How to open a young coconut correctly. What to do if there is a coconut in the house? Breaking a nut with your bare hands

After purchasing an exotic nut, the inevitable question arises: how to open it. I don’t want the coconut to remain a decoration on the kitchen table. Moreover, its pulp and milk are healthy and pleasant to the taste. At home you can open it and cut it in different ways, and then immediately use it for food or store it.

Coconut on our table

Coconut is one of the most exotic nuts that has ever captured the hearts of gourmets around the world. It grows on a palm tree and has a fleecy shell, thin peel and aromatic white pulp, which is consumed fresh, frozen and dried. When purchasing, you need to choose a coconut without cracks or chips, since if the nut is cracked, it begins to quickly rot. Coconut is a high-calorie product. Per 100 g of pulp there is:

• 33.5 g fat;
• 6.2 g carbohydrates;
• 3.5 g proteins;
• 2 g ash;
• 11.5 g water.

But it’s not just the aroma and taste that attract customers. Coconut is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. For the sake of all these qualities, it is worth working in the kitchen, opening the nut.

The fastest and easiest way to open a coconut - instructions

It doesn't require much effort and is great for opening ripe nuts. We will need:

• coconut;
• cup.

Operating procedure:

1. Place coconut on work surface- cutting board or kitchen table. You can place a towel to prevent the nut from slipping.
2. We take a large knife, turn it upside down and tap the nut around the circumference with the blunt side.
3. When the coconut cracks, pour the juice into a glass and break the nut.

Other ways to open a nut

There are many ways to open coconuts, because the nut does not always yield the first time. If the coconut is not very ripe, you will have to try to taste it. First of all, we need a towel. By placing a nut on it, we will avoid sliding on the table or board. The towel can be replaced with cling film or a plastic bag. For opening use:

• hammer;
• hand saw;
• drill with drill bit;
• screwdriver;
• scissors;
• awl;
• rolling pin;
• big knife

How to make a hole in a coconut - video

How to open a coconut with a knife

You need to make a hole in one of the so-called eyes. You can drill in any part of the nut, but where the eye is located, the thickness of the shell is thinner. Any sharp object will do: a screwdriver, scissors or a knife.

1. At the place where the peephole is located, we begin to scrape the shell.
2. As soon as there is a depression, screw the tip of the knife into the coconut.
3. We throw away the sawdust from the shell when we make the hole.
4. Pour the liquid out of the coconut.

How to crack an exotic nut shell with a potato peeler

The shells can be removed using a potato peeler.

1. Use a knife to cut off the shell towards you. Despite its hardness, it is only slightly more difficult to remove than potato peels.
2. We go through the knife several times, removing several layers, until we get to the nut.

Using the oven

Another unconventional way to open a coconut, when you don’t need to make any effort at all, is to use the oven.

1. Chop the nut and drain the liquid.
2. Place coconut on a baking sheet.
3. Place in the oven and set the temperature to 180 degrees.
4. Keep in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. The shell will burst on its own, all that remains is to remove it.

Using a corkscrew and hammer

1. Make a hole in the coconut by screwing in a corkscrew. We expand it a little with a small knife.
2. Pour the juice from the coconut into a glass.
3. Tap the nut with a hammer, applying force. You can knock both circumferentially and lengthwise: from the top of the coconut to the bottom.
4. The shell is cracking. We peel the coconut from it.

Ways to open a coconut - video

How to crack a nut smoothly

It would seem that there is nothing complicated here. It’s just that the shell and nut crack in a way we don’t want. I would like to keep it beautiful appearance, and then a crack appeared diagonally. To prevent this from happening, you need to chop coconuts correctly.

Using a hand saw

You need to cut the coconut along its central seam: if you look closely, you will see it between the eyes. Mark a line with a marker and cut it.

A simple way to peel a young nut

Fans of beautifully decorated coconuts advise cleaning the young fruit as follows:

Young coconuts can be cracked using any of the suggested methods. The main thing is not to throw them on the floor - you can break the tiles or laminate. Among other things, you can break a coconut on a sharp stone by holding it firmly with your hands.

