How to peel old coconut easily, just use this simple kitchen tool

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Opening an old coconut is often considered troublesome because of its hard shell.

Brilio.net - Old coconut is a versatile ingredient that is often used in various dishes, from coconut milk for cooking to grated coconut for traditional cakes. However, opening old coconuts is often considered troublesome because of their hard shells.

Many people think that opening a coconut requires special tools such as a machete or a large hammer. In fact, you can do it easily using just a simple kitchen knife that you definitely have at home.

This article will discuss practical steps to peel old coconuts safely and quickly using a kitchen knife as the main tool. In addition, there are some additional tips to make the process easier. Let's see how to do it as summarized by BrilioFood from various sources.

Kitchen knives are very common tools found in every home. With the right technique, a kitchen knife can be a reliable weapon to open old coconuts without the hassle of looking for heavy equipment. Kitchen knives are not only practical but also safe if used carefully.

Here is a sequence of practical steps to peel an old coconut using a kitchen knife:

1. Choose the right coconut.

Before you start peeling, make sure you choose a good quality old coconut. Old coconuts are characterized by hard brown skin and dry fibers. Shake the coconut, and make sure you can hear the sound of water inside. This indicates that the coconut is still fresh.

2. Extract the coconut water.

The first step in the peeling process is to remove the coconut water first so that the next process is easier and less messy.

Material:
- 1 old coconut
- Sharp kitchen knife

How to make:
1. Look for the eyes of the coconut (usually there are three small dots at one end).
2. Use the tip of a knife to pierce one of the coconut's "eyes" until a hole forms.
3. Pour the coconut water into a clean container for later use (for example, drinking or making cooking ingredients).

This process only takes about 1 minute and makes the coconut lighter to handle.

3. Split the coconut shell.

Once the water is removed, it's time to split the coconut shell using a simple kitchen knife.

How to make:
1. Hold the coconut in a steady position on a hard surface such as a cutting board.
2. Use the back (not the blade) of a kitchen knife to gently hit the coconut shell.
3. Hit in a circular motion along the center line of the shell while rotating the coconut.
4. Continue until the shell cracks and opens into two parts.

This technique is effective because the back of the knife is strong enough to crack the shell without risking injuring your hand.

4. Remove the coconut flesh.

Once the shell is open, the next step is to remove the coconut flesh from the shell.

How to make:
1. Use the tip of a knife to insert between the meat and the shell.
2. Push gently until the meat separates from the shell.
3. If the meat is difficult to remove, hit the outside of the shell with the back of the knife once more to loosen it.

This process requires a little patience, but the results will provide clean, intact pieces of coconut meat.

5. Clean the coconut meat.

The final step is to clean off any remaining fibers or thin brown skin that sticks to the coconut flesh.

Material:
- Clean water
- Small knife (optional)

How to make:
1. Wash the coconut flesh under running water to remove any remaining fibers.
2. If you want whiter results, use a small knife to peel off the thin brown layer on the surface of the meat.

Once clean, the coconut flesh is ready to be used for various culinary needs such as making fresh coconut milk or grated coconut.

- Use a Heavy Knife: A kitchen knife with a slightly heavier weight is more effective at cracking the shell than a light knife.

- Stable Surface: Make sure you work on a cutting board or hard surface to make the splitting process safer.

- Be Careful When Using a Knife: Always hold the knife in a stable position and keep your hands away from the impact area to prevent injury.

Using a kitchen knife has several advantages over other tools:

1. Practical: Kitchen knives are available in almost all households without the need to buy additional tools.

2. Safe: With the correct technique, the risk of injury when using a kitchen knife is lower than when using a heavy tool such as a machete.

3. Multipurpose: After finishing opening the coconut, the knife can be used directly for other purposes such as cutting or cleaning the coconut flesh.

(brl/tin)