How To Open A Coconut: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to open a coconut with this simple step-by-step guide, with pictures and instructions. 

Whether you’re opening a brown coconut or a young coconut, I have the instructions, tips, and tricks to help you get the coconut opened easily (and safely!).

Fresh coconut meat and coconut water are delicious! Before coconut water was readily available, I would purchase cases of young Thai coconuts from my local Asian market and drink them daily. Thankfully, many brands of coconut water are available, but I still prefer the taste of fresh coconut water straight from the coconut!

There are different ways to open coconuts; some are a little dangerous! Below I share the best method for opening both brown and young coconuts. 

​Differenced Between Brown and Young Coconuts

Two different types of coconuts are found in stores: brown and young. 

• Brown coconuts are mature coconuts that have aged and turned brown over time after falling off the tree. They have less water than young coconuts but much more coconut meat. On the other hand, young coconuts are white or green.
• On the other hand, young coconuts are white or green and contain more water content but less coconut meat than brown coconuts. The flesh inside of young coconuts is soft and jelly-like. If you want to extract coconut water, it is best to choose young coconuts. 
• Green coconuts are the same as white coconuts. A green coconut has outer green skins. If you’ve ever seen a fresh coconut on a coconut palm tree, you will have seen its green skin or outer layer. The skin is usually removed before being sold at the market.

So, to sum it up: if you’re after coconut water, choose young coconuts, and if you want coconut meat, go for brown coconuts.

How To Open A Brown Coconut

Two methods for opening brown coconuts are hammering or baking and hammering. Both work well, but baking the whole coconut makes it easier to open them.

How To Open A Coconut: Oven Method

1. You can find ripe coconuts at any grocery store or Asian market. I like to look for fresh-looking coconuts with a hard outer shell.
2. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
3. Remove the coconut water from the coconut by poking through one of the three holes on top of the coconut. I use a stainless steel straw or a bamboo skewer, but a screwdriver will work too. 
4. Strain the coconut water through a fine mesh strainer and set aside. 
5. Place the coconut on a baking sheet and bake it in the oven for 15-20 minutes. This will help to loosen the meat from the shell.
6. Remove the coconut from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes until it is cool enough to handle.
7. Hold the coconut with a towel or oven mitt and use a large, sharp knife to tap around the circumference of the coconut, making a line from top to bottom. This will create a seam for you to crack the coconut open.
8. Once you have a seam, use a hammer, the back of a cleaver, or a flathead screwdriver to pry or break the shell open.
9. Once the coconut is open, cut the coconut from the shell with a butter knife. It should come off quickly now that it has been baked, but if you’re having difficulty getting the meat from the shell, try freezing the coconut halves overnight. Once frozen, the coconut shell comes off the coconut meat easily.
10. Rinse the coconut meat under cold water to remove any remaining shell fragments or brown skin.
11. Cut the coconut meat into small pieces or shred it with a grater if desired. You can use fresh coconut meat to make homemade coconut milk! 

Hammering Method

1. Remove the coconut water from the coconut by poking through one of the three holes on top of the coconut. I use a stainless steel straw or a bamboo skewer, but a screwdriver will work too. 
2. Strain the coconut water through a fine mesh strainer and set aside.
3. Place the coconut on a towel on a countertop.
4. Hold the coconut in one hand and, with the other hand, a hammer.
5. Carefully hammer the coconut until it cracks open. You may need to give it a good whack a few times before it opens. 
6. Once the coconut is open, use a knife to cut and scrape the meat away from the shell. It should come off easily now that it has been baked. Note: If you’re having a difficult time getting the meat from the shell, try freezing the coconut halves overnight. Once frozen, the coconut shell comes off the coconut meat easily.
7. Rinse the coconut meat under cold water to remove any remaining shell fragments or brown skin.
8. Cut the coconut meat into small pieces or shred it with a grater if desired. You can use fresh coconut meat to make homemade coconut milk! 

How To Open a Young Thai Coconut

You can use a sharp knife to open a young coconut or a coconut opening tool like a Coconut Jack. I prefer to use the tool because it’s less messy and safer. Below I share instructions on how to open a coconut with a knife or a coconut tool. 

How to Open a Young Coconut with a Knife or Cleaver

When shopping for young coconuts, give them a good shake to ensure they have coconut water in them. Sometimes the shell cracks, and coconut water seeps out, leaving the coconut vulnerable and without water. 

1. Lay the coconut on its side on a cutting board and use a cleaver or sharp knife to shave off the top of the coconut, exposing the shell.
2. Using the corner of the cleaver, strike the shell firmly enough to puncture it, then carefully pry off the top to prevent spilling the water.
3. Strain the coconut water to remove any bits of husk or debris.
4. Use an ice cream scoop or a large spoon to remove the white flesh from the coconut. Make sure to scrape the sides of the coconut to get as much meat as possible.
5. Scoop the coconut into a small bowl and reserve it for smoothies or making coconut wraps!

Note: Be very careful when using a knife or cleaver to open a coconut. If you are not experienced with this technique, it is recommended that you seek guidance or use a different method.

How To Open A Coconut With A Coco Jack (Coconut Opening Tool)

I find this to be the easiest way to open a coconut. It’s quick and simple and without mess!

1. Start by selecting a fresh, young Thai coconut. You can find them at many grocery stores and Asian markets. Make sure the coconut is firm and heavy for its size, with no cracks or dark spots.
2. Rinse the coconut with cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
3. Place the coco jack tool on top of the coconut, ensuring that the sharp ring faces downwards towards the coconut.
4. Hold the coconut jack tool firmly with both hands and press it down toward the coconut. The ring will pierce through the top of the coconut.
5. Then, hammer the coconut tool into the top of the coconut. The round device will break through the young coconut. 
6. Use the leverage provided by the tool to pry open the coconut by pulling the handle towards yourself.
7. Once the coconut is open, pour the coconut water out of the coconut and into a container. I like using a mesh strainer to remove debris from the coconut juice. 
8. Now you can use a spoon or knife to scoop out the soft, jelly-like meat inside the coconut. The meat should be easy to remove from the shell.
9. Rinse the coconut meat under cold water to remove any remaining shell fragments.
10. Cut the coconut meat into small pieces or shred it with a grater if desired.

FAQ

Opening a coconut may seem intimidating at first, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be done easily and safely. Whether you’re dealing with a brown or young coconut, the key is to take your time and follow the steps carefully. By using a coconut tool, cleaver, or knife, you can quickly and easily access the delicious and nutritious coconut water and meat inside.

Related:

• How To Make Coconut Oil
• The Best Coconut Milk To Buy
• How To Make Desiccated Coconut

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