How to Cut Open a Coconut

While all coconuts pose a level of difficulty to open, not all coconuts were created equally. Young Thai coconuts, filled with coconut water, have a thick tender flesh on the inside. Young Thai coconuts are much easier to open than a typical coconut. Always keep hands clear of the area you are using to open the coconut.

Things You'll Need

• Young Thai coconut
• Large cutting board
• Cleaver
• Bowl
• Small knife
• Large spoon

Instructions

1. Use a medium sized knife to cut away the white covering on the young Thai coconut. Lay the coconut on its side. Work in a sawing motion from the base of the point, towards the point on the top of the coconut.

2. Continue to cut away the white outer covering until the hard inner shell is exposed.

3. Keep the coconut on its side. Hold the base of the coconut with your free hand, keeping your fingers clear of the area you will be chopping on.

4. Hack at the exposed part of the coconut with a clever. Continue to hack until there is a large enough crack to pour out the coconut water. Pour the water into a bowl, and then set it aside.

5. Cut the remainder of the coconut top off with the cleaver. Use your hands to pry the top off once it is mostly off.

6. Scrape the tender coconut meat off using a large spoon. Remove hard pieces of the coconut shell off the coconut meat with a small knife.