Best Coconut Oil

Buying guide for Best coconut oil

Are you interested in the health benefits that coconut oil can add to your life? If so, you’re not alone. It’s all the rage in the U.S. and abroad right now. There's a lot of information about coconut oil out there, and some of it is contradictory.

So where can someone who is “new” to the scene learn more about coconut oil? We've consulted a few experts to determine what to look for when choosing the best coconut oil.

Coconut oil is an extremely versatile substance with a range of both culinary and cosmetic applications.

Uses of coconut oil

Until recently, coconut oil wasn’t that popular in the U.S. These days, however, you’ll find a coconut oil devotee just about anywhere you look.  You'll also find skin and haircare products, like shampoo, made with coconut oil. So what’s all the fuss about? Does coconut oil live up to its hype?

Let's begin by looking at some of the many uses of coconut oil:

• If you want a great vegan substitute for butter, you can use coconut oil in your baked goods.

• Coconut oil serves as an excellent moisturizer for dry skin.

• Rubbing a bit of coconut oil onto the ends of wet hair can improve its overall condition and help beat splits.

• Coconut oil can be used to remove makeup. It’s especially good for delicate areas like the eyes.

• Since it's 100% natural, many people apply coconut oil to their babies’ skin.

Is coconut oil good for you?

Most people want to know: is coconut oil a healthy fat — or is it just a fad? As with most things, it's a case of “everything in moderation.”

We spoke to Samantha Attard and registered dietitian Jessica Cording to find out more.

Jessica tells us that consuming adequate amounts of dietary fat, from coconut oil or other sources, can affect your overall wellness. That’s because fat plays a vital role in cell structure and signaling.

“Many people are afraid to eat fat,” says Jessica. “But in addition to helping the body function efficiently, fat also boosts satiety to aid in weight management. Fat slows digestion, so we feel full longer.”

In other words, fat is good for you. But too much could still be bad for you.

Jessica goes on to say that, because the majority of the fat in coconut oil is saturated, it's important not to eat too much. "The American Heart Association still recommends limiting saturated fat intake to 5% or 6% of your daily calorie intake. For someone on a 2,000-calorie diet, that’s about 120 calories and 13 or 14 grams of saturated fat per day."

Samantha explains that the level of saturated fat in coconut oil isn’t exactly what it seems, though. “The fat in coconut oil comes from medium-chained triglycerides, which are processed differently in your body than other saturated fats and are actually healthy for you.”So your primary takeaway is this: consumed in moderation, coconut oil is good for you. We recommend ingesting no more than one tablespoon per day — and less than that if you're getting saturated fat anywhere else in your diet.

Unrefined coconut oil has a fairly low smoke point of 350°F. We keep this in mind when selecting the best coconut oils for culinary applications.

We look at both food-grade coconut oil and cosmetic-grade coconut oil. Food-grade coconut oil is the most versatile because it can be used for both cooking and beauty purposes. Cosmetic-grade coconut oil should never be used for cooking.

When we research coconut oil, we make note of its many uses. Because it’s a natural, plant-based oil, it’s great for cooking, moisturizing skin, and conditioning hair.

We think about package size when assessing coconut oil. Small jars are often best for beginners, whereas large containers are ideal for frequent users.

Because a creamy texture is ideal when using coconut oil on the skin, we scrutinize the consistency of coconut oil to help consumers find the best one for their beauty needs.

In assessing coconut oils for edible purposes, we analyze the flavor. We want to know if it’s mild and if it enhances the flavor of foods.

Coconut oil comes in two varieties: refined and unrefined. We keep the benefits of both refined coconut oil and unrefined coconut oil in mind when choosing the best coconut oils on the market.

We value coconut oils that are 100% pure, organic, and non-GMO, as these are made with high-quality oil and no artificial ingredients.

Ideally, the scent of coconut oil should be light and pleasant. We take this into consideration in our research process.

Virgin coconut oil is processed without heat, which can help preserve the integrity of the oil. We take note of which coconut oils on our research list are virgin coconut oils.

Considerations

Keep these considerations in mind when deciding which type of coconut oil to buy:

Food grade vs. cosmetic grade

Some coconut oil is sold for cooking purposes and some for cosmetic use.

• Food grade coconut oil can be used for cosmetic purposes. In fact, we recommend this, as food grade coconut oil is produced to a higher standard.

• Cosmetic grade coconut oil should not be used for cooking purposes. For one thing, it might not be of a high enough quality to eat. Furthermore, it might contain perfumes or other added ingredients. You definitely wouldn’t want to roast your potatoes with it!

