Buzz
Fresh coconuts taste amazing, but cracking one open can be challenging, especially when you don’t have the right tools on hand. Below are six techniques for opening a coconut, ranging from simply smashing it against a sharp surface to using power tools for a more precise approach.
How to break open a coconut without any tools
All you need is a hard, pointed surface and a bit of bravery to open a fresh coconut. If done correctly, you won’t lose any of the coconut water in the process.
Start by locating the “face” of the coconut, which consists of three dark spots resembling two eyes and a mouth.
Trace the line between the eyes down the side of the coconut. This is the spot where you’ll want to strike it with a sharp rock or another hard surface.
Position the coconut so that the line is perpendicular to the sharp edge of the rock/curb, then give it a firm hit.
You should create a clean break along the coconut’s center that you can pry open. Some water may spill, but if you act quickly, you can salvage most of it when you peel back the coconut.
How to crack open a coconut using tools
While it’s possible to open a coconut without tools, using common household items will make the process much easier and more refined than simply smashing it against something.
How to drain a coconut using a screwdriver and hammer
Draining the coconut water first makes it easier to open. Here’s how you can do it.
Find the coconut’s “eyes,” which are the weakest spots on its shell.
Use a screwdriver or a nail and hammer to puncture one of the eyes.
Let the coconut water drain out.
If you have a drill, you can create a hole in any spot of the coconut.
How to break open a coconut using a hammer
Once the coconut is drained of water, it should be easier to crack open.
Place the coconut in a cloth bag to keep it steady.
Gently tap around the coconut’s “equator” with a hammer, rotating it as you tap.
The coconut should crack in half, though it won’t create the clean cut needed for coconut bowls.
Alternatively, if the coconut is in a cloth bag, you can swing it and slam it into a hard surface, like a sidewalk or wall. It may not be the most elegant solution, but it will get the job done.
To open coconuts, you can use your oven to make the process easier.
A quick method to open a drained coconut is to place it in the oven for a few minutes. This will warm the coconut’s meat and make it easier to open.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or thereabouts.
Place the coconut onto a cookie sheet.
Let the coconut sit in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes until cracks start to appear.
Allow it to cool down.
Once cooled, you can pry it open easily along the crack or tap it gently with a hammer or knife to widen the crack for easier opening.
Cutting a coconut with a saw for a precise opening.
If you’re aiming for a clean cut to use the coconut shell for crafts like bowls or perhaps a Halloween costume, a saw is the best tool. A kitchen knife—no matter how sharp—is not the right tool for this job.
A handsaw might do the trick, but be sure to secure the coconut in a vice or find another way to keep it steady while you saw. However, for the cleanest cut, power tools are the way to go. A jigsaw will quickly slice through a coconut—just insert the blade into the hollow 'eye' and rotate the coconut by hand while cutting. You could also use a reciprocating saw, but you'd likely need a vice to prevent the coconut from slipping. A bandsaw works too, provided there’s enough space. Once you switch to power tools, coconuts are no match.
