Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I had no idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open it. He didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do this again! I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone out there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? thanks, melissa p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 This reminds me of my childhood....you can open a coconut in 15 seconds with a machete! not a drill!? this is funny, a drill....your post made me giggle (thanks). There is a weak spot on the coconut that you can slice open with a large knife (machete) and poke a hole (it should be weak enough for any knife at this point), put a straw in it, and drink. It is delicious cold. After you are done drinking, cut the rest in a big whack with the machete and split it open. Then spoon the tender white flesh and use in whatever you like. I do not eat that many coconuts, they are high in saturated fat so I only use them ocassionally. They are a lot of fun to deal with though, if you grew up with them. It would be easier to show you than to write about it.... , " Melissa " <mapalicka wrote: > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I had no > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open it. He > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do this > again! > > I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone out > there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! > also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the > refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? > thanks, melissa p > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 hmmm, didn't find the weak spot apparently. I tried whacking the pointed top with the knife with no success. I thought the whole thing was fun, my husband did not : ) , " cabrita_trl " <roseta_lleo wrote: > > This reminds me of my childhood....you can open a coconut in 15 > seconds with a machete! not a drill!? this is funny, a > drill....your post made me giggle (thanks). > > There is a weak spot on the coconut that you can slice open with a > large knife (machete) and poke a hole (it should be weak enough for > any knife at this point), put a straw in it, and drink. It is > delicious cold. After you are done drinking, cut the rest in a big > whack with the machete and split it open. Then spoon the tender > white flesh and use in whatever you like. > > I do not eat that many coconuts, they are high in saturated fat so I > only use them ocassionally. They are a lot of fun to deal with > though, if you grew up with them. It would be easier to show you > than to write about it.... > > , " Melissa " <mapalicka@> > wrote: > > > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I > had no > > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open > it. He > > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do > this > > again! > > > > I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone > out > > there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! > > also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the > > refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? > > thanks, melissa p > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Wow - I always tapped the eyes with a screw driver, let the milk drain in a glass then wrap it in a towel and whack it with a hammer....most of the meat come would dislodge at that point & I only had pry a few out of the shell... On 7/12/07, Melissa <mapalicka wrote: > > hmmm, didn't find the weak spot apparently. I tried whacking the > pointed top with the knife with no success. I thought the whole thing > was fun, my husband did not : ) > > > > > , " cabrita_trl " > <roseta_lleo wrote: > > > > This reminds me of my childhood....you can open a coconut in 15 > > seconds with a machete! not a drill!? this is funny, a > > drill....your post made me giggle (thanks). > > > > There is a weak spot on the coconut that you can slice open with a > > large knife (machete) and poke a hole (it should be weak enough for > > any knife at this point), put a straw in it, and drink. It is > > delicious cold. After you are done drinking, cut the rest in a big > > whack with the machete and split it open. Then spoon the tender > > white flesh and use in whatever you like. > > > > I do not eat that many coconuts, they are high in saturated fat so I > > only use them ocassionally. They are a lot of fun to deal with > > though, if you grew up with them. It would be easier to show you > > than to write about it.... > > > > , " Melissa " <mapalicka@> > > wrote: > > > > > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I > > had no > > > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > > > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open > > it. He > > > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do > > this > > > again! > > > > > > I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone > > out > > > there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! > > > also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the > > > refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? > > > thanks, melissa p > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 My Mother loved fresh coconut! The coconut has an " eye " which is a soft spot on the narrow end. She used an ice pick to puncture the " eye " and if necessary she used a gentle hammer to puncture it. Then she used a wooden mallet ( or you could also use a hammer, just in case a machete is not available <g>). She would open the shell by cracking *hard* at the widest part of the coconut. She would hit firmly all around the middle. Drain the milk from the punctured hole first before cracking the shell. Pry the coconut meat out of the shell with a small sharp knife. To shred it, use a small sharp knife to remove the brown skin from the coconut meat, then shred coarsely with a hand grater. Fresh shredded coconut will keep for 1-2 days in the fridge. Or you could toast it in the oven. HTH Mary in SC On Behalf Of Melissa Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:36 PM Re: fresh coconut anyone? hmmm, didn't find the weak spot apparently. I tried whacking the pointed top with the knife with no success. I thought the whole thing was fun, my husband did not : ) , " cabrita_trl " <roseta_lleo wrote: > > This reminds me of my childhood....you can open a coconut in 15 > seconds with a machete! not a drill!? this is funny, a > drill....your post made me giggle (thanks). > > There is a weak spot on the coconut that you can slice open with a > large knife (machete) and poke a hole (it should be weak enough for > any knife at this point), put a straw in it, and drink. It is > delicious cold. After