I spent a lot of time trying to find an easy way to open a coconut when I was a kid.
I tried chopping it with a machete, sawing it with a steak knife, hammering at it with a hammer and big screwdriver and other painstaking pursuits.
The best way seemed to be to cut a series of cuts from the stem portion of the nut down the sides through the husk and in towards the hard wooden center, then to rip chunks off.
Then I saw Kent at The Fruit and Spice Park demonstrate that method much more elegantly than my machete hacking attempts of the past. He graciously allowed me to film his demo and gave me permission to post it online.
Check out his easy method for opening a coconut:
Now that’s an easy way to open a coconut.
I happen to utterly love coconut palms and hope to soon live in a more tropical location where I can grow them on my property. If you’ve only tasted dry, stale coconut shreds, you have no idea how hearty and delicious a fresh coconut can be.
The biggest issue is just getting the darned thing open.
I actually own the KaBar knife that Kent mentions in the video. It’s marvelous and would make a great Christmas present for the psychopath knife enthusiast in your life.
Check it out:
I should review this knife at some point. Just seeing it on Amazon makes me want to buy another one. It holds an edge amazingly (I’ve used it for butchering chickens and rabbits), plus it’s got some heft and thickness to it that is perfect, as Kent states, for opening coconuts.
Where was I?
I got lost in knife land for a minute there. Sorry.
Anyhow, that’s the easy way to open a coconut.
If you missed my previous video from the Fruit and Spice Park, you can see that here.
And if you live anywhere that’s tropical, I hope you’re growing at least a couple of coconut palms. The coconut water is a health tonic, the nutmeat is delicious, and nothing says “tropical” like palm fronds swaying in the breeze.
4 responses to “Easy Way to Open a Coconut”
I dunno… that seems like alot of work.
I use a sugarcane machete that I bought from the hardware store for like $8. Lay the coconut on its side on the ground, and with two hard blows I remove a pie-shaped wedge. It’s usually deep enough to have cracked the nut, otherwise tap the nut shell with the blunt edge of the machete to open a hole.
Pour through a strainer on top a jug. Put jug in fridge. (I then water things down like 50%)
Keep the blade sharp and watch your toes with this method!
Good way for water, but how does that allow you to get the meat?
Yes, you’re right… mostly for the water. But make the wedge large enough and you can cut pieces out. There’s also a special curved knife to scoop out the meat through small openings. But Alton Brown may have something to say about “uni-tasker” tools in the kitchen!
I was taught to use a hoe. Stand on the handle with the hoe blade facing up, take the coconut in both hands and whack the stem end on the blade around pie slice fashion… Worked pretty good for me! I want some fresh coconuts now!