The correct way to cut a coconut and extract the pulp at home

1. Before tasting the coconut, we must separate the flesh from the husk. If the nut is young, this will not be difficult. It has softer and more tender flesh than old coconuts. Therefore, you can use a tablespoon. We don't pry large number pulp with the sharp edge of a spoon and cut off. You can simply scrape the coconut out of the shell with a spoon.
2. You can also separate the peel using a screwdriver (not a Phillips screwdriver) or a corkscrew. We insert the tool into the gap between the shell and the pulp and separate it.
3. A spoon won't cut it with old coconuts. Here you will need a small and sharp knife. We cut through the entire thickness of the pulp to the peel into small squares or triangles. We pry a piece with a knife and separate it from the peel with our fingers.

The snow-white pulp is covered with skin on the other side. You can remove it with a regular vegetable knife.

What you can make from coconut shells with your own hands: life hacks

In fact, a lot of interesting things can be made from shells. Some create carved vases, others put zippers on glue and make unique handbags from the shells, turning them into unusual candles.

Candles made from shells

We will need:

• shell;
• stubs of colored candles;
• wick (can be twisted from thick threads and soaked in wax);
• fine sandpaper;
• wood varnish.

Manufacturing:

Vases, bolsters and mugs made from shells - reviews of crafts

Coconut makes good mugs - in the manner of those from which it is customary to drink mate (in the sense of a metal “harness” of the same design). In addition, coconut shells are not bad, they cut very well as a material for small reliefs, medallions, divination rune dominoes (I made three sets at one time, they turned out very nicely) There is only one “BUT”: the shell flows through the capillary paths in the thickness (small and slow , but nevertheless), so I soaked my mug with wax over the fire. I like it - exclusive and kosher, no one else has it.

Numminorich

I made a knife with birch bark, but the bolster was made from coconut. I glued two pieces of shell + ash with epoxy. Impregnated with wax. Polished looks nothing.

Mag_dead

http://guns.allzip.org/topic/97/563227.html

I made a vase from two halves. I coated it with varnish and it looks great!

http://guns.allzip.org/topic/97/563227.html

Precautions

Coconut has a strong shell that is quite difficult to open. The tools mainly used are those that are suitable for repair work. We offer some tips on how to make your work easier and avoid getting hurt when opening a coconut.

1. If we decide not to tap the coconut, but rather to break it with a hammer, we need to wrap it in a kitchen towel. This will soften the blow, and the hammer will not bounce sharply off the surface of the shell.
2. Instead of a towel, you can wrap the coconut in several layers of cling film and leave the tip to hold the wrapper.
3. By making holes in the “eyes”, it is better to secure the coconut. After all, if we punch holes with a screwdriver and a hammer, the nut can bounce off, and the screwdriver can injure our hand. We wrap the lower part of the coconut tightly with a towel and ask one of the adult inhabitants of the house to hold the fruit. In addition, you can hold the coconut tightly with your knees while sitting on a chair.
4. When sawing a nut with a hand saw, you need to be careful not to let your fingers get caught under the tool.
5. To prevent the saw from slipping off the surface, mark the cutting location. To do this, lightly press the blade several times and scratch the shell along the markings. A shallow groove is created, but the saw will not jump out of it and will stick to the edges.

Where and how long is the product stored?

You can store coconut for some time without losing its taste, but it is worth remembering that the period depends not only on the temperature, but also on how we purchased it in the store. The coconut may arrive on the counter already too ripe or spoiled.

The opened nut can be placed in the refrigerator, but for no more than 48 hours. It must be stored at a temperature of +5 degrees. If it is lower, the nut will lose its unique taste. At temperatures above +5, coconut begins to rot. When we put it in the refrigerator, we need to make sure that there are no foods that contain ethylene, such as apples or bananas, nearby. These fruits are used to speed up the ripening process of others. You shouldn't experiment with temperature conditions, changing the values. This will only speed up the process of deterioration of the nut. Coconut must be kept at a constant temperature.

The pulp quickly loses moisture after being removed from the peel. Therefore, before placing the coconut in the refrigerator, you need to fill the pulp with water.

Coconut flakes are made from the pulp, or copra in other words. It can be stored not in the refrigerator, but in any dark and cool place. The main thing is to avoid hitting direct sun rays on the product. Preparing the shavings is quite simple.

1. Grate the pulp on a fine grater and place on a baking sheet.
2. Dry in the oven for 2-3 hours at a temperature not lower than 50 degrees.
3. Shelf life at proper storage is 12 months.

