My daughter loves coconut so I am always coming up with new recipes that contain her favorite ingredient. I make a mean coconut fried shrimp, a delicious coconut chicken and of course the ever favorite coconut cream pie.
I also use coconut as a coating when I’m making one of my fruit bouquets. Nothing looks prettier on a white chocolate covered strawberry.
I admit that I am a bit particular when it comes to my coconut. I want it as white as possible, as flaky as it can be and, of course, perfectly delicious. That is why I often turn to Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut.
Their coconut is sweet, flaky, light and beautiful. It just really doesn’t come much better!
It can be easily toasted by spreading the coconut in a baking pan and placing it a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. I do suggest stirring it frequently in order to get an even, rich brown color.
Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut can also be colored. Simply use one or two drops of food coloring for each cup of coconut. Also add in about ½ teaspoon of water to maintain the coconuts moist flavor.
I have found the best way to get an even shading is to place the coconut into a plastic bag. Then add in the water and color and shake until it is perfectly colored.
Storing for any coconut can be tricky. If you don’t want it to dry out, you have to make sure it is never left open to the air. I like to put my coconut into an airtight bag, removing the excess air and sealing in the product’s natural moisture.
Let’s talk nutrition. There are approximately 26 servings in each 14-oz bag of Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut. A serving size is 2 Tbsp.
There are 70 calories per serving with almost half of them ‘” 30 ‘” coming from fat. There is a total of 3.5 grams of fat inside each serving. About 3 grams of that comes from saturated fat. There is no trans fat.
Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut also contains 8 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of sugar and 60 micrograms of cholesterol. Therefore, those individuals watching their carb, sugar, or sodium intake should take note.
On the positive side, Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut contains 3 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein. It also contains about 2% of the daily-recommended iron intake as based on a standard 2000-calorie diet.
Ingredients include coconut, metabisulfite, propylene glycol, salt, sugar and water. It has not artificial colorings or flavors.
I personally believe this to be one of the best coconut products on the market today. Here is my summary review:
Taste: 5 stars. Durkee Sweetened-Flaked Coconut tastes fresh and delightful with just a hint of sweetness.
Appearance: 5 stars: This coconut is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. It is beautifully flaked and almost snow white in color. What more could you ask?
Nutrition: 4 stars. This coconut is pretty well balanced although a bit heavier on the sugar side compared to some other coconut products on the market. However, it is that little extra bit of sweetness that makes this coconut stands out.
Ease of use: 5 stars. The moisture and texture is perfect. It coats well and also blends well into any recipe.
Green rating: 5 stars. The bag is biodegradable.
Packaging: 5 stars. The packaging is clear to highlight the beauty of the coconut itself. Brown labeling matching with Durkee’s Red logo brings in a pop a color and makes the product easy to locate on the store shelf.
Ease of storage: 4 stars. Storage for coconut can be tricky. Not enough moisture means dried-out, flavorless coconut. Too much moisture can erode its lovely color and texture. I recommend vacuum sealing it inside an airtight container of some sort. That way, the product’s natural moisture is retained while air is kept out.
Availability: 4 stars. Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut should be available just about anywhere baking products are sold. However, it could be hard to find in smaller grocery marts.
Price: 5 stars. The cost is in expensive at around $2 a bag. Those 14-oz will last a long time if the coconut is properly stored and used.
Product purchase probability: 5 stars. I always have coconut on hand for my daughter. There isn’t a chance that my cupboard will ever be free of Durkee Sweetened-Flake Coconut.
Final rating: 4.7 stars. I love this product!
RATING SCALE:
5 stars – outstanding
4 stars – good
3 stars – average
2 stars – below average
1 star – poor
