Fresh coconut

[hrh_disney_queen]

I finally broke down and got the kids a fresh coconut so they could try it. We "milked" it, then took it outside and slammed it on the back cement deck. (DH was out there and yelled, he didn't know what we were doing it was a loud breaking sound)! So we took the pieces inside, washed it all off, and got the shell off. They took a tiny taste of the flesh and then the milk, turned their noses up at it, (which is what I KNEW would happen) and now I have an entire fresh coconut in pieces. What should I do with it? How do you get the brown "rind" off? (not the shell, the stuff that sticks to the flesh and doesn't come off easily?)

I am open to any suggestions. Storage would be my first choice-freezing it so I don't have to deal with it right now. BTW, I am the only one in the family that likes coconut.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I don't have any ideas for the coconut....but do tell your kids that what they were drinking was coconut water, not coconut milk. Coconut milk is made from the white "meat" of the coconut...so, actually, I guess maybe you could make coconut milk with your coconut? Maybe your kids would try it then...it's sweet and great in cooking, too!

 

[janey99]

I vote for just throwing it out - last Christmas we were going to make coconut candy, and DS (10 at the time) was trying to peel the brown rind off with a vegetable peeler and slipped and slashed the tip of his thumb off!

We had to go to the emergency room and get it glued back on.

I'm not partial to coconut anymore, especially since when we got home, DH said "I saved your plate of coconut in case you still want to make the candy." I looked and it was covered in blood drops!

Jane

 

[luvflorida]

I don't have any ideas either. Just wanted to say that the first part of your first sentence- "I finally broke down and got the kids a fresh coconut..." made me laugh, and I think it would make a good tag.

 

[laurie31]

I love fresh coconut.

But...it's REALLY hard to peel the brown shell off. REALLY HARD. I use a small paring knife and just go very slowly and pick off small pieces. It's easy to end up like janey's son. I usually make DH do it, because it really is difficult and it hurts my hands after awhile (I don't have any problems with my hands, either).

You can also grate it, and just accept that you will "waste" part of it, and not get all the way to the rind.

You can freeze the pieces or the gratings. The reason your kids didn't like it might be because it's not sugar-sweetened like store-bought grated coconut. You could mix some sugar with it and see if they like it then...or make something like a coconut pie with it.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I love fresh coconut.


You can also grate it, and just accept that you will "waste" part of it, and not get all the way to the rind.

This is what I've always done.

I know that at some of the local supermarkets around here you can get coconuts that have already been peeled. An Asian market would likely have it if the supermarket doesn't.

 

[JR6ooo4]

you do know that coconut is a natural diarrhetic, right?

Mikeeee

 

[quasar4legs]

I would grate it and use it in any type of curry. Yum!

 

[laurie31]

you do know that coconut is a natural diarrhetic, right?

Mikeeee

I wasn't sure if you meant it could cause diarrhea, or that it was a diuretic, so I googled, and hey, it's both! LOL! It's a mild laxative, and a mild diuretic! I had no idea! (but I've also not noticed either of those effects from eating it, so it must be pretty mild indeed, 'cause I don't eat just a little - lol)



And now thanks to quasar4legs, I'm craving the curried chicken my mom used to make back in the 70s! Yummy!! She served it with toasted coconut and crushed peanuts. So very good!

*wonders if there's an Indian place open late around here...*

 

[MAH4546]

Organize a coconut swap. When's the next time you are staying at ASMu? Start it from there.

 

[FireDancer]

I love fresh coconut but much like most fruit it doesn't taste exactly like its flavoring. I would use a peeler to remove the brown hairs (potato or carrot works) and then use the coconut pieces in smoothies. Use some 100% papaya, mango, or other tropical juice and add the coconut along with a banana, kiwi, and vanilla or tropical protein powder.

It's quite good.