SC - Weird but cool kitchen gadgets

[Olwen the Odd]

>I sometimes see coconuts in the grocery here. What is the best way to
>'open' a coconut to get at the inside? A big hammer? A saw? Does
>it vary depending upon whether the coconut is green or brown and
>hairy (I assume the last is ripe or past ripe and the former is
>not, and probably not available in my area). Do the brown hairy
>ones have coconut milk in them or it is just 'meat' by then?
>
>I was going to ask whether coconuts were known in period in Europe.
>Then I looked in my nuts-msg file and found that, surprisingly to me,
>they were.
>
>Stefan li Rous

I am assuming you are speaking of the already hulled coconuts.  The not 
hulled ones are rather large and more or less three sided.  If you are 
talking about those ignore what I am about to write and re-state.

The little round brown coconuts with three little "eyes" on one end should 
have a sloshing sound when you shake them.  If they don't they are very old 
and won't be nearly as good.  Generally you would drive an ice-pick or 
screwdriver or corkscrew through the "eyes" and drain the liquid into a 
glass.  Then bang the coconut open with a hammer.  I place them partially 
wrapped in a towel and put in a close fitting box or castiron pot to break 
them open.  Less chance of shell and meat going flying all over the room.  
The fresher the coconut (if it has milk in it) the easier it is to remove 
from the shell.  The milk can be used in any number of ways but I usually 
just find a thimble of rum and drink it.
Olwen who used to shake them from trees and bust them on rocks
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