Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Cooking How to Open a Coconut in 6 Easy Steps It’s not as intimidating as it may seem! By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 30, 2024 Close Photo: Westend61/Getty Images Project Overview Total Time: 15 minutes If you’ve ever seen someone crack open a fresh coconut, you already know it’s no easy feat. In fact, if you don’t open a coconut properly, you could seriously injure yourself—but don’t let that deter you! Coconuts contain important nutrients, like antioxidants and healthy fats, and have antibacterial effects, which make them a great addition to meals like yogurt bowls and smoothies. They also have countless health benefits that are proven to help manage blood sugar, weight, and improve heart health. Cream of Coconut vs. Coconut Milk: What's the Difference? While cracking open a coconut may seem intimidating, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Once you’ve confirmed your coconut is ripe, it’s a matter of following six simple steps that will help you extract the milk and water, and remove the husk from the fruit. Before opening the coconut, make sure it’s ripe. At the top of the coconut, you’ll notice three “eyes”. Simply press your thumb against the eyes to tell if they’re soft and dry. If they are, the coconut is ready to eat!Heat can make it easier to crack open a coconut. Place the coconut in a microwave for about 30 seconds, or in the oven for just a few minutes prior to opening it. 6 Genius Ways to Use Canned Coconut Milk What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Mallet Screwdriver Paring knife (or butter knife) Vegetable peeler Airtight food storage container Mason jar Materials Fresh, whole coconuts Instructions Tap the Coconut To get to the coconut milk and water, use a tenderizing mallet to gently tap a screwdriver into the softest eye of the coconut. Drain the Coconut Drain the coconut milk and water into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for up to two days. Pop the Coconut in the Oven To expedite the opening process, place the coconut in the oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, or until a crack appears. Remove the Husk Carefully remove the coconut from the oven and wedge the screwdriver along the crack to remove the outer skin or the “husk”. If the crack didn’t appear, gently tap the screwdriver with the mallet once more. Separate the Coconut Meat Once the coconut has been split open, use a paring or butter knife to separate the husk from the meat. Store the Coconut Meat After removing the husk, use a vegetable peeler to get to the coconut meat. Store the coconut meat in the refrigerator in an airtight food storage container for up to five days, or in the freezer for up to six months. 18 Mango Recipes That’ll Make You Feel Like You're On a Tropical Getaway