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Coconut oil ... Recipes?

14 years ago

I just recently got turned onto coconut oil. It is virgin oil & unsaturated so is a "good oil". I put a spoonful in my morning steel cut oats & it is soo yummy. I ordered mine online & I understand that the kind you can get from WalMart is tasteless. You can also use CO for treating hair & skin.

So, I am wondering if there are others here that also love coconut oil & what recipes you have tried with it & found to be good?

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Comments (17)

Cherryfizz
14 years ago
I use it just like I would any other oil or fat. I saute veggies in it, browned stewing meat, etc. I melt it and put it in my banana bread. I put it in my pan when I make pancakes. I buy the organic coconut oil, costs just over $10 a jar.

Friend of mine used it on her eczema and it helped clear it up. I put some in a little jar and use it on my lips when they start to peel. Great stuff.

Anne
cookie8
14 years ago
I do oil pulling with mine which is swishing it around your mouth, when you first wake up, for 10-15 minutes, spitting it out and rinsing mouth with very warm water. It is super good for the gums and naturally whitens teeth. There are supposed to be other health benefits but I use it for oral health as whitening strips really cause me pain and damage to my enamel.
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Oh so right about adding coconut oil (liquid) to cold ingredients!!! Make sure your eggs are room temperature, and you may need to take the chill off of milk, yogurt, or other cold ingredients (few seconds in the microwave), otherwise you'll end up with chunks of solid coconut oil. The "solid nature of coconut oil is a PITA but will need to adjust to it" isn't a problem if you leave your coconut oil at room temperature, especially during warmer weather in an ambient temperature warmer than 70-degrees F. It gets harder the cooler the ambient temperature, but I've never stored coconut oil in the refrigerator - EVER. As part of the "Seven Survival Foods", I store enough coconut oil for 3-years (which I do of all the "Seven Survival Foods") and rotate it regularly and it's stored in a cool basement storage room until I move it to the kitchen. Several years ago I kept a cup of Nutiva Coconut Oil in our pantry for several years after the use-by date to see if it would go rancid. It never did and I finally went ahead and used it for homemade deodorant mixed with baking soda, cornstarch and essential oils. I mix coconut oil with homemade peanut butter or almond butter. You can purchase it already mixed, but it's a lot cheaper to do-it-yourself. I use several brands, and LouAna brand (I can get it at Wal-Mart and Dillons/Kroger) doesn't have any coconut flavor, and it's also the least expensive I can purchase locally, and use it when I don't want any coconut flavor. I like to use a brand that has the light coconut flavor in baked goods that has chocolate in it. It's my little "secret" flavoring ingredient in brownies. Coconut oil is also great in homemade yeast bread to help slow staling and mold. I also use coconut oil in many of my homemade "convenience" foods that call for shortening or butter - pancake mix, baking mix, Magic Mix (a mixture of powdered milk, cornstarch and coconut oil - used for making homemade Fudgsicles, pudding, cream of ______ condensed soup, Pesto Alfredo Sauce, etc.). There are all kinds of things you do with coconut oil (see link below). I always wipe any off a spoon and use it as hand lotion. I apply it to my face each morning and night. I often make a hot beverage mid-morning and add a dollop of coconut oil and a tablespoon of gelatin powder as a pick-me-up (I get up around 3 a.m. daily) and it keeps me from snacking. For bacon grease.... I purchase packages of bacon ends from a local meat packing company and will cook the entire package. Much cheaper than buying bacon and you can use it in nearly the same ways you would strips. I strain the bacon grease, put it in mini-muffin tins and make bacon grease "pucks" and freeze them in a vacuum-sealed container. I freeze the cooked bacon ends on a flat cookie sheet in a single layer, then portion them in snack-size plastic bags and vacuum-seal them in a FoodSaver bag. The bacon pieces work in egg dishes, topping a BLT (sandwich or salad), etc..... -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: 101 uses for coconut oil
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Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup Allrecipes.com "Sweet potato soup is made Asian style with coconut milk and curry paste. This soup is easy to make and unbelievably good!" Â 1 1/2 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes Â 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Â 1 onion, chopped Â 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, thinly sliced Â 1 tablespoon red curry paste Â 1 (15 ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk Â 3 cups vegetable broth Â 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice Â 1 teaspoon sea salt Â 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil Â 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (you could substitute flat leafed parsley) DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the sweet potatoes directly on the rack and bake until tender enough to easily pierce with a fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. 2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and ginger; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the curry paste and heat for 1 minute, then whisk in the coconut milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. 3. Remove the skins from the sweet potatoes and cut into bite size chunks. Add to the soup and cook for 5 more minutes so they can soak up the flavor. Stir in lemon juice and season with salt. Ladle into bowls and garnish with a drizzle of sesame oil and a little bit of cilantro.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
I started using coconut oil a while ago, I use it in cooking especially eggs and stuff I fry. I also put it on my toast with my brummel and brown.I also sometimes spread it on my bread for sandwiches.
I sometimes make a fruit smoothie and I will add some to that also.