It is better to package the shavings in fabric bags or ceramic jars. You should not use plastic packaging; condensation may accumulate in them over time due to temperature changes in the kitchen. As for storing a whole coconut, a refrigerator or any cool place is suitable for this. At a stable temperature of +5 degrees, the nut can be stored for 2–3 months.

Coconut pulp can be dried in the form of shavings.

Freezing the pulp

Freezing will also preserve the coconut meat perfectly.

1. Cut the pulp into small pieces.
2. Spread them out on cutting board and put it in the freezer.
3. When the pieces are frozen, pour them into a bag and put them in the freezer. Then proceed to the next batch.

When frozen, the pulp will keep for 6–8 months. There is also coconut liquid, which many people enjoy using for cosmetic procedures or in cooking. It can also be frozen by pouring it into ice cube trays. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Afterwards, the ice will begin to lose its taste properties. IN fresh Without freezing, the milk is stored in the refrigerator for a week.

Following the tips and proven instructions will help you quickly and easily deal with opening and cutting exotic nuts. You can fully enjoy its taste and aroma not only for festive table, but also prolong the pleasure for a long time.

Coconut can be used as a base for desserts, pastries, drinks, main courses and even soups. In most cases, many people fail to peel the shell and extract the pulp. In this article we will tell and show how to crack this tough nut in a few seconds.

Useful properties of coconut:

• 1. Coconut milk perfectly quenches thirst, so tonic cocktails are prepared from it, energy value which does not exceed 17 calories.
• 2. Various sauces, desserts, sweets, drinks and soups are prepared from coconut liquid.
• 3. Grated pulp is considered an ideal breading for meat and fish.
• 4. Coconut flakes are produced from the dried fruit, which is used for baking, making desserts, smoothies, puddings and other culinary dishes.
• 5. Fragrant coconut gives dishes a fresh and unusual taste, piquancy and royal zest.

Quickly peel a coconut

To begin with, inspect it and find three indentations (holes), pierce them with any sharp tool (knife, screwdriver or straw). Drain the liquid into a container.

Find the junction of the two halves and, using a regular hammer, knife or meat mallet, gently tap the coconut (to avoid hitting your palm, you can wrap the nut in a towel), constantly rotating it. The nut should split into two parts.

Using a marker, draw a line around it, this mark will help orient the blow and carefully remove the pulp.

Using a hammer, start hitting the nut and rotating it.

It should split into two parts. Be careful when striking!

Separate the coconut flesh using a microwave.

If the pulp is dried in microwave oven, then the coconut can be easily peeled. Drain off all the liquid as the coconut may explode when heated. You can place a whole nut in the microwave for 5 minutes or in an oven preheated to 200 C for 16 minutes, and then immediately transfer it to the freezer for 20 minutes. If the coconut is already divided into 2 parts, you can also use this method. It should be remembered that temperature estimates can have a detrimental effect on the pulp, it will lose everything beneficial properties. Be careful.

It is very easy to become a lover of tropical exotic fruits. You only have to try once, for example, real coconut milk or the pulp that melts in your mouth, which is located under a hard peel - “gourmet mania” is guaranteed! For lovers of bananas, oranges or kiwis, it is much easier to be content with delicacies - just peel off the peel. But not everyone knows, especially if there are no special devices at hand. This will be discussed in this article.

How to properly break a coconut to preserve delicious milk?

Before dividing the nut into pieces, you need to drain the liquid inside. Usually, for this purpose, holes are punched in the dent on one of the ends of the fruit. As a rule, no special labor or effort is required here. Just press it inside with some hard object - and the improvised milk watering can is ready. But not everyone is able to make a hole and extract juice without loss. Then you have to start splitting the whole fruit. To collect milk as carefully as possible, you can do one of the following:

Holding the nut in the palm of your hand, place a wide cup under your hand, into which the milk will flow after cracking the fruit;

Place the coconut in plastic bag and tie it tightly - this will create a miracle container in which the milk will collect.

