Need ideas for new ways to use coconut oil?
I used to detest the flavor of coconut (and still don't like shredded coconut), but it has definitely grown on me. I'm thankful for this, now that I know all the health benefits there are to getting more in my diet. My two favorite recipes with coconut are my popcorn and this chocolate candy made with coconut oil. Another favorite use I have for it is as a Skin Moisturizer – I love the smell and knowing that some of the health benefits are soaking in through my skin. (And shhhh, it's also great as a personal lubricant.)
A while back, I asked members at a couple of my favorite nutrition forums some questions about their favorite ways to use coconut oil, and the following is a collection of their replies. A big THANK YOU to everyone who responded!
Scroll down for the list, but first, have you seen these posts?
I asked the following questions:
- What are the various reasons you use coconut oil (health benefits, taste, or ?)
- What do you mostly use coconut oil for? (Topically or for cooking?)
- What foods do you cook in it and how?
- What are your favorite ways to use coconut oil?
Here are the replies that came in:
- Gillian: A long shelf life is a wonderful thing. Besides being convinced of its basic healthiness, I have found there are MANY ways to use coconut oil…
- It absolutely stops the lip blisters from herpes
- I have much less trouble with my Raynaud's (chronically cold feet & hands.)
- A friend of mine is quite sure he's having less trouble with athlete's foot, too.
- I put it in the deep fryer as a heat stable oil that I can reuse many times. ( I live with a vegetarian so lard or tallow is not an option there.) Works great, no problems. Homemade potato chips are a hit…
- I've taken to doing all my sautéing with it and no one has ever noticed.
- I will eat it straight off the spoon if I feel like I haven't gotten enough otherwise, though I know many people get queasy doing that.
- I've tried making the coconut chocolate drops and those go easily down everybody. (Unless they hate chocolate – is there anyone like that?)
- I like this coconut oil mayo.
- Erica:
- I use it in my morning tea, along with Stevia and cream.
- I eat a spoonful of it to stave off hunger. I lick it like it's pudding.
- Topically, I use the VCO after my shower as a bath oil, body and face.
- Sometimes I cook with the VCO, but my daughter isn't fond of coconut, so I'll buy the kind that doesn't have any flavor.
- Carol B.:
- We love popcorn with a mixture of coconut oil/butter, sea salt/pepper and parmesan cheese. The pepper was a mistake by my autistic son once and we LOVED it.
- Esposita:
- We began using it in GOOT (garlic oil ointment treatment) and in homemade salves.
- We sauté a lot of veggies in it, use it in place of shortening (baking, tortillas, greasing pans).
- DiaperSwyper:
- I'm discovering, again, what a great carb craving suppressor it is. If I'm craving a carb loaded sweet “something” it takes the desire away. (Or at least most of it.) My DH (“dear husband”) has taken it in the morning and totally not been hungry for most of the day. Swallow a teaspoon and chase it down with water. You can also put it in hot tea or water but I care for greasy water even less.
- Healthy Bratt:
- My favorite ways to use coconut oil are in salves, as a skin moisturizer, body lubricant, massage oil, sunscreen, diaper rash/yeast
- Homemade granola
- Wyomama3:
- As a skin anti-fungal, it absorbs quickly, non greasy and doesn't leave that ‘heavy, caky feeling' on the surface of the skin.
- It retains the scent of my essential oils nicely and I use it on my body after bathing, on the baby, as a face moisturizer, as a sunscreen – it leaves that coconutty summer smell.
- I love frying tortilla's or wonton wraps – it doesn't leave foods in that soaked-in grease state, I use it in some desserts and baking; it's good for any baked tropical dessert. Remember: if you add it as a liquid to anything cool, it will quickly harden again.
- Jill:
- I use it for a metabolism boost.
- Hedy:
- I like it stirred into hot chocolate.
- Kati*did:
- There are a lot of ways to use coconut oil in the kitchen: I spread it on bread (instead of butter) and use it in all baked goods except tortillas (the coconut oil makes them stiff when cold), in stir fries, eggs, in/on pancakes/crepes, and add it to homemade almond butter (half and half).
- I also use it as a personal lubricant.
- joyful_mommy03:
- I started drinking smoothies in the morning in order to get 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil in my diet because I had heard about it's metabolism boosting abilities and that it tends to suppress the sweet-tooth – it really seems to be working for me as I have only gained 20-25 pounds this pregnancy instead of my usual 35 or so.
- Also good as a hair friz tamer and in bath salts.
