How To Effortlessly Crack Open Coconuts Using Your Freezer - Tasting Table

"If you let your coconut sit in the freezer overnight, it will be much easier to open up the shell. Simply hit the frozen coconut with the dull side of a cleaver a few times, and it will crack in half. Then, after you scrape out the frozen coconut water, the shell can be easily popped off the coconut meat."

"There are tons of uses for each part of a cracked, fresh coconut. The meat makes a wonderful snack on its own, or you can dice it for a fresher alternative to store-bought coconut flakes in recipes like this coconut custard pie. Fresh coconut meat provides a lot of nutrients that might not be present in dried coconut flakes, and of course, you'll get the most authentic coconut taste."

Let a whole coconut sit in the freezer overnight; freezing makes the shell easier to crack. Hit the frozen coconut with the dull side of a cleaver a few times to split it in half. Scrape out the frozen coconut water, then pop off the shell from the meat; the meat may need to thaw and can be rinsed before eating. Use fresh coconut meat as a snack, dice it as a fresher substitute for store-bought flakes, or process it into fresh coconut milk and coconut oil for cooking or beauty uses. Reserve thawed coconut water to dilute cocktails or add to recipes for a refreshing, natural liquid.

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