Top 10 Best Coconut Cooking Oils Taste Reviews
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Coconut cooking oil has always been a food that faces many controversies. The media always praises this oil. But, some scientists question whether its importance in cooking is hiked a lot. Do you know why this oil has a negative strain on it? The reason is that it is high in saturated fat content. However, studies suggest that saturated fat is not unhealthy as it was believed earlier. Can the oil clog the arteries as many of us believe? Let us learn more about this cooking oil here:
Coconut cooking oil is an edible oil that has been derived from the milk, meat and wick of the coconut palm fruit. It is white solid fat that can melt when the room temperature is warm at around 250C. In places with warmer climates, it will be in the form of a clear thin liquid oil during the summer months. This oil like other cooking oils comes in refined and unrefined variants. The latter will have a distinct coconut aroma, while the aroma will be a little mild in the former.
When talking about the taste of coconut cooking oil, you will find that it will have a neutral flavor when you taste it on its own. Even, the same rule applies when you use it in cooking. When the oil is unrefined, it will have traces of coconut flavor. But, the refined variants hardly have any traces of coconut flavor. This oil is popular for its low smoke point of all vegetable cooking oil variants. So, it is not good to use it for sauteeing and frying over high heat as it can start burning after a specific heat point.
Coconut cooking oil is unique and different from most other cooking oils. Do you know the reason? It encompasses a unique combination of fatty acids. Fatty acids do not mean that this oil is unhealthy. But, 90% of these fatty acids are saturated fatty acids. Also, this oil is known for its rich content of saturated fat called lauric acid. In fact, this acid makes up to 40% of the total fat content of this oil. So, this oil becomes highly resistant to oxidation when it is heated at high temperatures. So, this oil is very much suitable for high-heat cooking methods like frying.
What can lauric acid do to your body? Lauric acid in coconut cooking oil is an intermediate between medium and long-chain fatty acids. Studies show that this acid increases the level of blood cholesterol. It does not mean that it will increase the risk of a heart attack in consumers. But, it means that the increase in cholesterol levels due to this oil consumption happens due to good cholesterol. When your good cholesterol or HDL Cholesterol level increases relative to total cholesterol levels, there will be reduced chances of heart diseases.
May improve blood lipids: Studies show that regular consumption of coconut cooking oil can improve the levels of lipids that circulate in your blood. In turn, the risk of heart disease reduces. In a study conducted, it was found that this oil increases HDL levels, thereby bringing you and your family beneficial results.
Coconut cooking oil is safe to eat. The reason is that most of its fatty acids are saturated. Due to this feature, this oil remains stable even in high temperatures. It is known for its high smoke point at 1750C. This oil can become semi-solid when you live in a region with a cold climate. But, it can melt at 240C. So, to make it pliable for cooking, it is better not to store it in a refrigerator. In colder climatic conditions, it can turn very solid and hard to get out of the container. So, when you wish to use it on colder days in cooking, you can use it by whipping it with an electric mixer or blender. Here are some ideas for cooking with this oil:
In most recipes, you can use coconut cooking oil as a substitute for other oil types or butter in a 1:1 ratio. When you cook with this oil, you should remember one thing for sure. Let cold ingredients like milk or eggs come to room temperature before you blend them with this oil. Only then, everything will mix smoothly without clumping. When you intend to add coconut cooking oil to protein shakes and smoothies, it is better to melt the oil and add it gradually and not at once. You will be surprised to know that in some cultures people add this oil to their coffee/tea in small quantities like a spoon.
If you plan to buy unrefined coconut cooking oil, you can use it for baking and medium-heat sauteing. If you wish to use its refined variant, you can use it for high-heat applications. Also, when you use this oil for cooking, you should remember that coconut cooking oil can be grainy at times. The reason is that different types of fat have different melting points. To remove the lumps from this oil, it is better to make sure that you melt it in a double boiler, microwave, or saucepan. This will also help you identify that you use the right quantity of this oil that the recipe calls for.
When you are on the verge of shopping for the best coconut cooking oil, here are some features to consider to make sure that you shop the best:
Choose Oil that Comes in BPA-Free Bottle: Are you wondering why you should buy coconut cooking oil that comes in a BPA-free bottle? BPA is the short-form for Bisphenol A. This is a chemical that is commonly found in consumer goods. It is free of any color and it is solid as well. Studies show that this substance causes major health concerns. It increases the chances of certain types of cancers. Further, it is known to bring down the chances of fertility besides increasing the chances of birth defects and diabetes. The problem with BPA is that it can dissolve in the oil if the bottle contains this material. So, choose a BPA-free container when you shop this oil or any other food for that matter.
Choose Either Refined or Unrefined Oil: When you intend to buy coconut cooking oil, you will come across both refined and unrefined variants. Both are good when made following safety standards rightly. When you choose refined coconut oil, it will have a gentle aroma and savor. But, it will have a higher point of smoking. On the other hand, when you choose unrefined oil, it would have been processed minimally but it will have a powerful coconut savor. However, it cannot withstand much heat. Based on how you have planned to use the oil, you can either choose refined or unrefined until they are natural. But, the refining process reduces nutrients and flavor to a certain extent.
Choose Naturally Refined: Have you decided to buy refined coconut cooking oil? Has one of your friends stated that it is not as healthy as unrefined oil? Nothing to worry about! If you have decided to use the oil for high heat cooking, you can confidently choose a refined variant. But, check whether the product has been refined using natural methods. The reason is that naturally-refined oils are more thoroughly strained and filtered as compared to unrefined oil. The filtration would have been done using some additional heating but without the use of damaging or harsh chemicals.
If you are looking for high-end coconut cooking oil, you can find options at more than $80. But, if you are yet to start trying this oil for cooking, you can try cheap coconut cooking oil. You can find affordable coconut cooking oil that comes in smaller tins at less than $10. Are you wondering what would be the average cost of this oil? It differs based on different factors. For instance, it can vary based on whether you wish to buy organic, refined, unrefined and even on the basis of the size of the tin you wish to buy.
You need not have to worry whether coconut cooking oil will be healthy for your family. The reason is that it has proven to be heart-healthy. So, do make sure to make the right purchase by considering the factors listed above. You are sure to get the benefits.
This post was last modified on January 3, 2022 3:15 pm