How to use coconut oil?
Posted on April 25, 2013 10 Comments
You guys, I bought coconut oil thinking it was going to be my next great cooking ingredient. But when I got home, I noticed that the jar says “for use with medium heat, up to 280 degrees.”
I cook pretty much everything at higher temperatures than that. Now I’m stuck with a jar of coconut oil I’m not sure how to use.
I consulted Pinterest and it seems like a lot of people use it for baking, or for non-food uses such as natural lotions. This blogger has helpfully compiled 101 uses for coconut oil; though I’m not sure all the uses are applicable to me (several for babies), some appear time-consuming (homemade deodorant bars), and a lot of them seem like a stretch (how can something serve as a tanning oil and a sunscreen at the same time?). I think I can probably try some of the simple beauty uses, like lip balm, overnight moisturizer, hair product, hand creme, but I really intended to use it for cooking since it sounded so delicious.
Are any of you cooking with coconut oil? Help me figure out the best, most convenient, and easy ways to use up my coconut oil!
Category: Life
Tags: food
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10 Responses to “How to use coconut oil?”
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April 25th, 2013 @ 12:19 pm
I LOVE this recipe… it’s been a hit every time I’ve served it. It’s the reason I keep coconut oil in my pantry, to be honest:
http://paleodietlifestyle.com/spicy-drumsticks/
April 25th, 2013 @ 12:42 pm
I had the same exact problem! I bought a jar of coconut oil and then it sat in my pantry for a couple months unused. I only recently have used it for two very different things. First, it is absolutely amazing on top of a roasted sweet potato (I got the idea/recipe from ‘The 4-Hour Chef, but basically, just roast a sweet potato and then split it open and drop dollops of coconut oil over it with a pinch of salt). The other thing I’ve used it in is homemade granola.
My eager to read what other people use it in!
April 25th, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
Phew! Comments are back on this post!
April 25th, 2013 @ 2:13 pm
@Laura – you cook with it at higher heat than 280 and it doesn’t burn?
April 26th, 2013 @ 8:13 am
Not a recipe, but I use it as makeup remover. I love that it’s all natural, and it takes off eyeliner/mascara like a DREAM!
April 26th, 2013 @ 12:02 pm
I love coconut oil and have been using it for years. It is an amazing skin moisturizer, especially after shaving. I also like it as a hair conditioner for taming split ends and frizzy hair. It may seem greasy at first, but absorbs quickly.
I’ll add two tablespoons of coconut oil in smoothies. I use it as a substitute for butter on toast. I roast all my veggies in it (I’m not sure what brand you bought, but mine you can cook with up to 350). My favorite is roasting chunks of sweet potato with cinnamon sticks, garlic cloves, and coconut oil. I also use it for stir fry, pancakes, cookies, etc. I basically use it as a substitute for most oils in recipes.
My roommate makes her own lotion bars with coconut oil. It is time consuming, but will most likely use up the jar.
April 26th, 2013 @ 12:10 pm
Sarah, I love all those ideas. You have to bring your sweet potatoes to the next office potluck!
April 26th, 2013 @ 9:13 pm
I had no idea you couldn’t use it in high heat recipes…darnit! I have used it mostly for facial and body care or in smoothies, but wanted to dabble with cooking- good to know!
May 2nd, 2013 @ 11:22 am
I use it for everything I used to use olive oil for – sauteing, stir fries, cooking my eggs in the morning, roasting veggies in the oven, fish. This thread has some good uses in the comment section:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/coconut-oil-health-benefits/#axzz2S9R6oJxZ
May 2nd, 2013 @ 12:51 pm
You guys, check it out! Great idea.
http://thefrugalgirls.com/2013/05/coconut-oil-lip-balm.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FrugalGirls+%28Frugal+Girls%21%29
I have been steadily using my jar since I posted this. Thanks everyone!