Removing coconut shells to obtain kernel e.g. for copra - by heating half nut to dilate and release intact half kernel

摘要

Coconut is sawn in half. pref. through an equatorial or meridional plane, and each half nut is heated to dilate the kernel more than the shell so that interface fibres are ruptured. The half shell is then pulled axially clear of its half kernel which is left intact. Heating is pref. at 60-110 degrees C, esp. 65-75 degrees C. Heating can take place in a oven at 170-230 degrees C, in which the half nut is held for about 8-12 mins. Alternatively, a microwave oven can be used. No blade is used to separate the shell from the kernel which is pbtd. as an undamaged, intact half kernel.