If youre a person who likes variety in meal toppings or enjoys extra flavorful desserts, you may have a bag or two of shredded coconut tucked away in your kitchen pantry. Over the last few years, coconuts have only grown in popularity, so using a spoonful or two of shredded coconut on your smoothie bowl or plate of Indian curry has become much more common among American foodies. Mordor Intelligence claims the rise of coconut products — including oil, cream, and snack-based products — can largely be attributed to consumers growing adoption of plant-based diets and healthier food choices.
Regardless of why you might be opting for more coconut in your life, there is no denying the fact that coconuts are, in fact, a healthy food. According to Healthline, this creamy white fruit is rich in healthy fat, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals such as manganese, copper, and iron. Its even thought to promote blood sugar control. Yet, with so many packaged coconut options, deciding which type of coconut to buy can be a loaded decision. Before we get into the reasons for choosing one type of coconut over the other, lets first unpack the general differences between dried coconut products.
Sweetened vs. Because of the added sugar, the sweetened coconut will be moister and sweeter. It works best when baking sweet coconut treats. Unsweetened coconut tends to be a bit drier and chewier. It can be a great substitute for baking recipes that already include plenty of sweet ingredients.
The simple answer is that the two are pretty much identical in how they behave in recipes, mixing in easily and adding a nice, chewy texture. You can use these two types of coconut interchangeably in a recipe and get good results. In the event that a specific type is called for in a recipe, I would try to stick with it because the two coconuts taste a bit different and the recipe may very well have taken that into account with the amount of sugar, etc. that is included in the formula. The sweetened coconut has sugar added to it before drying, so it tends to be a bit more moist from the outset, while unsweetened coconut is drier and slightly chewier. There is a small chance that sweetened might be slightly too sweet in a recipe that specifically calls for unsweetened, but the amount of sugar that is in sweetened coconut is unlikely to have a major impact on the overall sweetness of a recipe. If no specific type is called for, you can certainly use what you have on hand or whichever type you personally prefer to work with.
I am a big fan of coconut and use it in recipes whenever I can. I use coconut milk, coconut cream and shredded coconut on a regular basis. Shredded coconut is probably the most commonly used type of coconut when it comes to baking, both because it is widely available and easy to use. There are two types of shredded coconut out there: sweetened and unsweetened. The sweetened coconut has sugar added to it before the fresh coconut is dried, so it is fairly moist and quite sweet, with a strong coconut flavor. Unsweetened coconut is simply dried coconut and it tends to be a bit drier than its sweetened counterpart, as well as milder in flavor.
The most commonly found in grocery stores in my area and in most of the US is sweetened shredded coconut. If a recipe calls for “shredded coconut,” it is safe to assume that they expect you to use sweetened, shredded coconut. That being said, unsweetened coconut is becoming more and more widely available and I often am asked which is better for baking , or whether the two types of coconut can be substituted for one another
Regardless of why you might be opting for more coconut in your life, there is no denying the fact that coconuts are, in fact, a healthy food. According to Healthline, this creamy white fruit is rich in healthy fat, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals such as manganese, copper, and iron. Its even thought to promote blood sugar control. Yet, with so many packaged coconut options, deciding which type of coconut to buy can be a loaded decision. Before we get into the reasons for choosing one type of coconut over the other, lets first unpack the general differences between dried coconut products.
If you still want that one-of-a-kind texture you only get when you buy pre-moistened sweet coconut, the good news is you can have the best of both worlds and make a sweet version right at home. All you really need is unsweetened coconut, sugar, and water to make sweetened coconut without the added preservatives, though some recipes add a bit of canola oil for added moisture and better integration of the sugar. Even if you only make cakes, cookies, and pies, having the option to adjust the sweetness of your recipes is often appreciated so unsweetened coconut may see more regular use in your kitchen.
According to Healthfully, while unsweetened coconut may pack a more considerable punch in the fat department, one serving of unsweetened coconut has more fiber and significantly fewer carbohydrates from sugar than its sweetened counterpart. One other notable difference lies in the varieties toasting capabilities. Sweetened coconut tends to toast much faster than unsweetened coconut – added moisture cooks off and the damp sugar solution begins to break down and caramelize quickly. Now that you know the general differences between shredded coconut varieties, which option is a better buy: sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
Since cost likely wont play a huge factor in your decision-making, consider the variability of each. Sweetened coconut is often relegated to sweeter recipes like Ina Gartens coconut macaroons: the Food Network recipe partially relies on moist coconut to help maintain the treats structure. Unsweetened coconut has a multitude of uses that extend far beyond the realm of desserts. You can sprinkle unsweetened shreds atop any salad or warm soup or even use them as a breading replacement for your favorite coconut shrimp recipe.
If youre a person who likes variety in meal toppings or enjoys extra flavorful desserts, you may have a bag or two of shredded coconut tucked away in your kitchen pantry. Over the last few years, coconuts have only grown in popularity, so using a spoonful or two of shredded coconut on your smoothie bowl or plate of Indian curry has become much more common among American foodies. Mordor Intelligence claims the rise of coconut products — including oil, cream, and snack-based products — can largely be attributed to consumers growing adoption of plant-based diets and healthier food choices.
Compare sweetened coconut vs. unsweetened coconut
FAQ
How do I substitute unsweetened coconut for sweetened?
How do you soften unsweetened coconut?
What kind of coconut is best for baking?
Can I use unsweetened coconut milk instead of sweetened?
Can you use coconut sugar to sweeten unsweetened coconut?
Yes, coconut sugar can be used to sweeten unsweetened coconut. Simply mix the two together until the coconut is sweetened to your liking. Is sweetened coconut the same as coconut flour? No, sweetened coconut and coconut flour are different products.
Can you substitute coconut oil for coconut milk?
In some cases, coconut milk can be replaced by coconut oil. For instance, a cup of coconut milk can be substituted in baking with 1/4 cup of coconut oil + 3/4 cup of liquid. This liquid can come from water, juice or milk alternative.
What can I substitute for unsweetened coconut?
Add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar to each 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut to make up for the loss of sweetness, if needed. If you’re trying avoid sugar, you can substitute a combination of unsweetened coconut and artificial sweetener for sweetened coconut.
What is the difference between sweetened and unsweetened coconut?
Sweetened coconut gets partially dried and mixed with sugar. It is soft and chewy, and is fairly snackable straight from the package (…ahem). Unsweetened coconut gets completely dried. It’s fairly brittle, more finely shredded, and has a longer shelf life. For the most part, this is one ingredient where I think that it’s best to follow the recipe.