How To Eat A Coconut

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

Knowing how to eat a coconut is important if you want to enjoy all that this tropical fruit has to offer!

How to Eat a Coconut?

A coconut can be an intimidating fruit to approach, considering it has such a tough outer shell, as well as unusual hairy skin that looks anything but appetizing.

Steps To Crack Open a Coconut

  • Step 1: To begin with, you want to remove that hair on the outer skin by pulling and peeling it off, revealing the brown, textured nut inside.
  • Step 2: Turn the coconut so the soft spots are facing up.
  • Step 3: Then place a nail through 1-2 soft spots and knock them in with a hammer.
  • Step 4: Remove the nails and turn the coconut over, allowing the coconut water to drain.
  • Step 5: Collect this water, as it is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. [1]
  • Step 6: Once the coconut is empty, lay it flat on a towel and strike it with a hammer 2-3 times on the outer shell until it cracks open.
A close-up shot of coconut pieces within a coconut sliced into half

Coconut is low in carbs & rich in amino acids, & healthy fats. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How To Prepare Coconut To Eat?

Depending on the age of your coconut, you will proceed in one of two ways:

  • Young or immature coconuts: The flesh of a young coconut will often be tightly bound to the outer shell, so you can scoop out the tender flesh with a spoon, all the way to the hard outer edge.
  • Mature coconuts: For the mature kinds, you can often pry out the entirety of the fruit by wedging a knife between the husk and the fruit’s edge.

Uses of Raw Coconut

You can use the coconut flesh in a number of ways:

  • Snack: You can eat the coconut raw or add it to salads.
  • Dishes and soups: Cook with it to make curries, sauces, or soups.
  • Oils and creams: Process it into various creams, oils, and juices.
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About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

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