Coconut oil has a host of health and other benefits, which have contributed to its rise in popularity. Often referred to as a “superfood”, coconut oil has become a popular substitute for common cooking oils, including olive oil.
Are you looking to swap your traditional cooking oil with a healthier alternative? Coconut oil may be the right choice for you.
Read on to learn more about the different types, get inspired by some recipes, and learn how to cook with coconut oil.
What Is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil comes from a coconut, the fruit made by a palm tree. Coconut oil is also a popular substitute in many trending diets including keto and paleo diets, as well a popular choice amongst those with plant-based diets.
Coconut oil has a high melting temperature, which means that it’s solid at room temperature. This can make it convenient to store, as well as transport. It also makes it a popular choice for bakers, as it’s more structured.
Coconut oil is widely available for purchase. You can buy coconut oil at Global Goods.
Different Types of Coconut Oil: Refined and Unrefined Coconut Oil
There are various types of coconut oil available on the market. Here are the different types of coconut oil, their advantages, and uses.
Unrefined Coconut Oil
Unrefined coconut oil is known for its strong coconut flavor and lower cooking temperature. Unrefined coconut oil is made from fresh coconut meat that was either dried or pressed to extract the oil. The milk and the oil get separated during this process.
The terms virgin and extra-virgin aren’t regulated when it comes to coconut oil, unlike the olive oil industry. Therefore, they’re often used interchangeably to refer to unrefined coconut oil.
Refined Coconut Oil
Refined coconut oil refers to coconut oil that was used in the oil extraction process.
Refined coconut oil can be cooked at higher temperatures than unrefined coconut oil, which often makes it a popular choice. As well, if you want a more subtle coconut flavor or scent, this is the right choice.
How to Cook With Coconut Oil
Beyond being great for your hair, coconut oil is great to cook with. Luckily, substituting coconut oil for your everyday oil or butter is quite easy. It works particularly well in dishes that usually call for butter, which makes it a great choice for baking.
Keep your coconut oil in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight to ensure it stays in its solid state.
Make sure to accurately measure your coconut oil by packing it down in your measuring cup after scraping it out of the jar, especially if it’s in the solid state. If you want to be precise, warm it up to a liquid state and measure accordingly.
Recipe Ideas Using Coconut Oil
Coconut oil adds a sweet, nutty flavor when cooked that lends itself well to baked goods and exotic dishes. Here are some household favorite recipes that you can easily swap in coconut oil for to get their sweet aroma and flavor:
- Granola
- Stirfry/fried rice
- Cookies
Ready, Set, Cook
Coconut oil is a great plant-based alternative for cooking and baking. It adds a naturally sweet aroma and taste to your food. The next time you’re whipping up a weekday stirfry, or baking your favorite banana bread, swap in coconut oil to bring an exotic flair.
Loved learning about how to cook with coconut oil and looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out the rest of the blog.