Break the nut after draining the liquid

Let's assume that the stage of receiving coconut milk was successful. Now you can safely start breaking the nut. To do this, it is better to use a wide and fairly heavy hatchet sword as the most successful weapon (photo 3). First apply a cross mark to the nut with the sharp side. Then wrap the scalloped edge around the coconut. How to break a coconut quickly and safely? The important condition is not the force of the blow on the nut, but sharpness and clarity. It is because of the jerky dissection that the peel will split. Such a small crack will be enough to divide the nut into two parts, spreading them apart with your hands. For greater convenience, if milk is drained through the hole, place the fruit firmly on a firm surface and only then proceed. It is worth remembering that using sharp objects is very dangerous, because they can jump off onto the hand with which you are holding the nut. Therefore, safer methods are most often preferred, especially if they do not know how to break a coconut at home.

Below are some unusual ways of dividing a coconut and useful, sort of secret, tips.

What other ways are there to divide a nut into pieces? If you can’t punch holes in a dense shell with ordinary sharp objects, an electric drill will come to the rescue. First, drill one hole at the end to drain the milk, and then several more (with a smaller diameter) along a previously marked transverse line. The distance between the points should be no more than 1.5-2 cm from each other. After this, apply a sharp blow to the marks with a sharp object (hatchet or heavy knife) - and the nut will immediately split into pieces. Is it possible and how to break a coconut without a hammer and other equipment? Try an unusual method that involves short-term heat treatment of the fruit.

Opening a coconut with your bare hands: secrets

It turns out there is a fairly simple, but effective way how to divide a nut into two halves. And you don’t need any equipment for this. It's all about pre-processing the coconut. You just need to warm it up, after which the shell will spontaneously or under slight tapping give an initial crack. So, turn your broiler on to medium heat. Place the nut on the rack and place in the oven for 15 minutes. Similar heating can be done using a microwave oven. But at the same time, the coconut must be without milk. Place the warm fruit on a wooden board and apply a light tapping blow. The coconut will crack easily. After pressing on the burst area, the nut will crack. The originality of the idea is that you should not turn off the oven. Its thermal properties are also useful for processing the fleshy part of the fruit.

Let's feast on the pulp

How to remove the hard top layer and make the mass under the shell softer? It has its own special secrets. An oven or microwave, which have already been used previously to open the fruit, can serve as an assistant for this. Place the halves there and reheat. After heat treatment, the peel will easily separate from the pulp in the form of a single layer. And the internal aromatic mass will become much softer. Chop it into cubes and safely serve!

So, put into practice all the tips you have received, and you will not have any problems with how to break a coconut. And then dividing a nut into parts will become as easy as cracking seeds. Enjoy this tropical delicacy for your health!

Coconut is the nut of the coconut palm. Translated from Portuguese, coco means “monkey,” since on one side the fruit resembles the face of this animal. Exotic fruits are rich vitamins B and C, and also fiber And microelements– calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which promotes blood health.

The fruits of the coconut palm are relatively affordable - the price of small and medium nuts, as a rule, does not exceed one hundred rubles. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a fruit, shake it in the store next to your ear. If you hear splash of water, that means everything is in order. Other important factors - no damage, stains or rot on the shell.

Source: Giphy.com

Many people would love to try coconut, but they are put off by the extremely thick shell of the nut. The shell is very difficult to crack for an untrained person. The fact is that it consists of three layers, the hardest of which endocarp. Thanks to it, the fruits do not crack when they fall from 30-meter palm trees to the ground.

However, breaking a coconut at home is not difficult. Moreover, this can be done in just a few minutes.

How to quickly crack a coconut

Most methods involve draining the excess liquid from the coconut. This is done very easily. Find three holes on the fruit that look like eyes and a smile (see photo). You need to make holes in them to get rid of the liquid.

Further steps depend on what tools you have at hand and how much time you are willing to spend opening a coconut at home.

Hammer and screwdriver

• Take a screwdriver and use a hammer to hammer it into each of the coconut holes one at a time (watch the video to see how to do this). Get rid of excess liquid.
• After the liquid has flowed out of the coconut, start hitting the surface of the coconut with a hammer, turning it. You need to walk around the entire perimeter of the nut.
• Keep knocking and soon you will see cracks appear. And then the shell itself will break in half.

Tip: the liquid that remains after opening the shell can be drunk by first straining it.

