I've always wanted to try using "real" coconut instead of the sugary junk they call coconut in the bags in the baking isle of your local grocery store. So, while at the store today I asked the produce guy how to open a coconut.
"Well," he says, "I usually use a drill bit." Ok, strike one. "But you can use an ice pick in the soft part where the nut was attached to the tree. You punch two or three holes where it's soft, drain the milk and then simply use a hammer to crack it open like you would an egg on something firm."
Ok, I can do that. Easy enough. Yeah, right!! First of all, the "soft holes" aren't soft holes. I had to use the ice pick and a hammer to get the holes to extract the milk. THEN, I had to hammer the (bleep) out of the thing to get the tiniest crack. I whacked on it for a good five minutes before I could see any real progress. I won't lie- I feared for the safety of my fingers holding the coconut so it wouldn't spin away and I had some close calls. (Note- always watch the point of contact.)
Once I got the coconut open, the clerk told me, you can just use a spoon to scoop out the meat. At this point I start to wonder if he's ever actually opened a coconut. You can't just "scoop out the meat"! I hacked away with a knife until I was smart enough to realize that I could use my shredder with more ease.
In any case, as you can see, I got it open, shredded some meat and have some cocunut milk for my trouble. Will I do this again? THAT remains to be seen.
