Coconut- from tree to the kitchen

Picking coconut

Here is a demonstration of how a person climbs up a coconut tree and then climbs down the tree after picking coconut.

Man at the top of a coconut tree

Dropping down a coconut

Dehusking coconut

Coconut comes with an outermost husk, inner shell covering the white endosperm or meat holding water within.

This clipping demonstrates easy dehusking of a coconut

Raw coconut (not tender coconut) is juicy and fleshy inside and appears pale outside. It is excellent to press milk of coconut, but has a shorter shelf life.

Dehusked  (L) Raw coconut (R) Mature coconut

Breaking open a coconut

You will need

A sickle,a dehusked coconut, an empty bowl and a strainer.

Method

Hold the coconut firmly on one hand, and a sickle on the other. Place the container at the counter below the coconut.

With the blunt edge of the sickle hit hard at a point over the ridge of the coconut lying over the maximum circumference of the coconut. (once you are an expert you could use the sharp edge of the sickle)

Repeat over the other two ridges.

Pry open the crack, collect strain and consume coconut water.

Grate or cut out the meat and use.

Watch the link for a demonstration.

When water inside a mature coconut has dried, it is called Copra. Copra is dried and pressed to extract coconut oil. Some extract oil by heating coconut milk.copra is also used to garnish desserts and snacks.

(L) coconut (R) Copra

Grating a coconut

Use a grater (here it is a grating stool).Place a plate below the grater. Carefully, begin to grate at the sides and then move towards the center to get all the meat out. Initially if it is difficult, practice grating at the center and then gradually proceed to the sides. Take care of your hand.

Grating the sides

Grating the sides

Demonstration of grating (sides)

Now grate the center

Shell after grating

Demonstration of grating (center)

Cutting into bits


With a knife, carefully cut into the meat and twist the knife to cut off bits of coconut. This method can be used in recipes where coconut has to be ground to a fine paste.

Twist knife and separate bits

Pierce knife into meat