There are many different strategies for opening a coconut. Here’s a little guide to the approach I took.

Start with a fresh coconut. You should be able hear the coconut liquid sloshing around inside when you shake it.

Allow the coconut liquid to drain into a glass or bowl. Drink the sweet liquid or refrigerate until use.

Whack the coconut with a mallet or hammer until it cracks. This little guy enjoyed giving the coconut a little whack, but grown-ups are better equipped to handle this step.

Alternately, place the coconut in a plastic bag and give it a firm slam onto concrete or another hard surface. This strategy was the easier of the two. Note the sunglasses, hooded sweater and lack of pants on my three year old. This is how he insists on dressing when the temperature is in the 90's. Kids!
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Thanks for this! I’ve had a coconut in my fridge for a week and no idea of how to open it!
I am digging your blog! I was wondering how one would open a coconut, I know I could just google it but I was happy to stumble upon your blog.
Happy Cooking!