How To Crack Open a Young Coconut

by Tom Malterre | 2 comments

When you are feeling wilted and tired, nothing seems to hydrate better than the water from a fresh, young coconut. This is because it contains minerals like potassium, sodium, and magnesium that allow for water to pass through cellular pumps and hydrate your cells. Not to mention, the flavor of fresh young coconut water is absolutely delicious! Learn how to crack open a fresh coconut with this simple video. 

Drinking coconut water from a box and drinking it from a coconut are literally two different experiences. So many people are trying the canned or boxed products and then stating that coconut water is not all that its cracked up to be by the media. It's obvious to me that these people have not cracked up their own coconut! 

How to Crack Open a Coconut

 

Here's what you'll need:

1.     An organic young coconut. The organic piece is really important. Non-organic coconuts can be treated with chemicals that may be harmful to the person who is handling the coconut, especially children.

2.     A cleaver that is sharp and hefty. Make sure it is something that you feel would not dent or break easily.

3.    A 4-cup liquid glass measuring cup. You'll need a wide container (not a cup or a glass) to catch all of the coconut water when you pour it out. 

Directions:

Remove plastic wrapping on the coconut and place it on a hard, flat surface like a countertop. 

Using a cleaver, make 4 cuts on the top pointy part of the coconut in a square pattern. 

Pop off the small piece of the coconut you just cut. 

Pour the water into a 4-cup measuring cup and serve in small cups (we like to use 8-ounce jam jars)!   

Yield: about 2 cups

 

Stay up to date with the current science and recipes that can help make your family healthy.

Comments

I loved your video showing how to get the water from a coconut. Are these coconuts the same as the brown ones in the grocery store? Also, I've ordered your Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and the Elimination Diet book. Can't wait to read them and try the recipes. When I find an organic coconut like the one you have, I hope I'll be able to open it and get the water. You make it look so easy. Thanks for your videos.

by Kathy on Wed, 06/10/2015 - 7:38pm

Thanks for your question Kathy!

I am so glad you liked the video! Isn't Camille just an angel!

The brown coconuts are mature coconuts. They will have a different taste and fluid content. The meat in side is usually thicker and tougher. You will find getting the meat out of them to be much harder. But...they are still delicious!

Those white coconuts are called "young" coconuts. They may be in the refridgerator section of your grocery store. 

I hope you find them soon! They are the perfect beverage in this Summer heat!

Good luck to you!

by Tom Malterre on Sat, 06/27/2015 - 12:04pm

Add new comment

Recipes from Whole Life Nutrition

Summer Vegetable Spaghetti

by Alissa Segersten | 2 comments

I like to make this sauce toward the end of summer when there is an abundance of vegetables needing to be used. You can freeze the sauce in pint-size jars for future use. I prefer to serve the sauce over baked spaghetti squash, but my children prefer brown rice noodles—either way it’s a nutrient-dense meal! Read more about Summer Vegetable Spaghetti

How to Make Broccoli Sprouts

by Tom Malterre | 45 comments

Broccoli sprouts contain a chemical called sulforaphane which is one of the most potent antioxidants and detoxification substances that we know of. These have been shown to greatly reduce the risk of stomach, bladder, colo-rectal, and breast cancer. Just add about 1/4 cup a day to your diet and watch your health change! Read more about How to Make Broccoli Sprouts

Nighttime Tea Recipe

by Alissa Segersten | 1 comments

Sleeping well is key to proper digestion and detoxification. When we don’t sleep our bodies produce more inflammatory chemicals. This can lead to a leaky gut, as well as pain and inflammation throughout the body. This tea calms the nervous system and helps prepare the body for a deep sleep.  Read more about Nighttime Tea Recipe

Sunny Sunflower Seed Burgers

by Alissa Segersten | 1 comments

Try this meatless recipe as an alternative to hamburgers. In fact, this recipe is one of our children's favorites! They like to eat them with ketchup, a lettuce salad, sliced avocado, and homemade lacto-fermented dill pickles. These tasty nut-free, vegan burgers can also be wrapped in lettuce leaves (instead of using a bun) and used during phase 2 of our Elimination Diet.  Read more about Sunny Sunflower Seed Burgers

Fried Plantains and Sausages

by Alissa Segersten | 3 comments

If you are looking for a very easy elimination diet breakfast meal that will keep you fueled throughout the day, then this recipe is for you. Plantains are an excellent source for complex carbohydrates that are easily digested. Use any type of nightshade-free organic sausage that is acceptable for phase 2. If you are vegetarian then try using cooked, drained black beans and ground cumin in place of the sausages. We like to make this quick and easy elimination diet meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!  Read more about Fried Plantains and Sausages