Bob's Red Mill Shredded Coconut (Unsweetened), 12 Ounce (Pack of 4)

I purchased this product back in November 2014 while on a low carb diet stretch. Having misplaced two bags of this product from my Amazon shipment, I finally uncovered them last week on a shelf in my basement (which is usually cool but fluctuates based on season). Since the sell by date showed October 2015, I decided to open up one of the bags to evaluate - and it seemed to be like new. As far as shredded coconut goes, this is a stellar product that provides great value and should last a long time if kept in reasonable conditions. The coconut flakes themselves have a slight moistness and sweetness that should satisfy many cravings on an Atkins / ketogenic diet, for which they are ideally suited based on low net carbs and decent calorie content (two net carbs and 100 calories per three tablespoons). As a small bonus, the flakes also have some medium chain triglycerides (MCT) to give a slight boost into ketogenesis. Besides low carb, I'd keep this product in mind if I ever wanted to try a paleo diet. Since rediscovering these flakes, I've used them in smoothies and baked goods. It's incredible how versatile they are. My only qualm is that the product isn't actually organic, but that's self evident and isn't a knock against it. Its closest organic counterpart I could find on Amazon, Let's Do Organic Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut, 8-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) , costs about $0.38 per ounce while this product costs about $0.28 per ounce. If I continue to use coconut with more consistency than I did the last time I ordered this product from Amazon (which was mainly for a limited low carb run), I'll probably seek out and try a smaller quantity of the Let's Do Organic product in a store before buying in volume. But for now, I feel Bob's coconut flakes more than meet my need and I'd be comfortable recommending them to anyone who isn't actively seeking out an organic product.

We select the best quality foods we can afford and this includes coconut. This review is a comparison between the Bob's Red Mill and Tropical Traditions finely shredded coconut which I have been buying on their website - for some reason Amazon carries many of their products but not their coconut. Here is my comparison. Freshness- This item arrived with an expiration date of 3/2013, which is eleven months from delivery. I wish I knew what the exp date was on the TT brand - but it lasted me well over a year on my shelf and I believe that since they harvest the Coconut (they are primarily a coconut products company) it may have been fresher. Price- I buy the Tropical Traditions in the plastic 3.5 gallon pail, which I buy online when it is half price at $17.50, which costs about $5 a lb. I decided to compare it to Bob's Red Mill which I researched and felt was probably the highest quality on Amazon, so I got it with the Subscribe n Save, so I saved a little more. Without the Subscribe n Save, Bob's Mill has free shipping and currently comes to $4.38 a lb. I think Bob's Mill is priced well for what you are getting. Shred size- is very close - but the Bob's Red Mill is slightly larger. I felt that the Tropical traditions was just a little too small for my taste. It "disappeared" in my cooking and oatmeal and I never got to enjoy the crunch or the chew of it, only able to enjoy the flavor and smell. Dryness- both were equally dry and felt very similar. Aroma- the Tropical Traditions won hands down here. The Bob's Mills smelled fresh enough, just a very mild slightly toasted smell. But the Tropical traditions has a much stronger sweet coconut smell (it is NOT a sweetened coconut product) which I find very appealing. And this is after sitting on my shelf for over a year! It was not rancid at all. Since both of these items are shredded finely, and as I said, I do not "feel" the coconut in my food, I'll probably go back to the Tropical Traditions line since that is what I am left to enjoy - the smell. Packaging- I like that Bob's Mill is conveniently packaged in 4 backs so you can freeze three for later. The Tropical Traditions comes in a plastic pail that is very very hard to open. And then you really don't want to keep opening it. Plus it does not fit in the freezer or fridge. So the pail is a waste in my opinion. I use mine for other things. I rate both products as 5 star items. Tropical Traditions wins if money and packaging are not an issue. If they are then Bob's Mill wins handily. We eat a lot of coconut, I use it in my cooking and we eat it for breakfast. We eat it at least 3 to 4 times a week in our oatmeal mixed in with organic flax seed, Flax USA 100% Natural Organic Flax Cold Milled Ground Golden Flax Seed, 40-Ounce Packages home frozen blue berries (store bought have high pesticides) and maple syrup. What a wonderful way to eat healthy!!! I find that adding coconut adds just enough protein, 1 gram, that I am able to last all the way through till lunch without getting that sudden hunger I get an hour or two earlier without the coconut.

