Cracking open a fresh coconut

They are sold with the husk partially removed, leaving a. This tutorial shows tips for storing fresh coconut as well as how to buy, open, and use the coconut meat in your favorite recipes i will show you how to buy the best coconuts, how to crack them open and how to store coconut meat to keep it from going bad. Cracking open a coconut takes some practice, but there are several tricks. Nothing beats the satisfaction of cracking open a fresh coconut. When buying a coconut, first feel how much water is present inside, as well as how heavy it is, in comparison to others. How to crack open and use a whole coconut delightful adventures. Luckily, the casa chameleon staff are coconutcracking pros, and theyve agreed to share their secret on how to crack open a coconut. Storing fresh coconut how to purchase, open and use coconut.

Aileen suzara cracks open filipino cuisine in coconut cooking. One thing that will make your life much simpler is to. Fresh coconut tastes great and is highly nutritious, but cracking one open is pretty intimidating. In addition to how flavorful fresh coconut meat can be, theres also the added bonus of its high nutritional content. Id do it every once in a while, just for the fun of it not, but after sustaining an incredibly painful. Luckily, just a quick overnight stay in the freezer.

Storing fresh coconut how to purchase, open and use. I love the flavor and texture, but i hate what i have to endure going through to get into that shell. The first step in using a fresh, whole coconut is cracking the darn thing open. Opening a coconut in the wild with or without tools art of manliness. I prefer to make homemade coconut milk by blending raw coconut meat and coconut water from a fresh young thai coconut. Cracking open a coconut takes some practice, but there are several tricks to make it a bit easier. Before breaking them open we would pierce at least two of those three eyes that are at one end with an icepick and drain out the coconut water. Dealing with a fresh coconut which does not, i admit, look userfriendly is not as difficult as it seems. How to crack a coconut dealing with a fresh coconut which does not, i admit, look userfriendly is not as difficult as it seems. Place coconut on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until the hard outer. We crack open coconuts by holding it in the left hand and the blunt edge of an arivaal a cross between a sickle and a machete and whacking it 34 times along the equator, rotating it each time.

When i was a kid growing up in texas we used to get lots of coconuts. Then place the coconut in a polythene bag and sit it on a hard surface a stone. We use coconut a lot and the way we crack it, is by. I like to sweeten fresh coconut milk with dates so it is a well combined recipe. In the kitchen, fresh coconuts can add great flavor to ones culinary. A ripe coconut will have more water present, and it will be heavier than an older one. Jul 24, 2017 this genius tool makes opening a coconut easy.

Fresh coconut meat and water tastes a million times yummier than the packaged kind. To crack the coconut open, you will need to have a few things. Coconut is the new pomegranate, prized not only for its flavor and versatility, but its health benefits as well. Use a vegetable peeler to scrape off the brown skin before grating the meat. Coconuts are the largest nut in existence, so naturally, it takes a few special steps to crack em openbut its worth it. I recall ladies at my hometown winndixie in boone holding the holiday seasons fresh coconuts to their ears and shaking them to listen for the sloshing contents, like excited and curious. Pierce softest eye of coconut with a metal skewer or small screwdriver and drain liquid into a bowl to sample if it. Cracking a coconut is like popping a water balloon that has the skin of a bowling ball, without spilling the allimportant coconut water held inside. After youve gone to the trouble of cracking a coconut, what do you do with the meat. Opening a coconut is easy with the coco jack epicurious. Skip the expensive storebought juice and learn how to open fresh coconuts with this easytouse tool. Second generation filipina american, aileen suzara recently taught cooking with coconut class at the oakland asian cultural center, featuring binakol, laing and palitaw. Jun 29, 2017 in spite of how intimidating cracking a coconut can be, with a little kitchen knowhow and a few simple tools, its not as challenging as it first appears. Hold the coconut firmly with one hand and whack the coconut on the center ridge.

A damp coconut likely means that there is a crack or multiple cracks and the water has started to drain out. Nov 01, 2016 if youre not a coconut cracking ninja from samoa, then youll need an easier way to bust coconuts for pleasure, or for survival. Use these steps to crack open a coconut and use the milk and coconut meat. Hold the coconut in one hand with its center or equator resting firmly in your palm, with the eyes on one side and the stem on the other. Cracking open coconut milk in australia inside out. Mar 22, 20 i bought a coconut today, most people avoid whole coconut in the store because they dont know how easy it will be to open it when they get home. Whether you plan to cook with it or eat it as a snack, raw coconut is packed with nutritional benefits, including tons of minerals, fiber, protein, and energyboosting fats. Jul 25, 20 when i was a kid growing up in texas we used to get lots of coconuts.

