Ground coconut or grated coconut can be frozen for use later. Even Chutneys can be stored in the same way. Just defrost and use or add directly into the pot. Saves a lot of time.
For just the 2 of us, one whole coconut would be a lot for one time use unless we make an all coconut menu for the day. More often than not, I would break a coconut, use very little and store the rest in the refrigerator which would go bad if not used in the next 2-3 days. So I decided to grate the whole coconut and freeze it.
I actually don't grate the coconut. I use a knife to get small pieces off the shell and then grind them - coarsely with less/no water if I want to use in recipes when I need to roast the coconut and finely with water as required for gravy/chutney etc.
Method for freezing:
Put in ice cube tray and freeze. Remove frozen cubes and store in a freezer bag.
What to freeze:
- Coarsely grind coconut with a little water. (The picture above shows ground coconut cubes).
- Grated coconut
- Coconut chutney
- Grind Coconut, jeera, green chilies, curry leaves, turmeric - for adding in "Usal"/"Soondal"/"Usli"
- Roast grated coconut, cloves, red chili, coriander seeds. Grind and freeze- for gravys
- coconut milk
How to use:
- Defrost and roast for gravys.
- Defrost and serve chutneys.
- Directly add to the pot and mix.
2 comments :
Great idea......i will try with prepared chutney in ice cubes...just take one and serve rest can be used later. Could you tell what will be the shelve life of these chutnyes in from state.
Thank you Pallavi. Maybe about a couple of months if you pack them nicely in the zip lock. To increase shelf life, you may also want to ensure not to defrost the whole pack each time you pick a few cubes.
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