It has amazing health benefits which is why I got started with it. We like it a lot.

You can find it at walmart with the Crisco made by LuAnn this one is fine to cook with.
For those that do not know it is a solid white looks similar to Crisco.

Just google coconut oil to find an abundance of info on it. the Alzheimer's studies were very impressive. Plus people that have gone on coconut heavy diets lose weight and remain healthy. Think of all that coconut they eat on Survivor and how much weight they lost but still looked good.
It is one of the good oils.
bee0hio
Original Author
14 years ago
I spread it on the bread instead of butter/margarine when I make a grilled cheese sandwich. Mmmmm-Mmmmm!
kayjones
14 years ago
I use it in my baking and on my hair and nails.
Chi
14 years ago
I rub some on my skin after a shower and before bed. It's a little greasy until it's absorbed but you'll wake up with baby soft skin in the morning!
lynn_d
14 years ago
I'm like Anne, I've used it for the past couple of years and love it. We use it for anything we would normally use any oil for, from butter to frying to greasing pans. I have started quite a few folks on it.
JennaVaNowSC
14 years ago
What is a good organic brand? Would Whole Foods have it? We saw a Dr Oz show a few days ago about the benefits and I have been meaning to try it.

thanks for posting.
bee0hio
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't know about Whole Foods, Jenna. I ordered mine (Nutiva brand 29 oz for about $15) from Vitacost dot com. If you are interested, I can refer you, for a coupon of $10 off your order.
JennaVaNowSC
14 years ago
Thanks Beeohio.... I will check the Nutiva website. I just ordered chia seeds from them. Really want to try the coconut oil
Cherryfizz
14 years ago
I use Nutiva, around $10 from our Metro grocery store. When you buy coconut oil make sure it is organic and cold pressed.
Cherryfizz
14 years ago
oops I meant extra virgin coconut oil. LOL I was thinking about olive oil at the same time and I always buy that cold pressed.
kayjones
14 years ago
I buy Now Healthy Foods certified organic virgin Coconut oil from a local health food store - $16 for 20 ounces.
sjerin
14 years ago
I just saw it (organic) at Trader Joe's today. The sign bragged about the low price, though I don't recall what it was.
lynn_d
14 years ago
It took a few days until I remembered to check mine! I use Tropical Traditions, 2 varieties. Expeller pressed has no taste and no aroma, the Virgin has an aroma and a bit of taste, I use them accordingly. One other thing, it has a very low melting point. I keep it on top of the fridge in winter but if I do that in summer it liquifies.
phoggie
14 years ago
I have heard and read that it is great for memory...and I need that, but I have a problem with my GERD when I use it..so trying to get the capsule form, freeze it so it is in the stomach before it melts, but the health food store says they can not keep or get it since Dr. Oz has talked so much about how good it is for a person.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
yes you can not keep it near your stove for sure it will be liquid. I had mine in a caddy with my other stuff like my olive oil on the counter to the side of the stove, went to use it and it was liquefied on the top. So I know not to put it close to any heat sources or in the sunlight.
I have severe GERD even with my prilosec but so far the coconut oil has not had any ill effects but I have never tried eating it straight.

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