I’ll admit it: I tried to develop a taste for coconut water, and I just couldn’t do it. I know it’s healthy and wonderful and all, I just… don’t like it. To drink, that is. I discovered that I can bake with it—happily!—and get all of that extra natural vitamin/mineral boost into the snacks my kids love without anyone being the wiser. It’s a beautiful thing.
Right now Amazon is offering a 20% off select Vita Coco products coupon, and if you actually drink the stuff, be my guest and enjoy. If you don’t, though, I’d recommend snagging the 6-pack of 33.8 ounce cartons for use in cooking; it’s the best deal per ounce (save 20% with the clipped coupon, then another 15% and shipping when you buy via Subscribe & Save), and the least amount of packaging waste.
Also, the potential for “that’s a lovely bunch of coconuts” jokes here is unlimited. Just sayin’.
Just curious. What kind of recipes do you use? I, too, tried it and didn’t see the appeal but would be open to trying it as an ingredient.
Susan: I tend to bake a lot of mini-muffins for the kids (good lunchbox snacks, easy to freeze/defrost), and I use it as liquid in those. During the school year they’re mostly some banana variant but right now, for example, I’m baking lots of zucchini breads (my garden is going nuts) so I use it in those. It holds up particularly well in heartier recipes (ones with rolled oats/oat bran), I think.
The few times I buy a whole coconut, I never can resist drinking the coconut water, nasty as it is . . just because it’s there? so the water tastes like a light, refreshing version of that for me. But I do believe it’s an acquired taste!
I’m with you, Mir. My husband has tried a few times to get me hooked on it, as I have an illness that makes me easily susceptible to dehydration, but it just makes me want to gag….sorry to say. But I never thought of cooking with it. Great idea. Thanks.