Unrefined vs. refined

• Unrefined coconut oil is generally labeled "virgin" or "extra virgin." This is coconut oil in its most natural form. It has a noticeable coconut smell and flavor, so you wouldn't want to use it in all recipes.

• Refined coconut oil has been bleached to remove the odor and taste of coconut. The result: a neutral oil that's versatile for cooking. Refined coconut oil is less likely to cause a reaction in people with a coconut allergy or intolerance. That said, you should avoid exposure to your known allergens.

Quantity

When selecting coconut oil, it's wise to have an idea of how much you want to buy. You can find everything from petite 11-ounce jars to huge, one-gallon behemoths.

While smaller containers might be cheaper to buy, their larger counterparts generally cost less per ounce.

However, if this is your first time using coconut oil and you're not sure if you're going to like it, it might be a good idea to start small.

Price

The price of coconut oil varies wildly and depends, in part, on the quantity you buy. As such, it's wise to look at the cost per ounce rather than the cost per container.

We've seen coconut oil that costs as much as $1 per ounce and as little as $0.15 per ounce.

Refined coconut oil tends to cost significantly less than virgin and extra virgin coconut oil. The cheapest unrefined coconut oil price we found in our research was $0.35 per ounce when bought in bulk.

If you don't want to buy a giant container, however, expect to pay somewhere between $0.50 and $0.60 per ounce.

Tips

• Jessica recommends that consumers don’t go “overboard” on any one type of oil, including coconut oil, as this could cause you to miss out on the benefits found in other oils.

• Coconut oil liquefies at roughly 76°F. If your home grows hotter than that temperature, you can expect to have runny coconut oil on your hands.

• Looking for a healthy chocolate coating for ice cream, frozen yogurt, or fruit? Melt coconut oil and mix it with cocoa powder and your favorite sweetener. When chilled, it hardens and forms a chocolate-like texture.

• Jessica says: “Research has shown that the types of saturated fats found in coconut oil are metabolized differently from other saturated fatty acids because of their different structure. They are medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as opposed to the more common long chain triglycerides. MCTs have been shown to convert to ketones in the GI tract — and ketones have been studied for their therapeutic use in brain disorders.

• To make homemade nut or seed butter, pour melted coconut oil into the food processor along with peanuts/almonds/sunflower seeds. It will make the mixture smoother and provide a more uniform texture when it hardens.

• Some people believe that all fat is bad for you. The truth is, good fats play an essential role in the functioning of a healthy body.

• Unrefined coconut oil has a strong coconut flavor. Refined coconut oil does not.

Coconut oil’s prominent flavor tastes fabulous in curries and other Indian and South Asian dishes.

FAQ

Q. Does coconut oil have a strong flavor?

A. Refined coconut oil has been processed to remove the coconut flavor and scent. If you want a neutral-tasting cooking oil, this is the way to go. However, it's worth noting that the process of refining coconut oil may cause it to lose some of its health benefits.

Unrefined coconut oil (aka virgin or extra virgin coconut oil) generally has quite a powerful flavor and scent, so it's not ideal for all cooking applications. That said, it’s possible to get unrefined, deodorized coconut oil if you shop around. This oil has usually been steamed to remove the scent and flavor, yet the health-boosting properties remain untouched.

Q. Can coconut oil help with any health conditions?

A. Jessica believes that coconut oil could benefit certain health conditions because it contains medium-chain triglycerides, which are turned into ketones by the liver. "Ketones have been studied for their therapeutic use in brain disorders," she states. "A ketogenic diet has been used for a long time as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. More recently, ketones have been studied for their role in managing conditions such Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and other neurological conditions."

However, she goes on to clarify that not enough research has yet been performed to qualify coconut oil as a miracle food. "As a dietitian, I do support use of coconut oil in moderation for its potential health benefits and versatility in cooking. But I still recommend keeping portions realistic and incorporating other forms of dietary fat in order to support your individual nutrient needs.”

Q. My coconut oil has turned to liquid. Is this normal?

A. Unless you live in a warm climate, your coconut oil will usually be solid at room temperature. However, if it turns to liquid, fear not; that just means it’s hot out! Many people prefer to deal with liquid coconut anyway, but if you want yours to stay solid, keep it refrigerated on hot days.

BestReviews contributor Sam Attard is a nutrition Ph.D. and the founder of Happy Healthy Human.