Coconuts are amazing. They can give you healthy and refreshing coconut water, and delicious coconut meat.
Even the coconut shell has so many uses.
However, opening a coconut isn’t exactly easy. It takes skills, tools, and strength to open one.
Khalil Omar shows us that there is a way to open a coconut and extract its juices and meat easily.
No hammer or screwdriver necessary.
Khalil’s method is both simple and effective, but it’s still a process. And, as with any other process, there are a few things that you’ll need.
Gather these:
- Corkscrew
- Coconuts
- A glass
- Sieve
- Knife
- Big bowl
- Tray
- Cutting board
- Butter or paring knife
- Vegetable peeler
Start by getting your coconuts.
Get one and find the germination holes. Don’t worry, they are easy to find.
This is the softest spot of the coconut, so we want to use this to extract the coconut water.
Khalil shares that one of the holes is always softer than the others. Choose that one.
Grab the corkscrew.
Carefully insert the tip of the corkscrew into one of the germination holes on the coconut.
After the corkscrew is inserted, use one hand to steady the coconut while you screw it all the way into the coconut.
Now, press the “wings” of the corkscrew downward to make an opening for the next step.
Extracting the coconut water
Next, place a sieve over a glass and allow the coconut water to drain into it.
You can put the coconut water in the fridge and enjoy it later.
Now, grab the bowl and a knife.
Cracking the coconut
We will use the spine of the knife and not the blade.
Carefully hold the coconut and focus on the center.
Hit the coconut using the spine of the knife firmly and repeatedly.
Make sure you evenly hit every part by turning the coconut as you smack it with the knife.
You will see the coconut crack.
When you do, you can easily open it from there.
Just pull it apart.
To get the meat out, Khalil has another tip to share.
Bake it.
Get a baking tray and put your coconut face down. Then bake it for 15 minutes at 400°F.
Carefully remove the coconuts and transfer them to your cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes.
Get your paring or butter knife and place it between the shell and the meat of the coconut.
Pry it out by moving it inside.
It will pop out whole.
It will easily pop out and you will be left with your coconut meat with some of the brown outer layers.
Grab the veggie peeler
Using your peeler, peel the shell residue.
You can use the coconut meat or choose to preserve it.
Preserve it by using the peeler to shave off strips of coconut, starting at the rim and moving backward.
Once done, bake them in a single layer on the lowest setting possible, at least 150°F or lower, for 1 to 2 hours.
You know they are ready when you can easily snap them.
Store your dehydrated coconut meat in a tight container or zip lock and use it later.
Tips to remember:
- Don’t throw the shell. You can use it as bird feeders, bowls, or even to store jewelry.
- You can use coconut meat in your smoothies or salads.
- Coconut water is rich in potassium.
- If you love DIY, coconut shells are great projects to have.
See Khalil’s full tutorial in the video below!
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