How to Remove Coconut Husk

My neighbors have a coconut palm and let us have some coconuts. It turns out that cartoons and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (link) got it wrong: coconuts don't grow as exposed, three-eyed, hairy creations. Instead, they're covered in a thick protective husk (makes sense if they are to survive a fall from way up at the top of the tree).

Wanting to find an effective way to remove the husk, I turned to Google. Now, I'm no Google novice, but I couldn't find a useful site to help me; I felt like a caveman! After complaining on facebook, I decided to record the steps I take in hopes that they're helpful to some other cavemen (or cavewomen) out there. Enjoy:

How to Remove Coconut Husk

Coconuts grow in a protective husk which helps them to not crack when they fall. This picture shows three larger coconuts in their husk and two more familiar coconuts without husks.

Coconuts in husk (rear) and out of husk (front)

1. Identify Heavy End and Get Claw Hammer
   One end should be more heavy and dense around the coconut; this side is shown at left in this picture
   
   

   

   The coconut tips because one side is heavier

2. Use Hammer to Pulverize Light End of Coconut
   Don't worry too much about the coconut inside; it survived the fall from the tree—is should survive this step
   
   

   

   Pound the end to soften the husk

3. Use Claw End of Hammer to Make Trenches
   These lines of trenches will help in tearing off the husk in later steps
   
   

   

   Score the husk with claw end of hammer

4. Tear Off a Strip of Husk
   Start at the lighter end, grab a thin strip of husk, and PULL!
   
   

   

   Tear off strip of husk to reveal hard coconut buried inside

5. Tear Off More Strips of Husk
   Make your way around the coconut, one thin strip of husk at a time
   
   

   

   Tear more strips off around coconut

6. Remove Coconut from Husk
   With all the husk removed, the recognizable coconut is revealed
   
   

   

   Here's the coconut you're familiar with

7. Prepare to Drain Coconut
   I use a drill with a 1/4" bit (drills are fun, but a Phillips screwdriver works just as well) to make holes
   Get a container to preserve coconut water, if you like, or suck out the water with a straw (if you like the taste)
   
   

   

   Gather tools to drain coconut

8. Make Two Holes in Coconut
   Two of the three circles are usually smaller and closer together; these are the "eyes." The third is the "mouth." Drill two holes, one in the mouth (easy because it's larger and softer) and one in an eye (a little harder; it's smaller and harder)
   
   

   

   Drill holes in mouth and one eye (of the coconut, of course)

9. Drain Coconut Water
   My little helper simply tipped the coconut and the water drained into the measuring cup
   
   

   

   Capture coconut water in container

10. Inspect Water for Cloudiness
    Clear water indicates the coconut is good, cloudy water equals a bad coconut (throw the water and coconut away if the water is cloudy). If the water is clear, reserve it for later use if you would like.
    
    

    

    Clear water means the coconut is good

11. Remember to Have Fun
    Harvesting and preparing coconut flesh is a time-consuming process, so take a break and have a smile
    
    

    

    Get the last few drops of water

    
    

    

    Juggle if you have three or more coconuts

12. Harvest Coconut Flesh
    I tried cooking the coconuts at 350° for about 20 minutes to help separate the flesh from the hard shell. It might crack the coconuts, but they're going to be cracked at some point anyway. (Note: there are hundreds of sites giving advice on how to open coconuts and harvest the flesh. I wanted to have at least one record of how to get the coconut out of the husk, so I'm skimming the rest of the steps)
    
    

    

    Coconuts in oven to (350°, 20 min) to help separate flesh from shell

    
    

    

    Cracked after cooking

13. Prepare Coconut Flesh
    Once you get the flesh out of the hard shell, you'll see there's a softer shell outside of the white flesh. A vegetable peeler helps remove this tougher skin (it's fine to eat, but pure white coconut is so much more appetizing).
    
    

    

    Remove skin with vegetable peeler

14. Process/Blend Coconut Flesh
    Place coconut flesh and coconut water in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth.
    
    

    

    Process coconut flesh and coconut water

    
    

    

    Blend/process until smooth

15. Soak and Strain
    You may want to add a tablespoon of sugar to the mixture (for three coconuts) and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Strain the coconut flesh from the liquid (which is now defined as coconut milk).
    
    

    

    Strain the coconut milk from coconut flesh

16. Spread and Dehydrate
    One option is to spread the flesh on a cookie sheet and bake at 250°until it is as dry as you prefer it. (I turn the flesh every 10-15 minutes while it's in the oven.)
    
    

    

    Coconut ready for dehydrating

17. Enjoy!
    Homemade coconut!
    
    

    

    Even better than store-bought

Extra:

Here are the finished products in the light of day (I finished the process after the sun had set):

And here's what we enjoyed for breakfast: Starfruit-strawberry-coconut smoothies!

I think we'll have coconut curry for dinner tonight...