How to Open A Coconut

The hardest part about using a fresh coconut is opening the coconut. But, you will never make a cake or any other dessert using store bought, pre-packaged coconut that will taste as fresh and delicious as an out of the hull grated coconut will taste.

I had to practice opening a coconut a few times, but the results were well worth it.

The first key is to select a fresh coconut.

Some grocery stores seem to keep their coconuts on their shelfs too long.

Therefore, you need to check the coconuts out for freshness before you take them home to further deteriorate before you can use them.

A fresh coconut will look fresh.

There are three eyes in one end of the coconut.

When fresh, those eyes are lighter in color than the older ones.


Check a few of the coconuts in the grocery bin and you will probably see some coconuts with one of more darker eyes than the others.

Darker eyes may contain a little moisture, meaning that they are leaking coconut water and or beginning to get mold.

Do not buy those coconuts.

Shake the coconuts to hear the water sloshing around inside.

The more water that is inside, the fresher they are because the water has not leaked.

Therefore, the coconut with the most coconut water will be the heaviest.

Select two coconuts that look the same size and choose the heaviest one.

You do not need scales to weigh them; just hold a coconut in each hand with your palm turned up.
 

Purchase the one that feels the heaviest.

If you concentrate on weights, you will feel the difference in your hands.

However, if you would feel more confident weighing the coconuts before making your final decision, weigh them on the scales in the produce section.

By the way, do not confuse coconut water with coconut milk in the grocery store as some folks do. 

It is very different.

Coconut milk is made by liquefying the freshy white solid pieces of coconut in a food processor, then adding enough of the regular water or coconut water to make the mixture the consistency and color of dairy milk.

You get more nutrients making your coconut milk with coconut water instead of just regular water. 

You will also get a stronger, more delicious  coconut flavor.

It is a win, win situation!

Freshly grated coconut should be used within a few days.

However, if you want to store your freshly grated coconut longer, spoon it lightly into a zip lock freezer bag and place the bag in your freezer.

When you need to use the coconut remove it from the freezer and let it thaw out.

If you need the coconut dry, you can sprinkle it on some parchment paper to dry out naturally or place it into a 300F. heated oven that has been turned off for a few minutes.

Do Not Cook the grated coconut.

It is really best to open your coconut on the day you intend to use it. 

Opening The Coconut

Lots of folks open their coconuts on their kitchen countertop, but I like to take my coconuts outside to open them so I do not accidently damage my nice countertop.

First, open the coconut eyes with a screwdriver and then drain the coconut water out into a large glass or similar.

Shake the coconut until all of the water is completely removed.

Freeze or refrigerate the water for a few days if you are not planning to use it immediately.

Wrap your coconut in a kitchen hand towel and take it outside to open.

With the head of a cleaned hammer, carefully hit the coconut around the center line on your coconut, being careful not to accidently hit your fingers.

The coconut should separate into two shells, but it could separate into several smaller pieces instead.

Using a kitchen case knife or a clean flat screwdriver, separate the coconut meat from the coconut shell.

Grate your fresh coconut meat as fine or coarse as you prefer it for a cake, pie or some other desert. 

If the two shells turn out to be whole cups and you are artfully creative, clean the bowls and save them for an art project. 

In the late 1800s coconut shells were made into dippers for drinking water from a bucket.

Children love eating coconut desserts and creating lovely art dippers.

History Of Coconuts

Coconuts are not native to the United States of America.

Coconut Trees were brought to the United States Of America in 1878.

Coconut trees will only grow in America in the state of Florida and on our island state, Hawaii, because of the climate.

Therefore, the United States imports most of our coconut from foreign countries to meet our demand supply of this delicious fruit.

Related Pages

Coconut Cake From Scratch Recipe

Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

Coconut Pecan Balls Recipe

Orange Coconut Cake Recipe