Mini saw, screwdriver and knife

• Start by peeling away the coconut husk, then run it under the tap to remove the husk.
• Take a screwdriver and go around the diameter of the coconut, inserting the tool in those places where the shell has begun to separate.
• As a result, the coconut will split into 2 parts. Slice the fruit with a knife over a bowl so as not to splash the table.

Two knives

• Take a paring knife with a narrow blade and make holes on the side of the coconut where there are depressions.
• Pour all the juice into an empty container.

Tip: It is better to prepare a larger bowl or cup in case there is a lot of liquid in the nut.

• Take a heavier knife (a chef's knife will do) and start tapping the flat side of the blade on the shell. Movements should be careful and leisurely. In this case, you need to rotate the coconut with your other hand.
• In a couple of minutes the first cracks will appear. Keep tapping the knife and turning the coconut until there are even more of them. Then feel free to open the nut.

Tip: for clarity, you can draw a straight line with a marker running down the middle of the coconut.

With hammer, screwdriver and towel

• Drain the liquid from the coconut by making holes in it.
• Wrap the coconut in a towel to form a triangle. Hold the edge of the makeshift envelope firmly with one hand and hit it with a hammer with the other until the shell begins to break.

Tip: Be careful and take your time when working with a hammer. Otherwise, you risk hitting yourself in the hand.

Hammer and nail

• Place a nail on one of the coconut's "eyes". Using a hammer, carefully make a hole in the shell. It’s important to calculate the force correctly and don’t overdo it, otherwise you’ll drive the nail into the nut instead of opening it.
• Pour the liquid into the bowl.
• Take a hammer in one hand and a coconut in the other. Tap the middle of the shell, gently turning the nut.

Hammer after freezing

• Place the coconut in a plastic bag and leave it in the freezer for 12 hours.
• Pull out the nut and start tapping it with a hammer. Remember to swirl the coconut for maximum impact.
• When a large number of cracks appear in the shell, peel the coconut with your hands.

Using an oven or microwave

• Dry the coconut by making holes in it and draining the liquid. Important - do not skip this step under any circumstances, otherwise the fruit will explode in the oven.
• Preheat the oven to 190 ºС. If you're in a hurry, you can use the microwave.
• Place the coconut on a baking sheet and leave it inside for 10 minutes, or for the microwave, 3 minutes on medium. After about this time, the first crack should appear. If the shell remains intact, continue to “bake” the nut.
• Remove the coconut from the oven and let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Then wrap it in a kitchen towel or rag.
• Place the coconut wrapped in cloth in a trash bag. Pick up the bag of nuts and hit it as hard as you can on a hard surface (even concrete). Do this until you feel the shell begin to crack.
• Separate the inside of the coconut from the shell with a narrow bladed knife. You should be left with coconut meat in a brown husk. Remove it with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife.

What then

It’s not enough to just split the coconut, you also need to get the edible part out of the shell. The easiest way to disassemble a nut at home is with a knife. Press it on the pulp and cut it, and then turn the device to the side counterclockwise. Repeat several times, moving along the entire diameter of the fruit. When finished, shake out the coconut over a jar or plate.

Note: 8 questions about coconut

1. Is it possible to cut a coconut with bare hands?

Most people cannot do this, so it is better not to even try, so as not to get injured, this exotic product is too massive. Just a reminder that an exotic fruit falling on a person can cause serious harm to the back, neck, shoulders and head, and in rare cases, result in death.

2. Is it possible to open a coconut with your teeth?

Hardly. You risk and then spend serious money on their restoration.

3. Will the fruit break if you throw it against a stone?

Perhaps if the stone is large enough. This is how monkeys “cut” coconuts. But we advise using this method only as a last resort. Still, it is difficult to find suitable cobblestones at home.

4. What is the name of the liquid that is inside the nut?

In turn, milk made from coconut pulp. To do this, you need to wash and grind it in a blender, and then strain.

Coconut is a tropical fruit with a strong skin, under which snow-white pulp and healthy juice. Today this fruit can be purchased in any supermarket. But despite its availability, many people do not want to buy it because they do not know how to open a coconut.

Popular methods

After purchasing an exotic nut, the question arises of how to properly open a coconut at home. The shell of the fruit is thick and very strong; you cannot handle it without skill and working tools. Often people, having bought a coconut, have no idea what to do with it next - break it, saw it, chop it, or try cutting it.

