Fresh Coconuts

[stayfit1]

Hello Everbody!

I purchased a fresh coconut and I'm curious as what to do with it.
It's been a long time since I've cracked one open; and when I do,
what do I do then?
I used to work with a gal from Thailand. On her return from visiting her family; she brought me a coconut shredder. It's a tool for scraping out the meat from coconuts. Does anyone have any ideas for using the coconut and milk? I'd greatly appreciate your suggestions.
I'm looking forward to Whacking That Coconut Open. Well maybe. It's a little intimidating. Do I need to pound nails in the eye to drain the milk first before cracking it open?

Have a Great Day!

Dianne

 

[acatalina]

I don't have any idea. Never bought a real coconut.
I think the coconut milk will give you the well like ex-lax.
So, i have heard....
I would love to know what happens.

Anne
Aka( Storm)

http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina

 

[sahara]

Hi Dianne,

I am from the Caribbean and we just crack it open at the tip with a machete and drink the water straight from the coconut before cracking it open and eating the meat...usually with our hands. Since I am sure you don't have a machete ;-) , it is best to just make a small hole to drain the water out and then crack it open any way you like. You can take a hammer and just whack it once or twice. If the meat is firm enough, you can shred it and dry it for future use in curries, baking, etc... If the meat is fairly soft and/or runny, you will probably have to eat it fairly quickly or store it in the fridge for a few days until you can think of what to do with it. A smoothie perhaps? You can do an ingredient search on allrecipes.com to find some coconut recipes. Good Luck.

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."

 

[sahara]

>I don't have any idea. Never bought a real coconut.
>I think the coconut milk will give you the well like ex-lax.
>So, i have heard....
>I would love to know what happens.
>
>Anne
>Aka( Storm)
>
>http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina

Anna,

This is news to me. I grew up on coconuts. Never had this problem. Maybe if you consume lots of it but, one coconut shouldn't hurt.

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."

 

[kathryn]

Do you mean the young, green coconuts (white on the outside, usually cut into a point at the top)? They are marvelously healthy. I've seeen directions on opening them up using a machete or very heavy duty knife. A small ax can work as well, but keep the other hand behind your back to avoid accidents.

You basically cut off a bit on the top, until you reach the inside, then make a hole to drain the water (one of the most nutritious beverages in existence: and used for intravenous transfusions during times of war, because it's electrolyte make up is very similar to plasma). The inside is not shreadable: it's a creamy, puddingy consistency.

If you do a search, I'm sure you can find instructions for opening a young coconut. Many raw foodists use young coconut as a basic food it their diets, and they may have instructions on how to do it.

If you mean an old, brown, hairy coconut (the kind most stores will carry), then poke the 'eyes' out with a hammer and nail, or a drill, drain the milk, and either crack the nut on the sidewalk, saw it apart, or bash it with a hammer (on the sidewalk or other surface that won't get damaged. The insides of this kind of coconut are shreadable.

For both types, just drink the water. The young coconut water is light and mild, the old coconut water is richer and a bit heavier. The creamy inside of the young coconut can be used as a pudding.