How can you tell when a coconut is ripe?

I just moved to South Florida and my neighbor throws away her coconuts from her coconut palms. I would love to drink "fresh" coconut water but I'm concerned I may open the coconut too soon and make myself sick. Please advise.

Answers:
How to use it: Young Green Coconuts have a clear juice that is sweet, refreshing, and aromatic. Young coconuts have a jelly-like meat which can be eaten or used in smoothies. As they mature the meat turns hard, the meat firms up and can be used to make shredded coconut or coconut milk. We use coconut milk for soups, curries, desserts, and drinks. Shredded coconut can be added to smoothies or used in meals or desserts. The coconut can also be used to make coconut oil (the oil content increases as it matures), soaps, candles, and skin care products.

How to Open a Coconut Drink the juice out of the coconut or add the jelly to a smoothie with the juice.

Nutrition: Highly nutritious, high in electrolytes, high in minerals, vitamins and amino acids, yet low in fat and with no cholesterol, coconuts have gotten a bad rap but are refreshing, delicious, and nutritious! Coconut milk contains lauric acid. Young coconuts are more nutritious than older coconuts. They are good for our heart, liver and kidney. They are known for their medicinal qualities including their ability to relieve headaches, cure upset stomachs, stop diarrhea, reduce fevers, helping the fetus grown strong in a pregnant woman, and strengthening the heart.

Other answers:
When it turns brown and hairy
When it turns brown and hairy
if the monkey approves then its ok.
The shell turns very hard as well as brown and hairy. What's wrong with drinking tender coconut milk?
actually if you u could get to drink coconut that is not so ripe that is motre tastier.coconut drink cannot make you sick , but don't drink too much, that could give u diarrhea, but one or two drink will not harm you.
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