How to Open a Coconut

Posted on April 27th, 2009 by Elaine
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The coconut is a delightful and refreshingly flavorful fruit, but before you can eat it, you have to learn how to crack one open. You often see this done in films, but once you try it yourself, you’ll realize it’s a bit challenging. If you want to eat fresh coconut, here are a few ways how to open one.

The Ziploc Bag Method

What You’ll Need:

  • Coconut
  • Ziploc bag
  • Hammer

Procedure:

  1. Put the coconut bag in a large Ziploc bag, sealing it shut.
  2. Hold the fruit upright. You can hold it against a solid and sturdy surface, like your concrete driveway. Get the hammer, and use it to tap on the coconut’s “eyes”, the ones that look like bowling ball holes. Once you’re holding the coconut this way, tap a few times striking it quickly using the hammer.
  3. Strike the coconut again, this time, using more force than before. It should be just enough to crack the shell, but not too much, or it might hurt you. Excessive force might break the coconut too violently.
  4. The juice will spill out, and the Ziploc bag will catch it.
  5. This method is a great way for you to get the coconut meat, even if it’s a bit uncouth.

The Oven Method

What You’ll Need:

  • Coconut
  • Oven
  • Hammer
  • Large nail
  • A couple of oven mitts
  • Bowl or glass
  • Pie pan or baking dish

Procedure:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Using a hammer, pound a large and clean nail into each of the coconut’s eyes, gouging them out to create drainage holes for the coconut water. Be careful not to hurt yourself while doing this.
  3. Drain the coconut water into a glass or bowl, then set it aside, if you’re using it for the recipe. If not, you can drink from it. Coconut water is delicious, healthy and refreshing.
  4. When it’s finished draining, put the coconut in a shallow baking dish or pie pan, then in the pre-heated oven. Leave it there for at least 20 minutes, or when you hear the coconut pop or crack as it expands. It might split open, but oftentimes, it doesn’t.
  5. Wear oven mitts and remove the coconut from the oven. Bring it to a hard cement surface. Whack it hard, and it’ll crack open.

The Hammer And Screwdriver Method

What You’ll Need:

  • Coconut
  • Hammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Bowl or glass
  • Pieces of wood

Procedure:

  1. Get your screwdriver, and tap its end into the three eyes on the coconut. Remove the screwdriver, then proceed to draining the coconut. Pour the liquid from the coconut, and put it in a bowl or glass.
  2. Put the coconut on a hard concrete surface. Don’t do this on your kitchen countertop, though. Get the wood pieces, and use them to hold the coconut in place, so it won’t roll around.
  3. Find a point that’s at least 1/3 from the coconut’s narrower end. Using your hammer, give that spot a light, but firm whack. Make sure your hands aren’t in the way.
  4. Slightly rotate the coconut, using the hammer to hit it again, at a distance that’s approximately the same as the first one. Repeat this a few times, until you get a complete revolution of the coconut.
  5. As soon as you see a fracture or crack, get the screwdriver again, and insert it, prying the coconut open.

Opening a coconut can be a challenging feat, but once you savor the delicious meat and use it for your dishes, you’ll definitely feel that it’s worth all the effort. Follow these steps, and remember to be careful!

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