I typically bought my shredded coconut from the local health food store bulk bin, and stocked up before having surgery. I underestimated my usage, and realized I was running out before I would be able to restock (still not driving post surgery). Since I add coconut to my Greek yogurt every morning running out was not an option. Luckily Amazon & Bobs Red Mill came to the rescue! I placed an order & was very happy when it arrived it arrived the day I used my last few spoonfuls of bulk bin coconut. :-) This coconut is more flavorful and delicious than any shredded coconut I've sampled (and I've tried many!). It's fresh, soft, delicious & sweeter most unsweetened coconuts, and the price is terrific! I'll continue to order Bobs shredded coconut even when I've recovered enough to drive myself the bulk bins again... In fact, it will be a Subscribe & save item for me once I figure out how often I need it shipped! :-) **** Note **** This coconut is a much smaller/finer shred than the typical SWEETENED coconut sold in bags in most grocery stores in the US. If that is the size shred you're expecting you may be disappointed as this is closer to the size typically used for macaroons. I believe Bob's also has a larger shred available, and know they have flaked coconut (it's also fab-u-lous!)

I just received this and already a huge fan. Great texture. I never liked shredding coconut or the stuff you are used to as a kid, but this is great. nice and has a crunch or bite to it. I don't know where people are saying it's too thin, it seems great to me. ....I saw a raw recipe for some chocolate treats that used coconut oil, shredded coconut, cocoa powder and some honey or sweetener of choice - didn't have any shredded coconut and found this at a great price, fast shipping. As soon as I got it I made some and very yummy. Love coconut flour but tend not to bake too much, so this will be a great kitchen staple to use in all the raw goodies. Thanks.

This seems more like granulated coconut, but it does the job when used for baking. It has a great taste. I just can't say the texture is shredded. Definitely not your normal coconut shreds. It is also unsweetened which is great. After having tried this, the sweetened coconut tastes way too sweet. This is healthier without all the sugar. You can add your own sugar or other chosen sweetener to your taste. I have been running into a lot of recipes lately that call for unsweetened coconut and it's about impossible to find in the stores. It may be in health food stores, but it's hard to find in grocery stores unless they have a nice large section of Bob's Red Mill products. And besides, it's a great deal on Amazon.

I love the texture and taste of this coconut. It is delicious mixed with peanut butter and chia meal and stuffed inside whole dates, sprinkled on ceareal (sweetened with stevia and vanilla), and stirred into oatmeal. I've also made coconut macaroons with it. It is good in just about anything. It's naturally slightly sweet, but nothing like the store-bought, sweetened shredded coconut. If you want it sweeter, add a little stevia or xylitol or natural sugar. I'm going to try it in homemade granola next. Four bags is way too much coconut for most people I made EVERYTHING from scratch and am constantly experimenting in the kitchen, and this is even lasting me a long time. Most people can only use one or two bags a year, so share this with friends or freeze the extra bags if you do buy it. They should last a couple years frozen.

I really love coconut and often purchase this as it has so many uses! Definitely my favorite brand of shredded coconut, and I have tried quite a few. The dried coconut is shredded nice and small (like half of a grain of rice) making it great for so many uses. It is crisp, tastes great and I cannot find a better price! I put it in my oatmeal, ice cream and yogurt and bake it into my banana bread, cakes and cookies. It is also great for candy making. You can also make coconut milk if you put it in the blender, I find this beneficial because you can make the amount you need as opposed to opening a whole can.

I love this stuff. I use it regularly in my homemade granola, and it adds wonderful flavor and crunch without making the end product too sweet.