COCONUT: HOW DO I OPEN THEM?

[czarina]

Anyone know the best way to open a coconut? I tried to pm Stosh, but he doesn't take pm's.

I have had a coconut sitting in my kitchen window for 2 weeks now, pondering how to get into it.

How do I open it, so I save the milk/water? And, can I feed the liquid full strenght? How long does the liquid keep in the fridge?

How big a piece of the meat and shell, can they have at a time, and how often?

Thanks.

[Milo's Mom]

I've always used a big nail (cleaned of course) to pound holes into the 3 eyes on the coconut. Then to save the water after I have the eye holes made I just pour the juice into a glass through one of the holes. As for opening the rest of the coconut...I wrap it in a towel and give it some serious whacks with a big hammer. They make a decent cracking noise when they crack so check on it often don't just pound away. :grin2

Since the coconuts I get are from the store and God knows where they've been or what they've been exposed to, I do not feed the shells. Just not comfortable with it. As for the amount of flesh.....it is a treat so a small piece...like maybe the size of a nickel but no larger than a quarter is what I offer.

Coconut can cause mushy poops, so offer it sparingly.

I've never offered the coconut water to any of my squirrels.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBbGbIURFI

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

also,, hammer

[stosh2010]

In Costa Rica we get our coconuts from the closest tree. The Green and Yellow large coconuts have a thick outer husk that I open/remove with a machete. What I do is than cut the hard shell part-way thru with a hack saw, and then pry open the cut with a large screw driver or similar and dump the clear coconut water in a bowl. If I get small pieces of husk or dust from the shell in the water, I strain it a couple of times through a fine wire strainer. I sometimes even use a coffee filter to remover particles, but they clog easily. My crew drinks coconut water every day. They also have plain water 24/7 in their water bottles but a small bowl of coconut water with lunch.
The hard brown shell coconuts that are sold in stores have water inside, but not knowing how long they sat, just taste the water first..It should range from very sweet to mildly sweet. If it is at all bitter, it has spoiled.

[Annabelle's papa]

also,, hammer

:thumbsup Yep HLS, a hammer, the bigger the better, ha. On Second City John Candy would say, "To blow it up, blow it up Real Good". :grin3

[czarina]

Good grief! Power tools, machete's! Who knew? Whoever the first coconut eater was, they must have been mighty hungry.

I think I will try the hammer and nail approach. Or, maybe I will just leave the thing in my kitchen window awile longer, and give the guys some grapes to nibble on.:boot

[Annabelle's papa]

:laugh2

[HRT4SQRLS]

Good grief! Power tools, machete's! Who knew? Whoever the first coconut eater was, they must have been mighty hungry.

I think I will try the hammer and nail approach. Or, maybe I will just leave the thing in my kitchen window awile longer, and give the guys some grapes to nibble on.:boot


I'm thinkin' somebody's gonna get hurt! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/sick/hurt.gif (http://www.sherv.net/) :poke :rofl4 That's what I'm thinkin'. :thinking:peace

[island rehabber]

My dad used to back his Oldsmobile over them. Really! :grin2

[Annabelle's papa]

My dad used to back his Oldsmobile over them. Really! :grin2

:thumbsup

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

Reminds me of that old Warner Brothers cartoon where the Squirrel tries in vain to crack a coconut. It was called "Much ado about nuttin"

[Sqyrl]

I saw a "coconut drill" on ebay tonight... strange coincidence. I was doing my usual "going through the drill bit listings' and saw it, then a few hours later I see this post. Just go to ebay and search "coconut drill' or "coconut opener" and you will se a lot listed and very cheap.
251082
What I normally do with coconuts is saw them in 1/2 with a fine tooth hand saw or a hacksaw would work the same. I don't save the liquid, so that would require some extra effort if you wanted it. I saw it in 1/2, drill a 3/16 hole in each 1/2 and use a stainless drywall screw to attach it to the tree so it can't be carried away. The some squirrels like it and some don't. A 1/2 usually last 2 days at the most and I wait a few days and put the other 1/2 out. Of course I refridge the 2nd 1/2 until I use it.

[czarina]

I think HRT4SQURLS post says it all:

" I'm thinkin somebody's gonna get hurt!" :rofl4:dono:boohoo:surrender:beerchug:guil:guil:st rong:laugh2

[stosh2010]

I think HRT4SQURLS post says it all:

" I'm thinkin somebody's gonna get hurt!" :rofl4:dono:boohoo:surrender:beerchug:guil:guil:st rong:laugh2


stosh2010 WROTE


In Costa Rica we get our coconuts from the closest tree. The Green and Yellow large coconuts have a thick outer husk that I open/remove with a machete.

Machetes don't hurt ya..they're so sharp it's painless....
But the BLOOD-loss...gives ya a headache....

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