What's Best Tool/Knife to Open Thai Young Coconuts??

[littleangelbear]

Hi raw friends,

Just wondered what's the best tool or knife to open the Thai Young Coconuts? I saw Alissa use a 'machete' type of knife to open them on her DVD's. I have been raw over a year and have never eaten one! LOL After my positive experiences with the raw coconut butter by Artisana, I really want to eat some coconuts too!

I have some expensive Wusthof Trident knives that I don't think would be good to use because it could dull them or damamge them. But, I'd be open to buying a special knife or tool just for the coconuts if it were $40 or less.

Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions?

Right now there's ice and snowstorm here, but my brain thinks tropically! LOL

Bear hugs to all,
L

[cassidy]

I don't use any special knife - I don't use a knife at all actually. I take a screwdriver and place it over the eye. I then hammer the (clean) screwdriver into the eye. I drain the water into a cup through the whole. Then I take the hammer and hit the top of the coconut and it caves in a bit and I just use my hands to pry it open - then scrape the meat out!
I have a fear of using knives on things such as coconuts. I also have a fear of axes and chopping wood... I am convinced I will loose a finger, or two. Or a hand :eek:

Good Luck!

[jnoelj]

I use a screw driver and a hammer or mallot - there is something so worth getting that coconut open after a good workout!! (The guys I work with think I'm crazy...)

[Nectarine]

I throw it against the wall. Just kidding hehe. No, I use a hammer and a narrow chisel in the way described above; a clean one of course :cool:

[littleangelbear]

My hubby will be excited to be able to use 'real' tools in the kitchen!!! :) Hee hee!

I think I'm much more comfortable with screwdriver than a big machete or knife...It must be a fear from past lives of mine :)

Thank so much for the suggestions!!!!!!!

[Veganforlife]

Use your teeth. I did!

[Amberly]

There seems to be a lot of coconut talk going on lately. Something must be in the air. :p

[RawVee]

Many different ways to do this. Using a knife or cleaver is actually easier than you'd think.

http://www.adventuresinrawfood.com/the-best-way-to-cut-open-a-young-coconut
http://www.reallyrawfood.com/how-to-kill-a-young-coconut/
http://www.serenityspaces.org/coconut.asp
http://www.rawguru.com/html/openyoungcoconut.html

Also, my brother taught me a method that makes hardly any mess (using a cleaver looks like I've massacred the poor coconut). I take a strong, serrated knife (like a bread knife), saw through the cone-shaped top, pretty far down, halfway through the coconut. If it's difficult to get through the husk, I tap the knife lightly with the blunt end of a cleaver. Once the liquid starts leaking out, I dump it into my Vitamix and then pop the top off. I can then scoop out the remaining meat.

Happy coconutting! V

[AICgem]

I use a short heavy knife and a rawhide mallot (easier on the knife than metal hammer, plus I have a couple in the studio!) Make a couple slits, drain out water, then hammer and pry until top pops off.

[Apasaraw]

Veganforlife...I so needed that. Hilarious!
RawVee, awesome links!

Chinese cleaver from the Asian store is what I use...wack and twist. wack and twist...

"I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
There they are all standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head..."

Old Danny Kaye tune...

[RawVee]

Chinese cleaver from the Asian store is what I use...wack and twist. wack and twist...


Apasaraw,

wack and twist sounds like the latest dance craze!! :)

Soon, everyone in the world will be doing the wack and twist in their raw kitchens... :p

[VeggieMel]

Right now I use an axe!! It works great, but it's heavy. I may invest in a good meat cleaver next.

[RowanC]

I've never seen an eye on a young thai coconut?
Mine are completely covered in white husk.

I take a very heavy steel-bladed knife and WHACK it all around the top, then peel the top back. Inside is the jellylike meat and sweet water.

The only eyes I've seen are on older brown coconuts, and for your information, those are most often filled with water. If you fiddle with the "eyes" you'll find one that's plugged with wax after they fill it! I had a produce guy tell me that almost ALL brown coconuts are filled with plain old tapwater..... so unless they're organic, beware!

[luckitri]

wow! Rowan! I did not know that!

I stick a nail in the flat end or bang a screwdriver in and make 2 holes to drain easy.

Drain in blender or pitcher.

Have hubby saw it open and rinse and take out meat and blend.

Someone on here posted that she drains the milk and then puts the coconut in a supermarket plastic bag and slams it on the sidewalk to open!

[sweepea32]

I just recently went to a class on raw foods and he showed how to open one. He highly recommended a Smith-Wesson knife-costs $45 on their site-it looked so easy with this really!! If I had the extra bucks lying around I might buy it.


Mary

[Vegan Princess]

Oh yay - now that I'm not scared of chopping my hand off I can try all the great recipes that call for coconut in the Raw Food Real World cookbook!

[Pailani]

My two tools are a pair of kitchen shears and the sidewalk outside.

I use the scissors to punch a hole in the softest part I can find at the bottom of the coconut to drain the juice out. Then I throw it on the concrete until it cracks open. Foolproof, safe, and it amuses the neighbors. :)

[moonstone523]

I pick coconuts off trees in my yard so they are obviously not dehusked and nice and easy to open like those found in the grocery store.

I use a machete. It took lots of practice, but I got it down and think I'm ready to compete in the coconut opening contest. :cool:

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I pick coconuts off trees in my yard so they are obviously not dehusked and nice and easy to open like those found in the grocery store.

I use a machete. It took lots of practice, but I got it down and think I'm ready to compete in the coconut opening contest. :cool:


Alrighty-now that sounds just incredible! :D

Lana

[Lady Green Jeans]

I bought a hefty cleaver at the Asian market and have used that with varying degrees of success--meaning it takes a little practice and a lot of care as I like my fingers and want to keep them. Actually, it is more about good aim and really have gotten better although don't practice often as I don't purchase Thai coconuts often--they sure are good and fun once in awhile.

veganforlife--Thank you for the great laugh I had over your frog pic.

[Xanadu]

Use your teeth. I did!


Ohhhh, Veganforlife I am rolling on the floor laughing my head off!!! :D :D :D