There’s more than one way to crack a coconut! Here are our favorite cracking methods to get at that delicious fresh coconut meat…

After you’ve pierced the eyes (the three spots at the top of the coconut that look like finger holes on a bowling ball) and purged the liquid (which is delicious and healthful to drink), put the coconut in a 375ºF oven for 20 minutes. Take it out, and let it cool for about five minutes. Then put a towel on top, and tap on it with a hammer until the coconut breaks, which should happen pretty easily. Also, the warm coconut meat should pull away easily from the shell.

If you don’t feel like heating up your oven, try this: After purging the water, put your coconut in the freezer for one hour, then cover it with a towel and tap on it with a hammer to break it open. Break it into smaller pieces, and use a butter knife to separate the meat from the shell.

The coconut meat will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about five days…if you can keep yourself from eating it all before that!

More food hacks…

• Quick Work with Cranberries

• Easy Way to Peel Garlic (and Keep It Whole)

• No-Waste Tomato Paste

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