How to Dry Coconut

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 References

You can use dried coconut in place of fresh in baked goods, such as cookies or cakes, as well as savory recipes, such as coconut shrimp. The advantage to dried coconut is that it stores longer than fresh, which means you can keep it on hand in case you need it. You can buy dried coconut in the bakery section of most grocery stores but you can also make your own dry coconut flakes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Oven drying

1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
2
Drill the coconut through the eyes using a 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) drill bit. Pour the coconut water into a dish or cup. The water should be clear. Cloudy or colored water means the coconut is bad. You can discard the water or drink it if desired.^{[1]
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3
Put the coconut directly on the rack in the preheated oven. Heat the coconut for 20 minutes.
4
Remove the coconut from the oven and wrap it in a towel, creating a sack. Hold the end of the towel to keep the coconut stable and hit the coconut several times with a hammer to break it up.
5
Pry the flesh out of the coconut with a strong knife, such as a paring knife. The flesh may have a thin brown skin attached from where it was touching the shell. Remove the skin with a vegetable peeler.^{[2]
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6
Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C).
7
Shred the coconut pieces in a food processor and spread them onto a cookie sheet. Dry the coconut in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.^{[3]
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8
Let cool and transfer the dried coconut to an airtight container. Store the coconut in a cool, dry place.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Dehydrating

1
Bust up the coconut with a hammer.^{[4]
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2
Peel the innards out of the coconut.
3
Use a cheese grater to grate the flesh. use the coarse side of the grater.
4
If you want the dried coconut to be a little sweet, put some sugar on it (1 - 2 teaspoons).
5
Dehydrate for about 8 hours at 135 degrees F.^{[5]
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6
Bag the dried coconut. Use an airtight container or an airtight resealable bag.

Community Q&A

Question

How can dried coconut be used in making coconut oil?

Community Answer

Most dry coconut powder sold in the market will already have its oils removed by centrifuging. Even if you manage to find coconut powder which still has the oil, it will require industrial equipment (a centrifuge).
Question

Can I dry the coconut in direct sunlight? Any side effects of this method?

Community Answer

You can but the sun's UV rays will "remove" most of the nutritional value.
Question

I live in the tropics and am surrounded by coconut trees. I need to dry them for making oil. When and how is the best technique for picking and storing to dry?

Community Answer

You can't get oil out of dried coconuts, they need to be spun in a centrifuge within a few hours of picking and opening. Ripe opened coconut goes bad very quickly in tropical heat, it needs to be shredded and spun as soon as possible. You can use the shredded coconut to dry out afterward for desserts, etc., but it won't have any oils left after going through the centrifuge.