Recipe(tried): best way to split a coconut

This is not elegant or sophisticated; but it is the way I've always cracked coconuts. One of the eyes at the top of the coconut is very easy to puncture with a skewer or thin-bladed knife. Enlarge the hole so the milk drains easily.

Then I bounce the coconut on the concrete driveway slab (just drop from about three feet high) until it smashes flat on one side. You probably get the same results from hitting with a hammer. Once the outer hull is broken, use a thin knife to pry the meat from the hull. Peel the brown inner hull off the white coconut meat with a sharp knife. I like to grate the coconut meat by hand, but some people use a blender or something. I think the coconut flakes are lighter and less greasy if you hand-grate the coconut. Any little bits of skin from your knuckles just adds to the protein content.