A clean screwdriver

A cup or glass

A heavy knife or cleaver

Optional:

A hammer or mallet

3 to 4 minutes

2torial #0602: Learn2 Open a Coconut Make a wise crack Coconuts are seemingly designed to be as difficult as possible to open. Many of us have given up trying to crack that tough, brown shell in an elegant manner, and instead just beat the darn thing with a hammer until it shatters. When you know the secret of the coconut, however, you not only have a great party trick but you won't get shell fragments in your coconut meat! Coconuts au naturel have several appearances. The coconuts described here are the brown, hairy ones that are commonly found in most large markets. To find a good coconut, buy one that has no cracks. When you shake the coconut, you should be able to feel liquid sloshing around inside. The liquid is coconut milk and it's often used in recipes, or simply drunk by itself. You'll collect this liquid before cracking the shell.Step 1