Young Coconuts

[The Vej]

How do you open Young Coconuts? I've been dieing to get a big machete and maybe this is my chance. I've been using a punch with a hammer to put 2 holes in it then I drink the water and then I get out a 4-pound hammer and break it up. Then I take it inside and scoop out the white stuff. Probably not the best way to do it but I know I'm getting iron!

[RevKale]

If you shave the top like a pencil you can pry the top lid off after punching the wholes , then scoop out the meat or use a large cleaver to shave the top off and slice an opening in it, drain it and then chop it in half.

The second method takes some practice but its much faster, just be careful.

My family buys two cases at a time and the market owner showed us the cleaver method after musing about our bread slicer/screwdriver/hammer method.

[The Vej]

I will try that next time and will be careful to keep my fingers!

[lisa_pe]

A machete is the coconut opener of choice where I live. You just have to keep it sharp! I have not perfected the technique as of yet!
Lisa

[RevKale]

I haven't used a machete to open coconuts yet, but will certainly try it. I'm into anything that saves time in my food prep. Below is a picture of the cleaver that I use currently. When the store owner showed it to me I figured it to be around $80 dollars or so, but it was only 7 bucks. It isn't the kind of cleaver that a Garde manger would use for anything fancy, its just a heavy blade to whack coconuts with.

[The Vej]

Hey it works! Just give it a big chop and drain out the water then cut off the top completly then enjoy. Thanks!

[Ronnie]

Use a large and heavy cleaver. Using the center of the blade, cut around the pointed end pealing back the hull, then using the bottom tip of the blade chop down where you have pealed and you should hit a soft spot that you can peal open. After you are done you can cut the nut in halw with the cleaver and enjoy the meat.

Good Luck.