How do you open coconuts?

[sailaway]

I bought 3 coconuts yesterday and wanted to make a new recipe only to discover (duhhhhh) I have never opened one before. :confused: I suppose you could hit it with a hammer but I need the milk inside as well as the fruit. Welcome all suggestions! :)

[Rawkinlocs]

One of our members had posted a link to a video clip showing how to open coconuts. Try doing a search (the banana icon at the top) and type in "Opening coconuts" and you'll more than likely come across that link plus other threads on this topic.

[deedub]

I think I might have seen that video. The way I do it is I take the biggest sharpest knife I have and not holding the coconut at all slam the knife into the coconut near the tip as the coconut is on its side so that the point is to the right.(I'm right handed). Once the knife is stuck into the coconut I pick up the whole thing and bash it down on the cutting board. I continue doing this until I get through. I end up with only a small hole at the top of the coconut into which I might sip the juice out with a straw or pore it out. Then if I want the meat I do the same thing except I aim for the middle of the coconut. I hope this is some help.

[siempresam]

Am finally pseudo-experienced in this.

One way to open a mature coconut is to take a hammer to it and get your aggression out until it relents.

Maybe this would be more helpful though: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3747&highlight=coconut

;)

[sailaway]

THANK YOU ALL THE INFORAMTION IS GREAT.
siempresam the sites are wonderful. I am off the my first cocunut.

[sailaway]

Thanks to all. I opened the coconuts with ease and the inside is wonderful. I had no idea the milk was that good or the meat so tender. The only coconut I have had before was the thick white stuff that is hard and much drier.

[eliekheder]

what you drunk is not the milk , it is the water.... the coconut milk is the extract from the flesh.

[Dirkg]

Young coconuts are the best. I am lucky to live in a city which has asian stores and they are much cheaper there (along with all other fresh produce). I also got one of those big cleaver knifes for cheap and its much easier for a lot of cutting tasks than a regular chef's knife.