Howd do you open a coconut?

Answer 1

I prefer the chain-saw method but most do it this way...

"Everone has a few problems the first time they try and learn how to open a coconut. These little guys must be the most well protected nut in all of the world, but we humans can't just sit around and let monkeys show us up, right? In this site I will detail the most common method of opening up a coconut along with pictures of the process. It is fairly simple, but does take some time to do.

Are you ready to learn how to open a coconut? Then let's get crackin'! You don't need much to start. A towel, hammer, large nail, and of coarse the coconut we are going to open.


If you examine your coconut you will see 2-3 dark indentations on one end. These are the weakest points. We will be utilizing these guys to drain the coconut's juice before pulverizing this puppy.


Take the hammer and drive the nail through each of the holes. I usually do all of them. Depending on the type of coconut you have this could take a few swings.


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. If your nail bends try using a slimmer one (or even a drill), the hole doesn't need to be big.

Take the drained coconut and place it in the center of a towel that is large enough to be wrapped completely around it.

Wrap the coconut up in such a way that all of the loose ends are secured underneath of the coconut so that when it breaks open no pieces will go flying.

Time for some fun! Grab your hammer and bash away! I wouldn't recommend doing this on your counter, you will need to hit it rather hard. Do it on the floor, or better yet on brick or concrete. Some coconuts have grooves partially cut along the sides to make opening easier. If you have one of these, instead of wrapping up the coconut you can use the opposite end of the hammer and whack it around the groove until it splits in two.

Once it's cracked open you can hit it a few more times to try and break up the larger pieces some more. This will make separating the meat from the shell easier.

Here's your prize, yummy coconut meat. Mmmmmm... Using a small knife, pry the meat away from the shell, be very careful not to cut yourself! Better put on some music, this could take a while.

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. Again, be careful. This will take a while to do so don't try and rush.

Whew, all done! Go ahead and rinse off your pure-white coconut meat and marvel at its delicious glow. Mmmmmmm. Your storage options include:

Refrigerator (2-7 days)
Freezer (1-3 months)
Shredded/Grated and dehydrated (6-12 months)"

From howtoopenacoconut.com

Answer 2

Hold the coconut in the palm of your hand over a sink or large bowl. The bowl will catch the coconut juice when the coconut splits open.
Note the seam that runs between the "eyes." Follow the seam to the equator of the coconut. Using the blunt edge (not the blade) of a heavy knife (for example, a chef's knife, meat cleaver, machete) tap firmly around its equator as you rotate the coconut in the palm of your hand. Continue to tap and rotate until the coconut splits completely open. If it's done right, the coconut will break open after just a few turns into two equal halves.
Tap the coconut as an alternative method. If you do not have a heavy knife, grip the coconut and firmly tap the coconut around its equator on a hard and solid edge. A corner on a very large rock or brick wall or the edge of a concrete slab works well for this (patio, street curb, concrete stairs). Continue to tap and rotate until the coconut splits completely open.
Enjoy!
If you prefer you can drain the coconut juice before cracking it open:

Place the coconut on a hard, flat surface that will not be damaged. A sturdy cutting board will usually do.
Find the soft "eye" of the coconut that will be soft enough to push a Phillips head screwdriver through. If not, get a nail and a hammer to create the hole.
Drain the coconut juice into the bowl.
Follow the method outlined above to split the coconut open.


Tips
Puncture two of the eyes, so that air can come in one eye, while the coconut water comes out of another. It's so much faster!
You can also freeze the small coconut pieces for 30 minutes and then the meat will come off easily.
Try using the drain opening of your kitchen sink to hold the coconut while you hammer an awl or ice pick in the eyes to drain the juice.
Once opened, cutting the 'meaty' part of the coconut off its shell can be done with a knife. It's easier to do if the shell is in small pieces.
Use a dull table knife or spoon to remove meat from the shell. Cutting through the meat all the way to the shell, then prying a bit will pop strips and chunks out. Sometimes it's possible to get underneath the meat with a spoon and pry away from the shell progressively.
The easiest way to remove the meat from the shell is to use a device called a coconut shredder, which can be obtained in Asian Indian markets for less than $15. It looks a little like a meat grinder. One holds the coconut against the blade, and turns a crank. It takes about one minute to process a coconut with one.
If you do not have any of these materials (or you're in a hurry), but still wish to open your coconut, you can put it in a tough plastic bag and throw it against a hard surface. You will lose the juice, but still be able to eat the nut. (But make sure that you do not hit anybody!)
If you need perfectly symmetrical halves (i.e. for props, musical instruments, bikini, etc.) you can make a straighter cut (carefully) with a bandsaw. Drain the milk first to minimize the mess.
After draining the coconut juice, you can put the coconut in an oven, at about 350 (180° C, Gas Mark 4) for 20 minutes. This will cause the meat to contract causing partial separation from the shell and makes the remaining steps easier.
If the coconut is not green and you want to get even halves, hold the coconut side against a thin stream of tap water. Rotate the coconut so as to make the water create line all around the coconut. Turn the coconut several times. Then use a heavy knife to hit along this line. A few blows should crack the shell along the line drawn by the water.
A quarter inch drill bit is just the right size to drill out the eyes, and is faster and probably safer than an ice pick.
Once the meat is out of the outer shell, a potato peeler works nicely to peel off the inner husk.
You can also place the drained coconut in a sturdy plastic bag and hit it against the wall or ground to break it.

Warnings
Be very careful when hitting the coconut with the knife. The coconut should be hit firmly but not so hard that you lose control of the knife. You do not want to hit, cut, or stab anything by accident, especially your hand.
When the coconut begins to crack it may quickly split open and then close again before it breaks. Be careful not to get any part of your hand caught in the crack (ouch!).
If you are not confident handling a knife in this manner, it is best to have someone else do this for you.
Always smell the inside of the coconut. If it smells moldy or sour, it's bad. Don't eat it or drink the water!
Don't put the nut with the water inside. It might explode if it is left for too long and ferments..
Never try to bite open a coconut. It will not open it and will break your teeth.
hing works you can wrap the coconut in a towel, then hit it with a hammer.

Answer 3

Take a very large nail and hammer it through the three little eyes you will find at one end of the coconut. Drain out the liquid - this is the coconut milk. Once it has all drained, put the coconut onto a solid surface (like the floor) and give it a couple of good whacks with the hammer. Use a short paring knife to pry the pieces out of the outer shell.

Answer 4

Aloha from the Isle of Hawaii (The Big Island)

livsgrandma
Excellent advice, DO NOT, hold the coconut in your hand and try to break it.

Save the coconut milk and incorporate it into your recipe as part of the liquid.... even in a drink, since this is wine and spirits.

Answer 5

I get my power drill...no really...and use the largest drill bit I have and drill out the three dark spots on the coconut. Pour out the coconut water through the holes, and then crack it open with a hammer.

If you're going to roast the coconut meat anyway, you can put the whole coconut in the oven to roast after you get the water out and then crack it. The shell cracks easier when it's roasted.

Answer 6

Hold it in one hand, and whack it firmly but gently with a hammer or sturdy, heavy knife. Do this in a circle (like an equator) until it cracks. Do this over a sinnk (or bowl, if you want to catch and save the coconut milk).

Answer 7

dig out the three eyes with a knife then pour out coconut juice then crack with hammer after its open peel from shell and eat away

Answer 8

Smash it but make sure it is outside .It is full of milk best way Peirce the shell drain milk wrap in a cloth and whack with a hammer.. I love coco nut

Answer 9

first, poke holes in the eyes and drink the milk.
a hammer works ok to break open the shell to get the meat.

Answer 10

A nail and a hammer at the top