Coconut question

[Erika]

I haven't had coconut in years but I do remember the taste. I bought a whole coconut at the store and I should have known better than to do that but I did anyway. It took me forever in a day to open the thing and once I did, it wasn't what I was expecting. I drained the water out and tasted it and it wasn't quite the taste that I thought it would be, it kind of tasted like my almonds after I soak them. Anyway, there was a little bit of green mold between the white part and the outer shell. I thought that it was no big deal so I just pealed the meat around it and left it alone. The meat by the way was quite hard and it was very difficult to get out of the shell. There was another part in the meat that looked swollen and larger or thicker than the other sections so I cut through it and it was soft... however under it was a large amount of green mold that once again, sat between the outer edge of the meat and the shell. I'm thinking that it's pretty safe to say that I should throw this coconut out but I wanted opinions. Is this a common thing? I've seen the whole coconuts without the shell at the asian market but I never buy them because I don't hear any water in there when I shake them... what's up with that? What is the best way to buy coconut because this method is for the birds, I don't ever want to crack another one of these open again.

[carolg]

I get from Asian market white coconuts outside. I have a problem opening, but you can see youtube for videos. I use now a screw driver and a hammer, punching several holes around top to suck out water...my husband has to use machette for cracking it opened.

I can't tell you how to select one. I go for big always.

I made several holes on top to get out the "milk."

Ideally thick I heard means old....but still good to eat or freeze....for smoothies, etc....

Thin, slimmy is fresh and best....

I buy several instead of just one...

carolg

[RawSinger]

Did you buy a mature coconut? Those are a lot harder to open and the meat is very hard. Try a white, young Thai coconut from an Asian market or possibly your local health food store. If they don't have them at either of these places, maybe someone from one of those stores could order them for you. Or you could try ordering them from a reputable source on the internet (I don't have a source for you though. Sorry about that).

[RawKnitster]

You can't always hear the water, especially if the coconut is full. I chose the heaviest ones, and look carefully for mold or discoloration. I have a screwdriver and hammer, just for coconuts. Punch through near top on each side and drain water, usually get 2 cups. (If it's pink, that's mold, throw it all out). Then the fun part. I use the claw of the hammer and whack it 4 or 5 times in a line along one side, until I can pry it apart. (use a block of wood to protect your counter, your aim improves with practice). Then I peel out the meat using the back of a spoon, cut any brown off it and wash it. It's worth it, but I always think, there must be a better way. Will be watching your thread to see what pops up.

[Rawkincake]

Most of the coconuts I have had have slightly pink or clear water. I haven't noticed them tasting funky or having any side effects when they are pinkish. Hmmmm :confused:

Anyway, I found this video on opening young coconuts - and after practice can open mine as fast as this guy - http://youtube.com/watch?v=THEdI_gSNQ4

I have a smoothie with a young coconut every day :)

[Erika]

I actually studied microbiology and we talked about some kind of pink mold or bacteria one, I can't remember but thanks for the advice on that. I actually kept the water from the coconut that I had and it was clear and just a tad bit cloudy (hardly worth mentioning). I have an asian market a few miles from my home so I'll get a coconut from that store. This is funny... I tried several different methods for getting this thing open before I figured it out (it was still tough to do though). I nailed a nail in and then pulled it out and then I screwed a screw into the nail hole with an electric screw driver. When I got the screw in, I used pliers to wriggle the screw back and forth until the shell started to crack. After I got my first crack, I used a flat head screw driver to pry into the shell and make the crack go all the way around the coconut. It worked out but it was very time consuming. I'll post again after I try the young thai coconut.

[Clare]

I always go out into the street, crouch down like a real woman and whack it very hard. I have a bowl ready to catch the juice water

I once broke a tile in our old kitchen so I have to use the street now :-)

Once it's in half (or more pieces) I use what looks like a dull little knife (but I think it's an oxo strawberry huller?) to pry the meat from the shell in pieces. We leave the brown thin skin on our pieces and just chew as well as we can. yum.

