Fresh coconut meat makes a delicious and satisfying snack only after you mange to open the coconut, which may seem a little daunting. Following these easy steps, you can open coconut in few minutes without losing any coconut water. When buying coconut, make sure you choose one that has a bit of weight and when shaken, you should be able to hear the coconut water sloshing inside. If possible, try to find one that has been scored around the middle as this will make it easier to open.
- Place the coconut on a cutting board. 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 water into the bowl.
- Find 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/cleaver, 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, after just a few turns, the coconut will break open into two equal halves.
Alternatively, 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.