Coconut Water

• The coconut is called the tree of life for its many beneficial uses. Coconuts are the seeds of coconut palms. In some growing regions people drink the liquid directly out of green coconuts with straws. Coconut liquid is mainly water. It has a delicate coconut flavor and tends to be slightly tart. Unlike coconut milk, which is made with the liquid and meat from mature coconut, coconut water doesn't have a significant amount of fat. Choose a green coconut for its light flavor and generous amount of liquid.

Young Coconuts

• Young coconuts, also called green coconuts, are so full of liquid that there's no water sound when you handle them. Their flesh is soft, with a subtle flavor and puddinglike texture. On the fifth day of storage at room temperature, the liquid in unopened partially de-husked young coconuts -- 7 months old -- became noticeably bad tasting, according to research published in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of Food Science and Technology." Refrigerate any leftover young coconut liquid immediately because it's vulnerable to spoilage. The liquid and soft flesh of young coconuts lasts only a day in the refrigerator once you open the shell.

Mature Coconuts

• Mature coconuts have less liquid than young coconuts and their flesh becomes firm. The rich, nutlike flavor increases as it matures. A mature coconut has a brown husk, not green, and the liquid sloshes when you handle it. The flesh of an opened mature coconut keeps well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. As with young coconuts, it's best to drink or refrigerate the liquid as soon as you open the shell. Unopened coconuts will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Freshness Factors

• Growers often partially or fully remove the husks from coconuts in a process called de-husking. The husk, a thick, fibrous mass that covers the shell, insulates and protects the coconut. It also slows spoilage. Liquid in a partially or fully de-husked coconut deteriorates faster than in one with a full husk. Keep coconuts refrigerated to keep them fresh longer. Throw out any coconut liquid that's been left unrefrigerated more than 2 hours. Bacteria that cause illness grow rapidly, and neither heating nor freezing can kill them. The liquid might be bad even if it doesn't smell or taste bad.