I haven't bought young ones since they're more expensive and I'd likely want to eat the whole thing, whereas a mature one lasts us (DH and I) at least a couple dinners alongside our salads or whatever.

[Erika]

I took mine out on the patio and whacked it really hard at least 5 times with my old trusty hammer but nothing happened. I really started to feel sorry anyone who gets stranded on an island somewhere and has to eat those for survival.

[Alyssadyane]

First I hammer a nail into two or three of the hole indentations on top. I then pour out the water. Then I wrap the coconut in a towel and take it to the garage to by bf's vise grip thingy. I put the wrapped cocnut in the vise grip and tighten, tighten, tighten. The coconut breaks into several pieces, and the flesh comes comes off for me doing it this way.

[RawKnitster]

Most of the coconuts I have had have slightly pink or clear water. I haven't noticed them tasting funky or having any side effects when they are pinkish. Hmmmm :confused:

Anyway, I found this video on opening young coconuts - and after practice can open mine as fast as this guy - http://youtube.com/watch?v=THEdI_gSNQ4

I have a smoothie with a young coconut every day :)

I think I know what you mean about slightly pink, I look at it and wonder is it or isn't it pink, then I use and it's fine. I've only had one coconut that was really pink. When you see one, you'll know for sure...THATS PINK! Thanks for the youtube link. Going to go check it out now.

[RawKnitster]

Rawkincake, I watched that youtube video in open-mouthed amazement. Going out to get a knife like that today!. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

[carolg]

I take all liquid out with screw driver and hammer making tons of holes at the top to get the liquid out first. I then pile up a bunch of coconuts for my husband to wack.
carolg

[RawKnitster]

Thank you Erika for asking the question, and thank you Rawkincake for providing the answer. I watched the youtube video, purchased the knife, and opened a coconut. It was so easy. I can't get over it! :D Thank You!

[Rawkincake]

I use a cleaver instead of that knife but im sure both would work :)
Yeah my water is either clear or slightly slightly pink (kinda cloudy when it is that pinkish color)

[garden granny]

I used to use an electric drill and drill 2 holes in it & drain the water out into a large measuring cup, then I would have my husband take the coconut out to the garage and use his skill saw & cut it in half. Worked great, then I just used a spoon and scooped out the meat.

[ltcartwright]

Where I live coconuts grow on the side of the road and in almost everyone's yard, but it's tricky to find the young ones because the outer shell of them are yellow (both young and old). I can't tell when they're mature or young, so I asked my Dad to beg some from his neighbor for me. He'll know the difference. The best way to open the young ones is to use a cleaver, for the mature ones, you'll need a machete like knife to open. Once the inside has mold or looks really dried out, chuck it, it's spoiled.

Note: I didn't think of using coconuts for savory dishes, but I got a recipe from Storm & Jinjee that uses coconut in the "meat" part of their Raw Tacos. I wasn't sure how it would taste, but I'm happy to say that it was terrific. So coconut is not banned to sweets anymore!

[deberaw]

...Yikes...green stuff and swollen coconut does not sound normal at all to me........for Young Coco's.....I hack it open with a meat cleaver thing....gotten the hang of it...for mature Coco's......I just go outside...stand on my picnic table and drop it a couple of times!!! I don't need the water in theses...just the coconut which I use to make desserts such as macaroons...yummmy! The young Coco's...I drink the water...or put water and meat in the blender with some vanilla and ice...yummmy...I want one now!!!..........

[mmmfood]

You're a microbiologist! That is so neat!!! What kind of stuff do you look at?

[bellamausi]

I was looking for coconut recipes, but I have to post this video about opening a coconut.

I tried it right after I watched it, and it works!! But you might want to wear some gloves, since when it cracked it pinched the skin of my hand I was holding it with. Ouch!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F-gJC2mcebs (http://http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F-gJC2mcebs)

Oh yes, and coconuts can go bad! My husband bought a coconut once, and the milk tasted sour, and I'm sure the coconut meat was bad too. But I didn't even want to try it. And I do believe I remember some mold.