you are done drinking, cut the rest in a big > whack with the machete and split it open. Then spoon the tender > white flesh and use in whatever you like. > > I do not eat that many coconuts, they are high in saturated fat so I > only use them ocassionally. They are a lot of fun to deal with > though, if you grew up with them. It would be easier to show you > than to write about it.... > > , " Melissa " <mapalicka@> > wrote: > > > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I > had no > > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open > it. He > > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do > this > > again! > > > > I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone > out > > there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! > > also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the > > refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? > > thanks, melissa p > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Hi Melissa, You should use up the leftover parts and water quickly - they do not keep well and will get bitter-tasting and cloudy/yucky. Young coconuts do not have the eyes yet (at least, none that I ever saw in my time in Sri Lanka). The coconut merchants on the side of the road all used machete-like knives to take off the top of the nut, then they would use the pointy end of the knife to cut small triangular holes in the top just deep enough to breach the shell and put a straw in to drink up the yummy water. (I knew I was getting the hang of coconuts when I didn't need the straw any more! ) Then you give the empty nut back and they whack it in half and give it back so you can scoop out the soft white flesh, mmmmmmm! They often cut a small piece off the side of the nut to use as a scraper so you can get out all the flesh. I've used a drill before to get the water out & thought it worked fine but then you need a heavy duty knife or ax to open the nut, unless you have a machete around... A Saws-All might work, little messy but might work. For mature nuts (the brown ones) I just whack 'em with a hammer until they split. Sometimes I catch the water in a bowl but usually I just let it drain away. Young coconut water tastes better. Man, now I want curry lol Peace, Diane , " Melissa " <mapalicka wrote: > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I had no > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open it. He > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do this > again! > > I have heard of the health benefits of fresh coconut. does anyone out > there really eat it on a regular basis and how do you open them?! > also, I have half a coconut and some water left this morning in the > refrigerator, how quickly do I need to use it up? > thanks, melissa p > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I have never bought a fresh coconut, I thought I would need a chainsaw to open it. I did taste one with a hole and straw in Hawaii and it was delicious. Zena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I never purchase them either but I hear there's abig difference in taste. PI , " zenbakerwoman " <zenbakerwoman wrote: > > I have never bought a fresh coconut, I thought I would need a chainsaw > to open it. I did taste one with a hole and straw in Hawaii and it was > delicious. > Zena > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 On the pointed end of te coconut about an inch below the tip are 3 darker spots about 1/2 " in diameter. Get a hammer and screwdriver. Place the screwdriver end at one of the dark spots and smack the screwdriver with a hammer. You can even do it on all thedark spots. GB , " Melissa " <mapalicka wrote: > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I had no > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open it. He > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do this > again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Ah ha ! Hammer and screwdriver .. This is exactly the way we have always opened coconuts. Now ,the machette way would look so much more impressive but here is Colorado if I would wield a machette I would most likely be arrested. LOL- Deanna in Colorado ******************************************************************* In , " Guru K " <greatyoga wrote: > > On the pointed end of te coconut about an inch below the tip are 3 > darker spots about 1/2 " in diameter. Get a hammer and screwdriver. > Place the screwdriver end at one of the dark spots and smack the > screwdriver with a hammer. You can even do it on all thedark spots. > > GB > > , " Melissa " <mapalicka@> > wrote: > > > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I had > no > > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to get > > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open it. > He > > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do > this > > again! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 great tips! I will try it again sometime with more expertise : ) , " genny_y2k " <genny_y2k wrote: > > Ah ha ! Hammer and screwdriver .. This is exactly the way we have > always opened coconuts. Now ,the machette way would look so much > more impressive but here is Colorado if I would wield a machette I > would most likely be arrested. LOL- > Deanna in Colorado > ******************************************************************* > In , " Guru K " <greatyoga@> wrote: > > > > On the pointed end of te coconut about an inch below the tip are 3 > > darker spots about 1/2 " in diameter. Get a hammer and > screwdriver. > > Place the screwdriver end at one of the dark spots and smack the > > screwdriver with a hammer. You can even do it on all thedark spots. > > > > GB > > > > , " Melissa " <mapalicka@> > > wrote: > > > > > > So yesterday I bought one of those young coconuts on a whim. I > had > > no > > > idea it would be so tough to work with ! My husband drilled to > get > > > the water out an then drilled and cut, drilled and cut to open > it. > > He > > > didn't like the stuff inside that much that he'd be willing to do > > this > > > again! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 We camped at the National Park at St. John, VI. Not only did the ranger open the coconut in a unique way, but he also climbed up the tree To get it. He had a sharp stake in the ground and threw the coconut on the stake, splitting it open. Unique, but kinda dangerous. Sue ---- genny_y2k 7/13/2007 8:37:14 AM Re: fresh coconut anyone? Ah ha ! Hammer and screwdriver .. This is exactly the way we have always opened coconuts. Now ,the machette way would look so much more impressive but here is Colorado if I would wield a machette I would most likely be arrested. LOL- Deanna in Colorado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.