How to get the Coconut meat out of a Coconut

Now I know if you Google it there are lots of ways to get the coconut meat out of the coconut but this is what worked best for me and I didn’t feel like someone was going to lose a hand or finger in the process.

First you have to decided if you want to keep the coconut water from the inside. If you do take a hammer and nail. Hammer in the nail into one of the 3 eyes at the top of the coconut. Then pull the nail out and drain out the coconut water. Then take a large heavy knife and using the back of the knife you pound it on the coconut.

After a few hits you will start to see a crack form in the coconut.

Keep hitting the coconut along the crack until it cracks in half.

Once you have your coconut cracked in half place it on a baking sheet and bake in a 350^o F oven for 15 minutes or until the coconut meat starts to pull away from the shell.

Once it is done in the oven and it is cool enough to hold you will need to pry the meat from the shell. Taking a small paring knife and sliding it between the meat and the shell was helpful.

It should just pop out from the shell. If it doesn’t it might need a little more time in the oven.

To get the rest of the brown shell off of the back just use your potato peeler and peel it off. Once you are done with that grate it on a box grater and it can be frozen until you need it for a recipe. You can also cut it into smaller pieces to enjoy as well. For coconut recipe ideas check out a great Coconut Almond Bread or Toasted Coconut, Toffee, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.