The Best Coconut Oil Recipes You Need To Try (2024)

FAQs

What is best to cook with coconut oil? ›

The flavors are perfect together in a curry dish, a meal that uses coconut milk, or dishes based on sweet vegetables like winter squash or carrots. Add a spoonful of coconut oil to the water while cooking rice. Finish off with another spoonful before serving. Roast vegetables or new potatoes in coconut oil.

It has a moisturizing effect when applied to the skin. People commonly use coconut oil for eczema and growth in premature infants. It's also used for psoriasis, obesity, breast cancer, heart disease, MS, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Whenever possible, buy coconut oil that's labeled as "unrefined," "extra virgin," and/or "cold pressed," but avoid coconut oil that's labeled as "deodorized." Sticking to these guidelines ensures that you'll get oil subjected to the least amount of processing.

You don't need to store coconut oil in the fridge, even when your jar or tub has been opened. The rule of thumb for all edible oils is to store them in a cool, dark place to keep them fresh and retain any nutritional values.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, imparts fried eggs with a creamy, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor that elevates the classic fried egg by giving it more depth. The tropical sweetness of coconut oil blends seamlessly with the hearty essence of the egg yolks for a perfect balance of salty and sweet.

Coconut Oil Side Effects

Coconut oil is full of saturated fat, which can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol and your chances of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends you to eat low-saturated fat foods and use healthier oils when you cook.

Instead of butter or olive oil, use coconut oil for making your favorite recipes, like smoothies or even desserts. You can also use coconut oil as salad dressings. Ingesting coconut oil 20 minutes prior to mealtime may increase feelings of fullness, curb your appetite and help lose weight.

"If you have oily skin and are acne-prone, coconut oil shouldn't be applied to acne-prone areas." Steer clear of applying coconut oil to your face, chest, upper back and shoulders, as these areas of skin have the most oil glands, and do test patches on other areas of your body before going all in.

It's also important to keep in mind that coconut oil is very high in calories and can easily lead to weight gain if you consume it in large amounts. Researchers have found that consuming a type of saturated fat in coconut oil, called MCTs, may increase the number of calories you burn.

Side effects of using coconut oil on your skin

It's hydrating, yes. But that means it can do its job a little too well and clog pores and cause acne breakouts — especially if your skin is more on the oily side. “If you are prone to acne, you should also avoid putting it on your shoulders, chest or back,” Dr. Wu adds.

Is coconut oil healthier than olive oil? ›

Olive Oil Is Healthier and More Nutritious

That is because it is rich in good fat (polyunsaturated fat) and low in bad fat (saturated fat). Coconut oil contains 80 to 90 percent saturated fat. According to the experts, a tablespoon of coconut oil contains about six times as much saturated fat as olive oil.

Myth: Coconut oil is a heart-healthy cooking alternative.

The reality: Coconut oil has been shown to raise cholesterol levels — the good and the bad kinds — more than other plant-based oils like olive or canola. And in truth, medium-chain triglycerides make up only a small amount of the fatty acids in coconut oil.

A few side effects related to the consumption of coconut oil include the following: Consuming coconut oil increases the level of low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol. Due to the presence of saturated fatty acids, excess consumption can be unhealthy and can increase the risk of stroke and cardiac diseases.

According to dermatologists, it's better to use unrefined coconut oil, specifically one that's been cold-pressed, not expeller-pressed. Cold-pressed coconut oil is thought to contain more nutrients than expeller-pressed, so using the former is more beneficial when it comes to skin care.

This plant-based oil is used as a cooking fat. It's also a common and effective moisturizing ingredient in lotions and hair care products. As a food ingredient, coconut oil has been marketed as having several health benefits, including helping with weight loss and preventing dementia.

Which is healthier — coconut oil or olive oil? The clear winner in this matchup is olive oil. That is because it is rich in good fat (polyunsaturated fat) and low in bad fat (saturated fat). Coconut oil contains 80 to 90 percent saturated fat.

Coconut oil is a good option for sautéing vegetables and even light pan-frying. It's not ideal for deep-frying though: Coconut oil has a smoke point of 350 to 400 degrees. Keep in mind that refined coconut oil generally has a higher smoke point than unrefined coconut oil.

There is no fast and set rule in the debate of coconut oil vs. butter that defines one winner over the other. While the argument can be made that there are more health benefits to consuming antioxidant-rich coconut oil than there are to consuming butter, both are still high-fat foods that you should eat in moderation.