Use an ice pick or screwdriver to poke out 2 of the coconuts eyes. The last whack cracks open the coconut, so we better need a wide vessel to collect the water the coconut can be pried open at this stage easily. Sep 21, 2012 coconut is the new pomegranate, prized not only for its flavor and versatility, but its health benefits as well. Place coconut on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until the hard outer shell begins to crack. When choosing your coconut at the grocery store, be sure to shake it. You should all crack open a coconut once, just so you can feel strong and independent and selfsufficient flex muscles here then just go buy the unsweetened shredded coconut at the store. Everyone should have the old fashioned fun of cracking open a coconut and preparing the meat from scratch.

Cracking open the coconut use a hammer to hit the center of the coconut while you turn it. Coconut is high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium and copper. Let me explain to you how you can crack open a coconut easily. Draining the coconut juice youll need to drain and collect the coconut juice before opening the coconut if youre planning to prepare your own coconut milk, which entails blending the meat with the juice and adding water. He also laughed when i admitted that i cracked open a coconut for a photo of a recipe that doesnt even require cracking open a coconut. Hold coconut over a bowl in one hand such that the midriff rests in the middle of your palm, with the tip on one end and the eyes on the other. Fresh coconut i have a lovehate relationship with it. Once you get home, if the coconut is wrapped in plastic, remove the plastic. With great care, as it involves hard vegetable matter, sharp steel and brute force.

However, if you want coconut shavings or grated coconut, you need to crack open some of the older gents and pry out the fatty, fibrous white meat and do what you will with it. In terms of texture and flavor, dried coconut cant touch the fresh stuff, but separating the meat from the shell can be a bit of a struggle. How to crack coconuts video tutorial cultured palate. F for about 15 minutes and remove it from the oven. Jul 30, 2014 nothing beats the satisfaction of cracking open a fresh coconut. Remove coconut and set aside until cool enough to handle. Cracking a coconut may seem like a daunting task, but it can be done at home with a little bit of effort. How to crack open a fresh coconut quickly and easily with tools that. Have you ever wanted to use fresh coconut but just didnt know how to crack coconuts to get the fresh meat out. To open a coconut, start by poking a hole in the top with a knife and draining out all the water.

Opening a coconut the safe and easy way butteryum a. Even when youre done eating and drinking everything the coconut has to offer, the shell is useful as a bowl or cup. Easiest way to crack open a fresh coconut the tasty bite. Learn how to safely crack open and break down a fresh coconut fruit to remove the coconut water and meat from food network. Puncture two of the eye holes with an ice pick or clean screwdriver and set the coconut over a bowl to collect the juice. How to handle and store fresh coconut and coconut milk. Cracking open a raw coconut can be intimidating at first, but the process is quite simple. Wrap the baked coconut in a towel, and tap it with a hammer all over.

Using coldpress techniques, we make the most delicious and creamy coconut milk with the flesh of mature coconuts. Feb 25, 20 have you ever wanted to use fresh coconut but just didnt know how to crack coconuts to get the fresh meat out. Im going to walk you through seven easy steps so theres no more fear when it comes to how to crack open and use a whole coconut. All you need is a coconut, a hammer, a large clean nail, and a bowl or cup to catch the water. Then, bake the coconut in the oven at 375 f 190c for 10 minutes or until a crack forms in the shell. Heres how i do it choosing a coconut first, a tip on choosing a coconut. Bake the coconut in a preheated 400 degree f oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until coconut cracks. After baked, remove all the coconut meat from the shell, peel off the brown skin and cut. Jun 07, 2000 puncture two of the eye holes with an ice pick or clean screwdriver and set the coconut over a bowl to collect the juice. While other cookbooks on the subject suggest using convenience ingredients which only dilute the complex flavors of thai food, sumei explains how to make. A fresh, mature coconut should have about a cup of juice.

First push a skewer into the three holes in the top of the coconut and drain out the milk and reserve it if the recipe needs it. Inside out is launching its coconut milk the very first coldpressed and coldpressured, fresh coconut milk in australia. That way theres no chance of losing what, to me, was the best part of the coconut when cracking it open. Chef and cooking teacher sumei yu shares the thai love of cooking in cracking the coconut, the first cookbook to present thai recipes prepared in the authentic and traditional manner. Young coconuts imported from tropical nations are sometimes available in markets and asian stores. You can create a fresh batch of coconut water and meat with only a screwdriver, a hammer, and a baking sheet. The old fashioned coconut pudding recipes featured below call for the allnatural, fresh taste of coconut. Aug 29, 2012 from the sweet coconut water hidden inside to the soft pulp scooped straight from the shell, fresh coconut is a treat like no other.

I bought a coconut today, most people avoid whole coconut in the store because they dont know how easy it will be to open it when they get home. Bake the coconut in a preheated 400 degree f oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Shake the coconut gently a fresh coconut full of water will feel heavy and youll hear the water sloshing. We buy coconuts weekly since we learned this trick. So when we were making ondeonde, we used mature brownhusked ones, which have a thicker layer of flesh. Jul 11, 2019 even when youre done eating and drinking everything the coconut has to offer, the shell is useful as a bowl or cup. Whether you obtain your coconut meat the traditional way by cracking open a coconut or buy it already shredded, youll love these easytomake desserts.

