Are you talking about a young coconut or a mature coconut? Coconuts are filled with water so you would not find milk in there. When you grate the meat and blend it with water and strain the resulting liquid from pulp, that is what's called "coconut milk". Ususally Usually Asian stores have two "kinds" of young coconut. One is the most common where they shave the green outer layer leaving white "top shaped" coconut which is usually sprayed with alot of chemicals(formaldehyde I think), and the other is the young coconut without the outer green layer shaved off. I would'nt worry too much about the mold. If what you are talking about is a mature coconut, next time shake it at the store to see if theres alot of liquid inside (or if there isn't) and you should be able to tell which one is too ripe(with no liquid). Choose a coconut with alot of liquid inside. Make sure there are no cracks and check the "eyes" if they are wet. Well hope this helps you out.

Are you talking about a young coconut or a mature coconut? Coconuts are filled with water so you would not find milk in there. When you grate the meat and blend it with water and strain the resulting liquid from pulp, that is what's called "coconut milk". Ususally Asian stores have two "kinds" of young coconut. One is the most common where they shave the green outer layer leaving white "top shaped" coconut which is usually sprayed with alot of chemicals(formaldehyde I think), and the other is the young coconut without the outer green layer shaved off. I would'nt worry too much about the mold. If what you are talking about is a mature coconut, next time shake it at the store to see if theres alot of liquid inside (or if there isn't) and you should be able to tell which one is too ripe(with no liquid). Choose a coconut with alot of liquid inside. Make sure there are no cracks and check the "eyes" if they are wet. Well hope this helps you out.