I want to know the best and safest way for the average Joe at home, how to crack a coconut.?

Question

I would like to save as much of the coconut juice as possible and the best way to dislodge the coconut meat from the inside of the shell. Any one have a good solution for me?

Answer 1

If you have a very heavy cleaver it is good. {note use the back of the cleaver to whack it hard and sharp around the midline so that the shell will crack in a perfect circle. You whack it, turn it 1/4 turn whack it, turn it whack it, and by the last whack it opens up by its self. }
But what I do at home when I don't have one is take the coconut outside to some concrete (I like the edge of a concrete step) where it doesn't matter if you hurt the ground. While holding the coconut with the ends or the depressions to the sides. Hold it really good and whack it very sharply onto the ground. It should start to crack around its midsection, but don't worry if it doesn't just start turning it bit by bit and whacking it again around the middle till you've made it around. Then turn the coconut and bring it down again a quick hard and decisive hit again. It should break all the way around in a pretty good circle if you do it right. P. S. Have a bowl ready when it break apart you got to stick the bowl under it quick. Then use either a screw driver or the flat edge of a knife to pop out small 1/2" to 1" chunks. Basically they pry out. Then you have to either grind it up in a mixer or shred it with a grater. At home we use a sharp toothed contraption that you can get at Chinese markets, or Indian Groceries to scrape the flesh out.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

First, you want to sterilize a drill bit, about 1/4 inch in diameter. After that, suspend the coconut over a measuring cup (dimples up) and drill two holes- each one in its own dimple. Upend the coconut over the measuring cup, so that one hole is below the other, something like this:
0 o
0

(the 0s are drilled holes, "o"s are undrilled)

allow the milk to drain. Next, sterilize a hacksaw blade. (This is the tough and messy bit) Lock the coconut in a clamp or workbench, and saw it open with the hacksaw (it helps if you have someone to share the sawing and holding of the coconut with). Now, bring the two separate coconut halves to a paper towel. let them sit there, while you fill a bowl with cool water. Score the coconut meat with a steak knife, and then use the same knife to slice away at the chunks, all the while suspending it above the water. Wash off the chunks, and discard the shells. (Unless of course, you want to use them as a bra, horse sound effects, etc.) There you have it- how to drain, open, and clean a coconut!

Answer 3

Take a hammer and drive the nail through each of the holes. Place the coconut over a container and give it some time for the juice to drain. If nothing is coming out you can drive the nail through the other side of the coconut to allow air to enter the top while the liquid drains from the bottom.

The thin layer of shell that will cling to most of the coconut meat shards can be cut or scraped away with a sharp knife.
http://www.howtoopenacoconut.com/

Answer 4

1. Hold coconut over a bowl in one hand such that the "midriff" rests in the middle of your palm, with the tip on one end and the eyes on the other.

2. Whack the coconut with the back (that is to say the blunt side) of the cleaver a few times all around the center until it cracks open cleanly into two nearly equal halves. Make sure you use the blunt side of the cleaver.

3. Catch the juice in the bowl as it drains from the cracks.

Some people try to get into a coconut by banging on it with a hammer. Others suggest poking holes in the eyes to drain the liquid before hammering. This sounds like a good idea, but if you have tried it before, you may have discovered it isn't quite so easy. The eyes are small and the surrounding shell quite thick and hard. After much effort to jab them with a sharp object or puncture them with a nail, you may end up with a slow trickle, taking a lot longer to drain all the liquid out than you may have patience for.

A quick and easy, no-nonsense way to crack a coconut is to use a cleaver. Holding it with one hand such that the "midriff" rests in the middle of your palm, with the tip on one end and the eyes on the other, whack the coconut with the back of the cleaver a few times all around the center until it cracks open cleanly into two nearly equal halves. Make sure you use the blunt side of the cleaver. Do this over a bowl in the sink to catch the juice as it drains from the cracks. If the juice tastes fresh and sweet, enjoy it as a refreshment by itself or reserve for use in extracting cream from the flesh.

Answer 5

Hold coconut over a bowl in one hand such that the "midriff" rests in the middle of your palm, with the tip on one end and the eyes on the other.
Whack the coconut with the back (that is to say the blunt side) of the cleaver a few times all around the center until it cracks open cleanly into two nearly equal halves. Make sure you use the blunt side of the cleaver.
Catch the juice in the bowl as it drains from the cracks.

Answer 6

U could take something with a point and use a hammer or something to poke a hole in the top of it and drain the coconut milk in a glass .that is how i do it anyway.That was when u drain the milk u can just split the coconut in half and eat the fresh coconut.or what ever u chose to do with it .

Answer 7

We used to use a hammer and a screwdriver. We'd hammmer a hole in the top of the coconut and drain the milk out first into a cup. Then just pick away at it till you get to the coconut meat.

Answer 8

Put it in a vice and tap a small hole in it with a screw driver. Drain the juice (which is actually just water, by the time a coconut makes it to you it's been drained of the milk). Put it back in the vice and saw in half with a hack saw. You can scoop the meat out with a spoon.

Answer 9

Take a hammer or the back of a cleaver and whack it around the middle (turning it as you go). Make sure you are over a bowl to catch the milk. Take a knife or something sharp to scrape the coconut out.

Answer 10

I've never done it before either, but I would say hollow out a hole by using a hammer and an ice pick, or screw driver - something sharp. Once you have a hole of a pretty good size in it you can get the milk out then crack it open all the way and get the meat. That's how I would do it anyway.