Before cracking the coconut, drain off the milk juice. Coconut liquid can be drunk immediately or used for cooking. Don't count on a full glass of milk; there is very little of it in a mature (brown) coconut.

Holes are pierced at the site of the three spots. The dark spots are the pores leading to the seed. The peel in this place is more pliable, so it won’t be difficult to poke holes. To quickly release the liquid, two holes are enough: through one, fresh milk will drain, through the second, the nut will be filled with air.

There are several ways to divide the tropical fruit into parts. If the aesthetic side of the issue is not so important, then you can let the coconut break by hitting it on the asphalt. But there are other more reasonable ways, for example, sawing with a jigsaw, breaking with a hammer, etc.

Chop with a cleaver

To cut a coconut, you need a large and strong knife. A sharp cleaver for chopping bones or a machete is suitable for these purposes. The cutting is carried out as follows:

1. Take the coconut in your left hand.
2. Inspect the seam that runs between the holes in the nut. Walk along it to the middle of the coconut.
3. Tap the center with the blunt edge of a knife (not the blade), turning the fruit in your palm.
4. Continue rotating and tapping until the coconut cracks.
5. If everything is done correctly, the nut will split into two equal halves.
6. Now you can take the “hemispheres” and scoop out the tasty pulp.

If, after opening, the coconut flesh emits a sour smell, then it is better to throw away this product along with the juice. You can't use it, it's spoiled.

Using holes

You can cut the fruit according to the existing holes. To open a coconut quickly you need:

1. Place the nut on a hard surface. It is more convenient to cut on a cutting board.
2. Insert a knife into one of the pierced holes.
3. Hit the handle with force so that the blade goes inside.
4. Gently turn the knife by the handle and break the fruit until it is completely open.

When splitting a coconut, the crack may first open and then close again. You need to be careful not to pinch your fingers.

With a hammer

This method is feasible if the person who will open the coconut has sufficient physical strength. To break a coconut with a hammer you need:

1. Place the nut in a strong plastic bag (wrap it with a towel or cling film);
2. Place it on the concrete floor.
3. Apply a strong blow with a hammer or other suitable object.
4. Remove the drupes from the bag.

As a result of these actions, the peel will split into irregularly shaped fragments.

Using a hand saw

This method allows you to get coconut halves of the correct and beautiful shape. For this you need:

1. Mark the place to cut so that the saw does not slip off the surface.
2. Divide the nut in half.

Heat in the oven

If you do not have the necessary tools, determination or sufficient physical strength at hand, then you can open the coconut by exposure to temperatures. To do this you need:

1. Heat the oven to 180⁰.
2. Poke holes in the coconut and drain the milk. If this is not done, the fruit will explode when heated.
3. Place the nut in a deep pan and place in the oven for 20 minutes.

After heat treatment, the coconut peel bursts. In this case, the pulp is easily removed from the shell.

How to open green fruits

Such coconuts are young (immature). The thickness of their peel is similar to that of a pumpkin, which means that you can open the nut with an ordinary kitchen knife. It is enough to cut off one of the poles, like a cover. That's all. You can insert a straw inside and enjoy drinking coconut juice, which is very healthy. If you regularly drink a cup of this drink, you can improve your metabolism, thyroid function and boost your immunity.

Extracting the pulp

It will be easy to separate the pulp if the coconut is split into several shells. The simplest extraction option: insert a knife blade between the peel and the copra, swing the tool to the sides and remove the piece. Then pick out another one. And so on until the entire core is removed. You can pre-cut the pulp to pull it out into neat, even slices.

Things will go faster if you use the following life hack:

1. Place the whole coconut in the oven at 180⁰. 15 minutes will be enough.
2. Tap the entire surface of the shell. This will allow the pulp to separate from the peel once inside the fruit. Elongated fruits need to be tapped longer.
3. Remove the thin brown skin as you would from potatoes. Any knife or vegetable peeler can cope with this task.

Summing up

Opening a coconut is a problem that everyone who buys this fruit faces. Due to the tough peel, there is a risk of damage to the pulp. When cutting a coconut, you need to approach it thoroughly, armed with a knife, hammer, screwdriver and patience. Step by step instructions And practical advice will help with this.