OK, so coconuts...

[CritterMom]

Got a question.

I grew up in So. Florida - arrived as an infant, left for Maine at 27, so I have some experience with coconuts. We probably had a lot more than they do down there now - when I left they were years and years into a blight called "lethal yellowing" that was rapidly killing the coconut palms...

We would hack at the outside and darned near kill ourselves husking the things - someone always got to peel back a fingernail. Then you stab the eye with an icepick (sounds nice) and drain the "milk." Now the next step I always used was just to whale away on the thing with a hammer until it cracked or someone had to go to the emergency room. Mother Nature really did go over the top with coconuts...

But I bought one the other day (husked, thank goodness!) and there is a sticker on it saying to "heat in oven until shell cracks." No temp or time mentioned. Huh? Has anyone ever heard of or done this? If I can crack this without taking out a window I am all over it, but I don't want to mess up the coconut by heating it (???:dono )

Mister P is only going to get a teeny bit of this - don't worry, I know it is a "pooper" food. For once, Mom is going to get the bulk of it. I mean, I already am eating the sugar snap pea pods he discards (he pierces them and sucks out each pea, then throws the $8-$10 dollar a pound pea pods aside!! Since he blows through a pile at a time, he pretty much hands me his castoffs to eat.:shakehead )

So anyway, what up with heating coconuts to crack them?

[stosh2010]

CritterMom,
I too spent over three decades in S. Florida--and the OVEN trick is a new one to me. With the moisture and milk inside--sealed up tight- it will crack from the steam---so you better put it in a oven safe bowl because if the crack is on the bottom---all the milk will leak into your oven.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$

Stosh >>> Keeper of the KING

[mpetys]

Ok, curiosity got the better of me and I had to do a search. Here is a link to the Food Network / Alton Brown.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/coconut-extract-recipe/index.html

It is a recipe to make coconut extract. Under directions, it says:

Cook's Note: To open a coconut: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the coconut onto a folded towel set down in a large bowl. Find the 3 eyes on 1 end of the coconut and using a nail or screwdriver and hammer or meat mallet, hammer holes into 2 of the eyes. Turn the coconut upside down over a container and drain the water from the coconut. Store the water in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Place the coconut onto a 1/2 sheet pan and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven. The coconut should have cracked in several places. Using an oyster knife or other dull blade, separate the hard shell from the brown husk. Using a serrated vegetable peeler, peel the brown husk from the coconut meat. Rinse the coconut meat under cool water and pat dry. Break the meat into 2 to 3-inch pieces. With the grater disk attached to a food processor, grate the coconut.

Sounds interesting. I may have to go buy a coconut.

Now I have a question. Would the hard coconut shell be a good think for MonkeyButt to have in his cage to chew on / play with? Safe?

Michele in Tampa

[CritterMom]

Yes, but... I just don't trust much stuff in the supermarket - they spray everything with all manner of stuff during processing.

I would (and cause I think it is a great idea, I am going to do this) draw up a big container of really hot, soapy water and let that think soak in it for quite a while, then scrub it off and rinse it. I love Dawn. It cuts through EVERYTHING. Then you know it is safe.

So I'm gonna heat my coconut. It's never too late to learn.:thankyou

[mpetys]

Good idea to wash first. Let us know how it turns out guinea pig, uh, I mean CritterMom.

Michele in Tampa

[Anne]

Been opening coconuts that way since childhood (and am I ever "OLD" heehee) Gotta love Alton Brown-love his show too:D Hmmmmmm, yummy coconut! Washing before inserting shell into cage- a very good idea!

[lilbitsquirrely]

Ok, curiosity got the better of me and I had to do a search. Here is a link to the Food Network / Alton Brown.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/coconut-extract-recipe/index.html

It is a recipe to make coconut extract. Under directions, it says:

[I]Cook's Note: To open a coconut: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the coconut onto a folded towel set down in a large bowl. Find the 3 eyes on 1 end of the coconut and using a nail or screwdriver and hammer or meat mallet, hammer holes into 2 of the eyes. Turn the coconut upside down over a container and drain the water from the coconut. Store the water in an airtight container in the refrigerator

Michele in Tampa
:flash3 That sounds yummy think I'll try that out.

:wave123 Hey critter mom what do You mean its a poop food I never had any trouble with my squirrels eating the organic dry stuff ?:dono Does the fresh stuff give them the runs ?

[mugzeezma]

I was never much for coconuts
A lot of work and not much pay off
We do things a bit different here.
Just put the coconut in a bag and back over it with the truck :D