My mom would share the cooled, sweet coconut water with me and shed help me scoop out the fresh coconut jellylike meat inside, and id devour every bite with a slurp. So we asked our test kitchen staff to give us a quick. Once the shell is cracked, take the coconut out of the oven and put it in a plastic bag. When you open a coconut to extract its prized flesh, or endosperm, you have to go through several layers of protection. Just keep hitting and turning the coconut until you see a fracture line start to form. But if youve ever succumbed to the allure of one of these coconuts at the store, you know that cracking it open and getting your treat can present some challenges. Puree the meat from a young green coconut with a couple tablespoons of fresh coconut.

Strain the coconut water through a sieve and into a bowl. So, you got your hands on some fresh coconut, but you arent really sure where to begin. You can crack a coconut to make your own coconut milk, enjoy the raw coconut meat, or use it in. In this video, i show you the secret that makes cracking coconuts a breeze. The secret of cracking a coconut steamy kitchen recipes.

The water from a fresh, young coconut should be sweet. Since you can get a coconut without a husk at the store, you dont even have to worry about the hassle of peeling one off. The soft, nutty taste works well in so many different contexts, from desserts to savory dishes. So now that you know how to crack open and use a whole coconut and you have fresh. Once the coconut is opened, use a small paring knife or spoon to remove the meat from the shell. If it is still difficult to crack it open, put it back into the oven for another 15 minutes. How to rehydrate dried coconut coconut recipes, dry. How to crack open and use a whole coconut delightful. From the sweet coconut water hidden inside to the soft pulp scooped straight from the shell, fresh coconut is a treat like no other. Turn the coconut as you whack it and keep hitting it around the center of the coconut.

If you cant find the unsweetened shredded coconut called for in the coconut brigadeiros recipe, consider starting with a fresh coconut from the produce section. Whack the coconut with the back that is to say the blunt side of the cleaver a few times all around the center until it cracks open cleanly into two nearly equal halves. Jul 30, 2010 fresh coconut i have a lovehate relationship with it. No packaged shreds or bottled coconut water can compare to fresh coconut, but cracking them open has always seemed a little intimidating. Id do it every once in a while, just for the fun of it not, but after sustaining an incredibly painful injury to the palm of my hand while. It does take more effort to crack and grate a coconut yourself, but you will be rewarded with great flavor. I bought a coconut today, most people avoid whole coconut in the store because they dont know how easy it will be to open it when they get. Using a hammer, smash the coconut until it cracks open. You see, i love love love fresh coconut with a passion, but i used to never eat it because cracking open that hard shell to get to the.

So when we were making ondeonde, we used mature brownhusked ones, which have. Trained martial art masters have been known to crack open coconuts with their bare hands, but if you. You should be able to hear the juice sloshing about inside. Jun 14, 2014 let me explain to you how you can crack open a coconut easily.

This is the easiest and most effective way ive found to do it. Cracking open young thai coconuts can be scary and daunting. Pierce softest eye of coconut with a metal skewer or small screwdriver and drain liquid into a bowl to sample if it tastes sweet, the coconut is fresh. Using a blunt knife i use a butter knife, carefully run the tip of it. Aileen suzara cracks open filipino cuisine in coconut. Heres the easiest method for cracking open a coconut and saving its sweet, refreshing liquid. The easiest way to crack a coconut is to freeze it first. So simple and allows you to not only enjoy the fresh coconut water, but the scooping the meat out too. Nature made coconuts tough to open for the same reason it did other seeds to protect the embryo.

This is an interesting way into coconut cracking and shredding. Learn the old fashioned secret of how to open a coconut and remove its meat, and you can enjoy the fresh coconut taste for all your baking needs. Despite many attempts, i had never successfully cracked open a coconut and was pretty bothered by it. Young varieties contain only a thin lining of meat. But you wont reap any of these benefits if you dont know how to open one up. Adjust the amount of coconut water to achieve your preferred consistency. Here, our favorite recipes starring the versatile coconut. How to crack open a coconut quickly, easily and painlessly. Use an ice pick or screwdriver to poke out 2 of the coconut s eyes. In spite of how intimidating cracking a coconut can be, with a little kitchen knowhow and a few simple tools, its not as challenging as it first appears. I was at the grocery store one day to pick up a few things and saw a mountain of fresh coconuts right in front of me. Youve heard of people using cleavers and cracking open the coconut against sharp edges.

The best way to crack open a coconut martha stewart. Coconut is also plays an important role in traditional filipino cuisine. Here is a detailed stepbystep that will have you using fresh coconut in no time. Directions use an ice pick or screwdriver to poke out 2 of the coconuts eyes. Wondering how to crack open and use a whole coconut. If youre not a coconut cracking ninja from samoa, then youll need an easier way to bust coconuts for pleasure, or for survival. If you find fresh coconuts in the shop, hold them up next to your ear and shake them.