The Ultimate Guide on How to Get the Meat Out Of a Coconut

If you want to learn how to get the meat out of a coconut, you will require a screwdriver, meat mallet, hammer, butter knife, and vegetable peeler.

As an Indian, I am no stranger to fresh coconut. When I was growing up, all households cracked open their own coconuts and scooped the fresh meat out. Therefore, I am privy to all the tips and tricks that you need to get the job done. Not to mention, I have perfected my process along the way too!

In this post, I am going to cover everything that you will need to open a coconut and scoop the meat out. I will also walk you through the process step-by-step so that you will know exactly what to do at every stage. Let's get started!

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What You Will Need

• A Fresh Husked Coconut: you will need a fresh coconut for this project. Look for one that is heavy and contains water inside. Avoid fruits that have any cracks or damage on the outside.
• Clean Screwdriver: this will be used to drain the coconut water inside the drupe.
• Meat Mallet: you will use this to crack open the shell.
• Clean Hammer: you can substitute a meat mallet with a clean hammer.
• Butter Knife: you can use this tool to pry the coconut away from the shell.
• Vegetable Peeler: will work to remove softer pieces of shell still clinging to the coconut meat.
• Oven: can be used as an alternative method to remove the coconut meat from the shell.

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How to Remove Coconut Meat

As coconuts are sealed up pretty tight, you can’t just scoop the meat out right away. Rather, there are several stages involved.

To make sure that everything goes according to plan, follow the steps detailed here.

On this note, here is the best way to get coconut meat out:

How to Drain the Coconut Water

As mentioned, fresh coconuts contain coconut water or juice. So, the first thing you will need to do is drain the drupe.

The coconut water can be discarded or saved to drink or add to smoothies.

Step 1: Test the “Eyes”

On one side of the coconut, you will find a grouping of three “eyes”.

Press the screwdriver into each eye and find the softest one.

Step 2: Create a Hole in the Eye

Once you have located the softest eye, press the screwdriver into this spot with some force.

Continue to do this until you have made a large enough hole.

Step 3: Drain the Coconut

Invert the coconut so that the hole is placed directly over a bowl or jug.

Hold the coconut in this position until all the coconut water has been drained.

How to Open the Coconut

Now it is time to crack the coconut open and reveal the flesh inside. Remember to be careful during this process. Always make sure that the meat mallet or hammer is angled well away from the hand holding onto the coconut. 

Step 1: Get a Good Grip on the Coconut

Use your non-dominant hand to get a good grip on the coconut.

You should only be holding the bottom or side portion of the coconut as you will need to aim the meat mallet or hammer at a greater surface area.

Step 2: Tap the Coconut in One Spot

Find a particular spot on the coconut and hit it. Repeat this action several times, ensuring that you have a good grip on the coconut. 

Step 3: Tap the Coconut in Several Places

Once you have weakened a particular spot, it is time to move on. Imagine a horizontal line following the width of the coconut. Hit the coconut along this imaginary line. Make sure to hit one spot several times to weaken it. Continue this motion until the coconut shell separates into two halves. 

How to Extract Coconut Meat

This is the step where you learn how to cut coconut meat away from the shell. Here's what you must do:

Step 1: Place the Halves Facing Downwards

The concave portion of the coconut halves should be facing downward on a cutting board. The meat side should be facing the board. 

Step 2: Gently Tap the Shell with a Hammer

Use the hammer to gently tap the shell portion of the coconut. This will work to dislodge the meat and make it easier to separate. 

Step 3: Use the Butter Knife

Once the meat has been loosened, slip a butter knife between the shell and the meat. Make sure to angle the butter knife away from you. Jostle the knife while moving it forward. This will cause the meat to completely dislodge from the shell. 

Step 4: Remove Excess Shell

There still may be a softer portion of the shell stuck onto the coconut meat.

You can use the vegetable peeler to scrape the excess shell off. 

Alternative Method to Remove Coconut Meat

If you are having trouble removing the meat from the shell, there is another method you can try. This involves your oven.

Step 1: Prep the Coconut

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the two halves of the coconut on a baking tray and put it in the oven.

Step 2: Bake the Coconut

You can keep the coconut in the oven for around 20 to 30 minutes.

Keep an eye on the coconut. When the meat starts pulling away from the shell, it is time to take the coconut out of the oven.

Step 3: Use a Knife to Pry Away the Meat

Wait until the coconut is cool enough to hold.

Then, stick the butter knife between the shell and the meat and lift upwards until the meat pulls away completely. 

Step 4: Peel the Excess Shell

If there is still any soft shell clinging to the meat, use the vegetable peeler to remove it from the meat.

After you are done removing the meat from the shell, you can use it immediately or freeze it for later. The choice is up to you.

This concludes our tutorial on how to get coconut meat out of its shell. What did you think?

While it may take you a couple of tries, mastering this technique will help you immensely. Once you have figured out how to extract the meat, you will have fresh coconut at your disposal.

Not only will this make for a much healthier ingredient, but you may end up saving some money in the process too!