# What happens if you throw a coconut in a campfire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702 "2011-04-01T00:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/41 "2011-04-03T02:42:50Z")
> [@thelabdude](#): > > I am a chemist. > > I agree that heat will make it through the shell fairly quickly, but will take longer to go through the white meat. Thus, the shell could have a hole burned in it. > > Bottom line? It is going to take a lot of beer to prove it will explode the lack of a Utube video not with standing. Hmm, not a chemist myself, but the shell is dry and the meat wet. I would think the shell would be the better insulator. As for Mythbusters, we all know they’re going to blow up that coconut one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/42 "2011-04-03T03:24:48Z")
Was it NBC that used explosives on the Chevy gas tanks? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/43 "2011-04-03T04:13:09Z")
> [@](#): > > What happens if you throw a coconut in a campfire? Your hairy nuts will catch fire? I’ve been patiently saving that one for three days. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/44 "2011-04-03T06:26:49Z")
What about a coconut in a pressure cooker? Subscribed. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/45 "2011-04-03T06:47:12Z")
I have a coconut tree. It is a dwarf Samoan Coconut. I have lived in this house for eleven years. The tree was bearing when I moved in. It is still bearing and I can still pick coconuts without climbing. Because it is a dwarf, it is safer than a normal coconut tree. It will never grow tall enough so that a falling coconut can hit you and crack your skull like a . . . . like a . . . . . .like a . . . . . like a . . . wait a minute, I will come up with a suitable metaphor. Let me think about it. Anyway, I was castigated by my brother (Attack from the etc.) for e-mailing him about this question and not posting in this thread. I have contacted my friend the Mad Doctor. He is the Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 304 (Red Hill and Aliamanu Military Reservation, Honolulu Hawaii). I posed the question in the OP to him. He quite often takes coconuts from my tree and starts them growing to give them to folks who want a dwarf coconut tree. Because all boy scouts (and their Scout Masters) are intensely interested in seeing if things will blow up, I am sure that after the next campout, we will get the news about whether a husked coconut or an unhusked green or an unhusked brown coconut will blow up. With luck, we will also get video. The Mad Doctor is aware that should he decline this mission, this post will devolve into ones and zeros. If the Mad Doctor replies to me in e-mail instead of posting to this thread, I will post his results to this thread." ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Doctor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/46 "2011-04-04T06:11:18Z")
This is **The Mad Doctor**. I had a robust fire going for 3 days but didn’t know of this debate. I actually planted a coconut tree today, but it is the kind that will grow up and kill you. Those things most of you refer to as a coconut are not the things T Slothrop and I refer to as a coconut. A coconut has a thick fibrous husk to it approximating the size of a bowling ball, you pick it off a tree. It is not the hard shell thing you get at Piggly Wiggly, King Soopers, Wynn Dixie, Food Lion, or Ingles. I have a thing about coconuts, I don’t think they should be squandered in wilful incendiary experimentation. Since my supply is free though, I may consider this as a challenge. I will take a green husk juevenile coconut, and a brown skin husk bearing coconut from T Slothrop and put it in a monumental Boy Scout fire after all the Scouts have gone to bed and see if it burns or explodes. My take on this is that it will decompress non-explosively thru the softest of the 3 little umbilical dimples before it detonates in any form–either green, brown, or grocery store mainland variety. I don’t think this will attain the statistical power of a multi-centered, prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial though so will always be suspect. I will accept your donations though. PM me for my offshore account number. I believe every coconut has a soul; I watch them flower and form on T Slothrop’s tree, I watch them get larger over a year and a half and go from green to brown, the I germinate them in my yard and distribute them throughout my island to those bereft of Samoan Dwarf coconuts. Either that or I use their husks to grow my orchids on. The tree is dwarf, not the coconut. T Slothrop is a veritable giant of a man, he is not from any lineage including those of dimunitive stature. I am really not sure from where the dwarf thing originated… So today, at a site I will not disclose, prior to joining this forum or knowing of the coconut debate, I planted a germinated “grow up and kill you” kine coconut. It actually saw the fire, and watched it without concern over nite while awaiting planting, but I had not seen this thread at that time. It had no fear of the fire as it knew my intent. The other coconuts will likely suffer. Could I go to hell for this? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/47 "2011-04-04T06:14:42Z")
> [@The\_Mad\_Doctor](#): > > Could I go to hell for this? Nut likely. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/48 "2011-04-04T07:47:49Z")
