Coconut water is that clear liquid that you can find in immature coconuts. As the coconut matures, the water inside it is replaced by meat.
Coconut water has many nutritional benefits such as carbohydrates and electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
While it is nutritious, keep in mind that too much of something is bad regardless of how many benefits it possesses.
Let’s take a look if coconut ever goes bad.
Read on.
Factors That Affect Coconut Water Spoilage
Factors such as coconut water type, storage conditions, and the amount of time since it was opened all have an impact on the shelf life of your coconut water.
You can drink coconut water past the best-by date if it has not been opened. Once you have opened any coconut water container, it lasts up to 3 days, provided that it has been stored properly. Coconut water eventually goes bad, but you can store it for up to 12 months in an unopened container as long as it is stored cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. If it is kept cool, it may take months to spoil, for instance, but if it is been exposed to high temperatures for too long, the beverage will spoil in just a couple of days.
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If you notice strong, foul-smelling, frothing, acidic tastes and a thickening texture, your pack of coconut water is no longer fit to consume, and you should throw it out. If the water is not clear and has a cloudy texture, then it is not safe to consume anymore. Finally, if the flavor is somewhat acidic, rather than sweet and coconut, that means it has started deteriorating in quality. You can always tell when spoilage is happening, as it loses that deliciously fresh, lightly sweet taste, becoming watery and acidic.
| Storage | Shelf life |
| Unopened | 12 months |
| Opened | 3 days |
How to Choose a Good Coconut?
When choosing any coconut, always look for any cracks, black spots, or soft spots on the green exterior shell, and if you find any, do not waste time or energy cracking it open, because your efforts are more than likely to be rewarded with something that tastes acidic and is unappetizing.
The coconut’s mild flavor will add a refreshing note to your beverage, while still retaining its distinctive flavor. Coconut milk is another story, and coconut milk has a relatively strong sweetness mixed with a floral aroma and a robust, nutty flavor from coconut. This is because it is nearly identical to salt water, and if you extract it straight from the coconut’s heart, it is going to do wonders.
Nutritional Benefits of Coconut Water
Coconut water contains phosphorus, which builds bones, teeth, and DNA; iron, which helps carry oxygen around the body; calcium, which helps build stronger teeth and bones; magnesium, which helps regulate muscle contractions; and zinc, which helps with cell growth. Another added blood sugar benefit of coconut water is that it is a great source of magnesium, which can help those with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes to improve their insulin sensitivity and lower their blood sugar levels. According to medical studies, coconut water is helpful for lowering cardiovascular risk, as it contains lots of lauric acid and potassium, both of which are extremely good for those who have high blood pressure.
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Coconut Water After Workout
Drinking coconut water after a hard workout, particularly a long race such as a marathon, as it contains a proper balance of all of the necessary electrolytes that our bodies need to rehydrate and recover. While it is tedious, plain water is going to be a better choice for anyone looking to stay hydrated during their run. The active electrolytes found in coconut, like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, help to replace the water and electrolytes lost in the process of exercising (3), thus limiting nausea and bloating that can occur.
If you wish to store it for later consumption, you should strain the water through a cheesecloth-lined strainer after opening the coconut, and put the water into an airtight container freezer-safe. Once you open the coconut without drinking the water, you must put the coconut in the fridge right away. If you wish to store the coconut meat, slice it into manageable pieces that will fit into a sealed Ziploc bag or Tupperware container before placing it in the freezer. You might be tempted to simply throw a coconut into the freezer rather than going through the process of draining water and scraping the flesh off.
Other Variations of Coconut Water/Juice
There are a lot of brands, in various different packing methods (bottle, tetra pack, coconut) and each has its shelf life.
It is generally best to track the “use-by” date, as the different brands and types will have varying durations. It is always best to keep track of This date as different brands and types will have either a longer or shorter date. Many people will take one look at the date printed on a coconut bottle or carton and wonder.
If you are not planning on finishing your bottles on the day that you open them, you are better off keeping them refrigerated so that they keep their quality. The quality of unopened coconut water bottles quickly degrades after just 3 to 5 days after opening a bottle in the fridge, whereas it only lasts for a few hours at room temperature. Also, with canned/bottle-style coconut water, the shelf life may extend beyond the best-by date of 6 months due to certainly added preservatives.
While every coconut water product is different when it comes to its shelf life, it is best to watch out for changes in color, odor, taste, or texture in order to know whether it is safe to consume your coconut water. Some brands add preservatives to water in order to keep it shelf-stable, whereas others are going additive-free, often requiring you to keep your product refrigerated. The refrigerated versions are put in the freezer, by all means, and the Tetra packs are shelf-stable, so that is how you would want to store them, too. If the coconut milk drinks are close to or past their expiration dates, always check for signs of spoilage before drinking.
Some of the liquid remains young when growing, which takes about 10 to 12 months, and the remainder matures to the solid white flesh known as coconut flesh. The liquid endosperm gradually turns to solid endosperm as soon as the coconut matures (1). If you notice the coconut has eyes-like holes at the ends of its stalks, this is the place for molds, and bacteria to grow.
What Happens if you Drink Bad Coconut Water?
As the sugars ferment, coconut water will start to taste awful, so you’ll know when it’s bad. Even then, it won’t actually be dangerous to your health until it is polluted because it will just convert into vinegar, which is what it already tastes like. The alcohol content in coconuts increases with time.
How can you tell if Coconut Water is Bad?
Coconut water that has just been opened has a delightfully sweet scent and a cooling nutty flavor. The coconut water will alter in color, fragrance, or appearance if it has gone bad. Get rid of the liquid if the fragrance is overpowering or if the consistency is a bit thick.
What Color Should Coconut Water be?
Coconut water ought to be transparent and white when first extracted from the coconut fruit. But if you get a coconut water bottle, it ought to be pink. You shouldn’t rely on white coconut water that has been bottled; the light pink tint is a natural necessity after processing coconut water.
Conclusion
Coconut water goes bad after opening and thus should be consumed right away, or it can be stored in the fridge for up to two days maximum. The canned and bottled varieties can be typically stored for up to 12 months.
Proper storage and consumption of coconut water ensure that you still get the nutritional contents that it boasts.
Start sipping this nutritional and tropical fruit and experience its filling effects, but be sure to avoid those varieties that undergo some process and has sugar added to it.