How to Open a Coconut

You don't have to be on a deserted tropical island in order to enjoy beautiful, fresh coconut water and flesh. The only trouble is, they can be little tricky to open - if you don't know how. Here's just a quick hub showing you the simple, three step process of how to open a coconut, as well as selection, consumption and storage tips.

Coconut Selection:

When buying coconuts:

• Firstly, examine the outer surface for cracks, mould or mildew.
  
• Look for round, dark brown husks (shells) which indicates the coconut is mature. Avoid the unripe, green outer shelled coconuts.
• Select a coconut that is heavy for it's size, which indicates a good amount of flesh inside.
• Shake the coconut and hear for a healthy sloshing of coconut water inside; it should sound full.

Opening the Coconut:

(1) Drain the Coconut Water:

On the end of each coconut are three small indentations - two of them a harder than the other. Using a hammer and nail or even a drill if neccessary, bore a sizeable hole in the softest of the cocnut's holes. Then carefully tip the coconut water into a glass, or just drink it up with a straw! (If you chose to drain the milk into a glass and none comes out, don't panic! you probably didn't buy a dud coconut - all you have to do is make a hole in the opposite end to allow the air to pass through).

(2) Cracking the Husk Open:

Make a score around the circumference of the coconut using a knife. Then, rap the coconut in a clean towel. Using a hammer, crack the coconut shell several times until it breaks. Being careful of shards of the shell, open the towel and ensure that all the coconut flesh is readily accessible.

(3) Scooping out the Flesh:

Using a spoon, scoop out all the coconut flesh into a bowl and discard of the husk safely. Rinse off the flesh to remove any coir (coconut hair).

Consuming the Coconut:

The water and flesh of the coconut is extremely delicious as well as totally nutricious! You can enjoy it fresh or use it in your cooking! I love to dice the coconut flesh and add some to the water for a frefreshing drink.

Coconut Storage:

Coconuts are best served fresh, although it can last for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. If you're looking at long term storage, it can be frozen for up to 6 months, and shredded and dehydrated for up to a year.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to open a coconut and that you enjoy this delicious fruit! Below is a short video on other methods on how to open a coconut.