Julia Altshuler > wrote in
news:2erbc.169639$po.979474@attbi_s52:

> hahabogus wrote:
>> Coconut milk is made out of water and freshly shredded coconut flesh.
>> The water is filtered thru the shredded coconut. This is easily made
>> at home, but involves the hard work of getting the meat out of the
>> coconut and shredding it , plus a cloth bag to use as a filter and a
>> bowl to collect the drippings. It takes overnight. I have read
>> recipes for the making of it but never tried it myself (too lazy I
>> guess).
>
>
> Tips to make it easier:
>
>
> The coconut will have 3 spots or eyes forming a little face at one
> end.
> They're the place that's soft and easy to break into. You can use a
> screwdriver. Empty the coconut water through there. (Strain this,
> cool and drink it.)
>
>
> Crack the coconut by taking it outside and throwing it against the
> sidewalk. When it breaks into pieces, pick them up. Put them in the
> oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes. As the coconut meat contracts
> from the heat, the hard outer shell stays the same size. This makes
> it easier to separate the white fleshy part from the inedible part.
> Use the same screwdriver.
>
>
> Put the white coconut meat in the cuisinart with a steel blade. Add
> boiling water. Process. Skip the cheesecloth and use a regular metal
> strainer. Push through with a spoon. It won't take overnight, a few
> minutes max. I stop after the first pressing, but you could take
> what's leftover (someone provide the word, please), add more hot water
> and process again in the cuisinart. Press again.
>
>
> The liquid you've extracted is the milk, and like milk, the cream will
> rise to the top for use in recipes.
>
>
> And now a confession: I prefer the canned stuff! To me, it tastes
> more coconutty. This is one of those rare instances where I prefer
> the artificial product to the real thing.
>
>
> --Lia
>
>

A good brand would not be "artificial" and would not contain anything but
the coconut cream or coconut milk, with possibly a few preservatives. I
agree, it's definitely easier.