Tryed something new today

[Curtis]

Hi all,
Made an amazing discovery today. One of the food stores in town is starting to stock a lot more organic vegetables and fruits and I found the young coconuts Alissa talks about in her book. lol I could not believe I found it in a regular store! Anyway brought it home and put the milk and meat from it in my blender, and because blueberries are one of my favorite fruits added them to and blended it up. It was wonderful. :) Makes a really great smoothie.

[Analeah]

Mmmmm, that sounds so good Curtis! *Sigh* I wish there was somewhere I could find young coconuts! I really do miss them! I have been living with the mature coconuts which aren't so bad but there is nothing like a fresh young coconut and especially mixed with blueberries it sounds wonderful!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Curtis,

Would you share how you opened your coconut?

I have a young coconut in my frig that I'm going to attempt to open (for just the water at this time).

Thanks.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Curtis]

rofl, well since this was my first one used a knife until I got impatient and pulled out my trusty hammer.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks Curtis,

I guess it's trial and error. I've asked a few more people and they right now a screwdriver and hammer are the most popular with a machette knife coming in second.

Here are a couple of links on opening a coconut:

Opening a young coconut

Another link on opening a young coconut

I don't know if these will help, but might.

I opened one young coconut. I used 6 or 7 different tools (my DH's), probably spent 20-30 minutes opening it, didn't like it and threw it out and then spent 20 minutes cleaning all the tools and mess on the counter.

I'm hoping for a shorter time in opening this one.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[ConsciousCuisine]

I get mine open in three whacks from a really good Henkels Cleaver, intended for "Meat" and "Bones"...

[mwjeepster]

that's what my dh did, first he screwed a hole into it (this was a mature coconut) with an electric screwdriver, then we drained out the water, then he took it out on to the back deck and hacked the bejingles out of it with a clever and came back with three large pieces of coconut. Poor coconut!

Hey Curtis - glad to hear you liked the young coconut. I haven't found any here yet, but I haven't really looked for one in earnest either. What I discovered today was given to me by my vegan friend - a tiiiiiiiny little yellow tomato - the size of your thumbnail, wrapped in a parchment-like leaf - it was a bit sweet and very strange tasting... I don't know what they're called... she also gave me a watermelon radish. I didn't care for it - I'm not into bitter or spicy things at all - and this burned my mouth out!!!!

Love to all,
Melissa

[Analeah]

I used to open the young coconut with a big strong knife, either a butcher knife or something else similar. I hacked a small circle on the top around the point (maybe about the size of a tennis ball or a little larger) then give it one big hack and the top part will come off. Then you can neatly pour all the water out and then scrape the fleshy part out with the top part of the coconut. I had a machete too and tried opening it with that but honestly I don't think it works as well as using a butcher knife.

[Jeanne]

At least one of the three indentaion type holes on one end is very soft and pokes right through. I found two soft ones that I poked through and this let the water come out easily.
My son holds the coconut in one hand and hammers it. It never shatters, just sort of cracks and caves in a bit.

[flutterfly]

Sounds yummy. I need to go shopping for a young coconut

[smasty]

Hi Guys!!! I find it so inspiring that people are out there trying new things.
Jeanne, young coconuts don't have eyes (kind of like puppies )

I cut away the softer white part from the peak, jam a big knife in to just bury the point, then use leverage to kind of slide the knife around the top. When I'm done, I've got a perfect 3" whole all around the top, big enough to scape out the meat. Do a couple and you'll find your own technique.

[Rawkinlocs]

At my local fruit market, I've seen coconuts that look like the ones in the pictures of young coconuts, but they call them Thai coconuts...are they the same?

Thanks

[Analeah]

Yes Thai coconuts are (as far as I know) the exact same thing as what is sometimes called young coconuts.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks everyone for your tips in opening a coconut.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is a pretty free day for me (for a change) and I'll see how it goes. I'll report back tomorrow after I conquer my young coconut!

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

Alissa's video shows how to open them and I've tried it and it works. I take the corner of a large knife (close to the handle) and pound around in a circle until I can pry it up with my fingers. Pour out the water and blend it up.