

Fresh grated coconut meat can be kept for 5 to 7 days in an airtight plastic bag or container when refrigerated. Freeze, if not using within that time, and it will keep up to 6 months. Use the fresh coconut water or processed coconut milk within 2 days, storing in refrigerator. Dried coconut should also be kept in the refrigerator and used within a month.

Coconuts (and their products, coconut oil, coconut milk, etc) have many notable diet and health benefits including reportedly helping with weightloss by boosting metabolism and energy, providing support to the immune system, assisting in many skin problems, and helping to support thyroid and other organ functions. In addition to being very nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, coconuts supposedly offer antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial protections.