How To Open A Coconut

Do you want to crack open a coconut and are unable to do it? Breaking open a coconut can be quite a challenging task, unless you are aware of the best way of doing the same. Almost all of us must have had an experience with the task. There are a number of ways to crack open a coconut. However, the technique you employ for breaking it would depend on two things - the tools that you have and the amount of time at your disposal. Browse through the article below, to get information on how to break open a coconut, in the easiest and the safest way.

Method of Heating

Things Required

Two Oven Mitts
One Large Nail
Oven, to heat the coconut
Coconut
Hammer

Directions

To open a coconut, you first need to preheat the oven at about 375 degrees.
Note that there are three holes on the surface of the coconut. Pierce a nail on each of the holes using a hammer and make a hole. Ensure that the nail is a clean one.
Once the hole is made, drain out the coconut water into a bowl.
After the coconut water has been drained out, put the coconut in a shallow dish and insert it into the preheated oven for a span of twenty minutes.
Take out the coconut from the oven when you hear a 'pop' sound. It means that the coconut has expanded, though it might not have completely spilt open yet.
The last step to crack open the coconut is to give it a whack. For this, smash the coconut hard on a concrete ground.
Make use of a knife to cut and take out the coconut content.

Common Method

Things Required

A meat knife or machete
Corkscrew, nail or screwdriver

Directions

Look for the eyes (the three dark spots) on the coconut and locate the softest eye of the all.
Punch the eye with a sharp pointed object such as a nail or a corkscrew and pour the water into a container.
Hold the coconut and locate the equator (the middle) of the coconut (one side will have the tail and other will have the eyes). For more precision you make draw a line around the equator with a chalk.
To split open the coconut you have to tap around the equator with the blunt side of the knife (note: do not tap it with the blade). Continue tapping until the coconut cracks and opens.

Simple Method

Things Required

Hammer

Directions

Hold the coconut and start giving gentle hits around the equator. Keep on doing it until the nut cracks a little.
Empty the contents of coconut through the crack and give a little hard hit to split it into two halves.

Quick and Fast Method

In case you do not have a hammer or a knife, you can hit the coconut against a solid edge.

Directions

Hold the coconut firmly and tap it around its equator, against the corner of a hard rock or concrete edge (brick wall or stairs).
Continue to hit by turning it around, until it breaks open.

Freezing Method

Things Required

Hammer

Directions

Keep the coconut in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This separates or loosens the flesh from the shell.
Take the coconut out and hold it firmly. With a hammer hit the coconut around its equator as you rotate it.
Continue the process till it splits into two halves. The flesh will be easier to separate as it would have slackened already (when inside the refrigerator).
Now that you know the several simple methods of cracking a coconut, you can enjoy the delicious tropical fruit. You no longer need to buy canned coconut juice or preserved coconut pieces/flesh because, opening a coconut is a very easy process and can be done with the simplest of tools.

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