How to crack open a coconut 打破椰子壳的方法

Not to long ago, my friend, Sha, asked me how to open up a coconut for its juice. Maybe, there was some mis-communication somewhere in our conversation, she ended up with lesser juice than expected and a damaged cleaver. :P



Hence, I made a simple video on how it is done. This is specially for you, Sha! ;)



To make the video shorter, I have cracked the coconut slight first. The coconut I bought was without the husk. If you are from Singapore, you can get them is some wet markets, NTUC and Shop N Save.



Sadly, there wasn't much choice for me to choose from today. So the coconut I bought, as seen in the video, was a bit old. Hence, the pulp was thick and hard and slightly more difficult to open. I should have used the coconut used in the photo above instead.Younger coconut will have very tender pulp which is very nice to eat. :)

The steps to crack open the coconut is as follows:

1. With one hand firmly holding the coconut, hit it with the back of the cleaver. Very important to make sure noone is behind or beside you!!


2. Turn the coconut around and continue to hit on it until you see a crack-line around the coconut.


3. An 'old' coconut will have thick and hard pulp. Don't force it open with your hands. You will end up having coconut juice splashing all over.


4. Use a fork or spoon to poke in-between the crack-line into the coconut.
   
   


5. Twist a little to force open the coconut.


6. You can now drain out the coconut juice from the opening.


7. Open up the 'top' of the empty coconut to scrape out the pulp.


8. If you have problem opening up the coconut, use a knife to cut the pulp first.


9. You will be able to open up the coconut easily now.

Note:

• You can control how big the opening you want by hitting on a position of the coconut. Hit it closer to the top, you have have a smaller opening. It's good if you want to drink the juice straight from the coconut.


• Hit it on the position about 1/3 from the top, you will have a larger opening. Good if you want to scrape out the pulp.

Here's the video as mentioned ...

Now, I'm off to crack some coconuts to make coconut jellies. :D



Enjoy!