How to Open a Coconut

When one buys a coconut at the grocery store it has already been had the husk removed. The husk is a thick fibrous covering around the shell. It takes a bit of work to get the husk off. Hitting the husk on something sharp will open it up, then after a few good hits, the husk can usually be ripped off by hand.

More than likely you will just buy your coconut at the grocery store and it will already have the husk removed. So your task is to open the shell to get at the white coconut meat on the inside. Remember there is also the coconut milk on the inside. This should be drained out before you crack open the shell. On one end of the coconut there are 3 dimples or small roundish depressions, one of them can be punctured more easily then the other two. Find this weaker dimple and puncture it with an ice pick or other sharp object. Make a hole big enough for the milk to pour out. Save this milk, some people like it. Now starting at the hole you just made, visualize an imaginary line that goes between the other two holes, a quarter of the way around the coconut. That is where one hits the coconut with a big hammer. If you use the right amount of force the coconut will split in half ( some practice is needed).

Good luck and wear safety glasses.