Opening up Young Coconut - link

[carolg]

Yesterday's rawluck had great demo on opening up young coconut. However you weren't there, but here's a great demo I just found at youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THEdI_gSNQ4

carolg

[raweater]

Those are the ones dipped in formaldehyde, the natural ones are much harder to open as they still have the green husk around them. I had those formaldehyde dipped ones a few times but the smell and taste of formaldehyde was unbearable (I was like eating and drinking formaldehyde), I now only get the whole green coconuts.

[sweepea32]

Hi
Where do you buy the ones with the green husks? I have never seen them.
thanks,
Mary

[Snoozy]

Those are the ones dipped in formaldehyde, the natural ones are much harder to open as they still have the green husk around them. I had those formaldehyde dipped ones a few times but the smell and taste of formaldehyde was unbearable (I was like eating and drinking formaldehyde), I now only get the whole green coconuts.

Where did you get the info about coconuts dipped in formaldehyde? I've done a search for it and can't find much information. Also, Alissa uses them (everyday according to her book) and I can't imagine her using/promoting anything that toxic.

I found an article relating to coconuts AND formaldehyde, which talks about an alternative to plywood...

"Another new product under development is an alternative to plywood that is made by impregnating a coir mat with phenol formaldehyde resin and curing it under heat and pressure."

I also found this...
Young Thai Coconuts and Formaldehyde
There is a lot of discussion that these coconuts, after being trimmed
to a smaller white husk core, are preserved, however, in reading this
document http://www.fas.usda.gov/GainFiles/200308/145985752.pdf though
dated, it seems formaldehyde is prohibited from use...not to say that
the young coconut is not preserved, but where's the evidence that it's
been dipped in formaldehyde before it reaches the States?

So do you (or does anyone) have more information?

[carolg]

Interesting--toxic white young coconuts. Gosh. I haven't seen green ones around here. Would I look in Asian market? Thanks.

carolg

[jessirose]

I just started getting coconuts in the green husk yesterday for the same reason, and came on here to find an easier way to get these open! Until I can think of an easier way, I've been using a big knife, which is pound in with a big rubber mallet to cut the top off, but I have a really hard time getting a good size hole cut in the shell top, (with all the husk in the way). Kind of a pain, but well worth the effort, even if I'm getting husk and shell chunks inside! Is that perfect hole that pops off at the end where the coconut comes off the tree, or the other end???

carolg, You should be able to request them in the green husks from an Asian market. We had to look around and find a big International Market, but now get a case of 20 coconuts this way for $40.

[carolg]

Jess,
Thanks for Asian market and green husk coconuts. I will check with the store as we have a large population of Asians and stores so should not be a problem. Appreciate the heads up.

carolg