Um, about the dwarf thing . . . I was talking about the tree. I personally am very sensitive about my height. If that was a short joke then I am very offended. But the exploding coconut experiment should be done very scientifically. Something like blindfolding three boy scouts and giving them a coconut and spinning them around and telling them to throw it in the fire. Please stop planting (or allowing others to plant ones you have collected) “grow up and kill you” coconut trees. Your Karma will thank you. Didn’t I explain about a coconut falling down from a great height and cracking your skull like a . . . like a . . like a … wait a minute, it will come to me. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/49 "2011-04-04T08:58:48Z")
… like a melon. I can’t wait to see the results from the boy scout troop’s experiments. Teenage boys + fire - women - beer = earth shattering kaboom! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/50 "2011-04-04T13:19:54Z")
Factual results of experment(s) = ZIP Speculation regarding anticipated results = infinity. Expectation of scientific experiments, results and conclusions reported back = ZIP ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/51 "2011-04-04T15:22:27Z")
. . .like a pumpkin on all saints day. Or you could paraphrase my Grandmother, who was fond of saying that anyone stupid was “Soft as a Christmas pumpkin.” > [@](#): > > [**The Mad Doctor**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)\*\* \*\* > > . . . > > I actually planted a coconut tree today, but it is the kind that will grow up and kill you. > > . . . > > I believe every coconut has a soul; > > . . . > > So today, at a site I will not disclose, prior to joining this forum or knowing of the coconut debate, I planted a germinated “grow up and kill you” kine coconut. It actually saw the fire, and watched it without concern over nite while awaiting planting, > > . . . Could I go to hell for this? So you are purposefully twisting this poor baby coconut by forcing it to watch the torture and eventual grisly murder of it’s older bretheren. You openly admit that it is your intention to raise it as a killer coconut tree. And then you ask whether you are going to hell? Buddy, you are the founder, creater, and sole proprieter of hell. Coconut hell. ::cue Jeepers Creepers theme music:: ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/52 "2011-04-06T14:23:26Z")
I’ve just logged in to view this thread, and only this thread, from a hotel computer during a fire alarm after looming at the poor sucker who was using the computer, who is now probably trapped in a conflagration, only to find…NO new info. What the hell. If this isn’t sorted by summer I’ll do it myself with a Dominion husk-less. I don’t know any Samoan dwarfs, but I’m certain they aren’t required. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/53 "2011-04-06T14:26:26Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I’ve just logged in to view this thread, and only this thread, from a hotel computer during a fire alarm after looming at the poor sucker who was using the computer, who is now probably trapped in a conflagration, only to find…NO new info. What the hell. If this isn’t sorted by summer I’ll do it myself with a Dominion husk-less. I don’t know any Samoan dwarfs, but I’m certain they aren’t required. Well…did you give him a coconut to throw into the conflagration or what?! ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/54 "2011-04-06T14:57:51Z")
> [@The\_Mad\_Doctor](#): > > I don’t think this will attain the statistical power of a multi-centered, prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial though so will always be suspect. Not at all. If the result is a rapid release of energy resulting in an audible “pop” and fractured shell that counts as an explosion. If the result is simply a burned coconut, it only means you need to do it again with another coconut in a different stage of development/husk removal. Or involve black powder. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/55 "2011-04-06T17:26:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Well…did you give him a coconut to throw into the conflagration or what?! I think it would have confused the hotel guest if I’d given him a coconut. Or do you mean the Samoan dwarf whom I don’t know? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/56 "2011-04-06T17:43:58Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I think it would have confused the hotel guest if I’d given him a coconut. Or do you mean the Samoan dwarf whom I don’t know? I don’t know, man. All I know is that you, apparently, were in the vicinity of a fire without a coconut. Bad Doper! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/57 "2011-04-06T18:30:09Z")
[Here’s a video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtQu2kF36-8) (careful - language might be NSFW) of a guy that tested the strength of not onw, but two coconuts by sticking electrodes into them and running high current through them. . . Both exploded qutie dramatically, the second taking out his camera - explosions around 4:00 and 7:10. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/58 "2011-04-06T19:56:00Z")
Here is someone that [microwaved](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E8ona1VW4Q) a coconut for 15 minutes. It was a store bought, brown husked coconut, probably picked a while earlier. And it… cracked and leaked. No explosion. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/59 "2011-04-07T00:43:02Z")
Pft…a microwave was a poor choice…a microwave has no soul. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702/60 "2011-04-07T20:35:59Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > We went from feeling all talented and in our element to feeling like a couple of inexperienced boobs! \Mmmmm… inexperienced boobs… \ 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-throw-a-coconut-in-a-campfire/576702.md?page=4)