How To Open A Coconut
Coconuts are literally hard as a rock, so learning how to open a coconut correctly is a must. Figuring out how to open a coconut for the first time isn’t too hard because there are several methods from which to choose. Each one requires different tools. So, all you have to do is figure out which of the methods is going to work best for you. Some take more time than others.
One technique used by many people requires a hammer and a nail. If you look on one end of the coconut, you will see three little spots that are called eyes. Set the coconut on a hard surface--something unbreakable, and pound your nail into at least two of the three eyes. You can pound it into all three if you wish. These holes will allow the coconut juice to drip out, so set the coconut over a small bowl and collect the juice that slowly drips out.
The next step involves a bit of violence. If you look again at the eyes, you will see an indented crease that runs down the side of the coconut. Take your hammer and pound this crease all the way around until the coconut splits in half. It might take two or three times around the coconut before it breaks open. All that is left to do is to separate the meat from the shell. Some people use a knife and some use a spoon. Either way, it can be a slow process.
All the techniques for removing the coconut juice are the same. You just need to open two of the three eyes with any suitable object. Some people use a screwdriver instead of a nail. Others even use an ice pick. Breaking the coconut apart can have several variations on the hammer technique. One is to wrap the entire coconut in a towel and just pound it fiercely with the hammer. This will break the coconut into smaller pieces and you can use a knife to cut the meat from the shell.
Truly serious coconut lovers use a large knife, cleaver or machete to open their coconuts. The sharp end is not used, rather the other side which is not sharp. With this method, you hold the coconut in one hand over a bowl which will collect the juice. The eyes should be on one end. Hit the crease soundly with the non-sharp side of the cleaver. You might need to hit the coconut several times, but eventually it will break into two halves. Then separate the coconut from the shell with the knife or a spoon.
The last way to get into your coconut is with heat. First, drain the juice from the coconut eyes as in the previous methods. Then you can place your coconut in a pie plate or similar dish, and heat it in the oven at 375 degrees for fifteen to twenty minutes, or until you hear a cracking sound. Use pot holders or an oven mitt to remove the coconut from the oven. If it has not split open completely, then hit it against a hard surface to finish cracking it open. All that is left is to remove the coconut flesh with a knife.
Once you figure out how to open a coconut, the process will get faster and faster each time you do it. Always be careful when using a hammer or knife to keep your hand and fingers out of harm’s way.