- In cooking, we generally only use it for sweet items because of the coconut flavor.
What are YOUR favorite ways to use coconut oil?
- The best deals on quality brands of organic virgin coconut oil
- Here's the refined coconut oil for those recipes that you don't want the taste or smell of coconut – still some health benefits to this kind, but not as many
- Coconut oil isn't the only oil you should be getting into your diet, be sure to take your cod liver oil, too.
- Which meat should you buy
- Meal Planning/Kitchen Tips-Save Time and Make Life Easier
Brittani says
So you can really put coconut oil in the deep fryer? I’m reading things online saying not to do so… Will it go rancid? Why are some sources saying not to put it in electric deep fryer??
KitchenKop says
The virgin coconut oil has a lower smoke point, so you don’t want to heat that at high temps. But the no smell/no taste coconut oil *can* be heated at higher temps. You’ll want to double check with wherever you buy it from to ask at what temp it can go up to safely.
Kelly
Kate says
Hey Kelly! i have started taking coconut oil in my morning coffee (about a tablespoon) after reading about it’s health benefits and to try to lose weight. But I find that sometimes it gives me stomach cramps. Anyone else out there have this trouble? Is that my body telling me to back off with it?
KitchenKop says
Maybe you could try taking less & slowly build up to more?
Rosetta says
You should try the. No taste/smell coconut oil as some people who get stomach discomfort find this suits them better.
KitchenKop says
I haven’t looked into it much, but Wikipedia says this, “In fact one cup-full of coconut water contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks and more potassium than a banana.” Wow!
Kelly
Sally says
Kelly,
What are your thoughts in regards to coconut water?
Kendra says
I LOVE coconut water (I especially like the kind with chunks (pulp)) It is refreshing on a hot day. I will give it to my kids during sporting events instead of vibrantly colored sports drinks.
KitchenKop says
I can’t wait to hear if it helps!
I just realized I hadn’t linked to my coconut/alzheimers post in this one, so I’m adding it now.
Kelly
Musings of a Housewife says
Amazing! I found a post of yours I hadn’t read. 😉 This is awesome. I thought I was being original when I put some on my face one night when my moisturizer ran out. Ha! Now I use it regularly.
I’m going to try is straight. I need help staving off hunger/carb cravings.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Holly,
Good questions…
In smoothies I actually use organic coconut milk, sorry, I should have clarified that part. The coc. oil does get chunky if it’s cold, not cool in a smoothie.
My jar goes back and forth too, especially when it’s in-between weather. I still use it no matter what. On my skin, I just rub it in ’til it melts. With cooking, I’ll melt it in a dish sitting in hot water. Or for my popcorn, I just scoop it into the pan.
Thanks for commenting and asking what many others probably wondered. 🙂
Kelly
Holly says
Kelly, I see that you use it in smoothies…does it form solid chunks in the cold drink? It wasn’t that big a deal for me, but I’m pretty sure my kids wouldn’t like chunks. Also, my jar seems to keep going back and forth between fairly solid and all liquid (plus the in- between stages). Do you just use it as a moisturizer, or to bake with, or whatever else, no matter if it’s liquid or solid?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I can’t wait to hear what you think, how you used it, etc. You have to try the popcorn! 🙂
The Gluten-Free Homemaker says
I’ve been reading good things about coconut oil, but you convinced me to give it a try. I used your free shipping to order some, and I can’t wait to try it.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I only like the refined stuff for certain dishes that you wouldn’t want the coconut flavor in, and some of them do have an off flavor (Spectrum Naturals for one), but the rest have no taste.
Kelly
Holly says
Oh, this will be helpful. I have a jar of coconut oil in my cupboard right now, but haven’t used it too much yet. I did try to put it in a smoothie; at that time the weather was warmer and the oil was liquified. But when I was drinking the smoothie there were all these little chunks in it, and I finally realized they were solidified coconut oil!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Kelly!
Anonymous says
Tropical Traditions has a nice quality virgin coconut oil and it is on sale now through Oct. 12.
~Holly
FreedomFirst says
I started using coconut oil just to see what the rave was about. Before that I would usually substitute butter for vegetable oil. But after trying the coconut oil, I’m hooked! It provides such rich texture and flavor. I hate the refined stuff, though. Yuck.
Diana says
Ooh – hot chocolate sounds yummy. I will try it in my morning tea, although I’m having a hard time imagining it. I haven’t made smoothies in awhile, but that sounds good too. And the popcorn is great! Thanks for putting this together Kelly.
Diana