10 types of coconut oil: varieties, characteristics and information
Know the types of coconut oil most consumed in cosmetics and food.
Coconut oil has exploded in popularity in recent years, considered a superfood and healthy fat not only for cooking and consuming, but also for beauty purposes.
Used as a natural makeup remover, hair mask and even as a teeth whitener, coconut oil has hundreds of uses and, it seems, so many types of labels.
For example Organic, non-organic, refined, unrefined, cold pressed, centrifuged, virgin, extra virgin.
Curiosities:
Coconuts is one of the most useful fruits, every piece of it can be used.
The hard shells are useful for decorative purposes and the hairs of certain types of coconuts can be used for doormats and mattress stuffing.
Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years by many different cultures and it is the coconut-derived product that we are going to focus on today.
Places like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines have had coconut oil as a staple in their diets and beauty regimens for a long time.
Coconut oil is present in medicine and is usually taken daily to help build immunity against illness or to help speed recovery.
Nutritional value of coconut oil
The following nutritional information is provided for one teaspoon of coconut oil.
Types of Coconut Oil
virgin coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil is the least processed and the best variety of oil for your health.
As this type of coconut oil is unrefined, it is a rather unstable product, it will not have as long a shelf life as other processed products.
Therefore, you will be able to tell that it is spoiled due to a pungent odor and a change in color.
Try using your virgin coconut oil for cooking and cosmetics before it gets to this point.
unrefined coconut oil
Raw or unrefined coconut oil is made from raw, fresh coconut meat.
This oil is extracted through a wet mill or quick drying process.
Wet grinding means that the flesh of the coconut is processed into coconut milk , which is quickly brought to a boil, strained and fermented.
The milk is then separated from the oil using a centrifugal process.
Quick drying means drying the coconut flesh very quickly and then mechanically extracting the oil from it.
As this oil is not subjected to high heat, this means that many of its beneficial enzymes remain intact and retain their flavor.
The process also does not involve bleaching or the addition of preservatives. It is clear when it forms liquid and milky white when it solidifies.
Refined coconut oil
Unlike raw coconut oil, refined coconut oil is derived from dried coconut kernels, called “copra”.
Oil produced from copra needs to be treated for contaminants produced by the desiccation process.
This requires the oil to be subjected to high temperatures and treated with preservatives and other additives.
The resulting oil is less flavorful than unrefined oil, but it has a higher fire point, which makes it excellent for cooking food over high heat.
However, when purchasing coconut oil, make sure the oil has been refined by rubbing or spinning.
If the label indicates that preservatives such as sodium hydroxide were used in its processing, then that product should be avoided.
hydrogenated coconut oil
Hydrogenated coconut oil is a type of coconut oil that is subjected to high temperature and high pressure, it also has nickel and hydrogen molecules added.
All this processing is so the coconut oil has a longer shelf life.
Hydrogenated coconut oil can remain in soil form in warmer temperatures and is often used to make confectionery products.
However, this is a less healthy option and this processing stimulates a large number of trans and saturated fats.
organic coconut oil
Organic coconut oil is one of the types of coconut oil that has many uses that have little to do with food.
Also, many people use it for cosmetic purposes to improve the health and appearance of their skin .
Studies show that organic coconut oil can increase the moisture content of dry skin .
Expeller pressed coconut oil
Expulsion pressed coconut oil is derived from a mechanical extraction process, but does not involve chemical extracts or solvents.
Instead, the oil is extracted with high temperature and high pressure.
Because of the intense heat, the fatty acids break down and take away many of the nutritional benefits of coconut oil.
It is one of the types of coconut oil that also has a lighter flavor than raw or virgin oils and a higher smoke point, which makes it a good choice for cooking.
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is produced from fractionation. This process involves separating different types of fats from the coconut oil using gradually increasing temperatures.
This is possible because fatty acids have different melting points.
Fats with higher melting points, such as lauric acid, are separated from those with lower melting points.
At this time, the oil that becomes liquid is called fractionated coconut oil.
RBD coconut oil
RBD stands for refined, bleached and deodorized coconut oil. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst types of coconut oil for health purposes.
Coconut oil undergoes a long series of purification and processing; the extracted crude oil is treated with alkali to remove fatty acids and then subjected to steam and vacuum to eliminate all flavors and odors.
It is then filtered with carbon to remove the yellow color.
Although RBD coconut oil is rich in saturated fat and saturated fatty acids (which cause heart disease risk).
It also has a lot of fans and is used in the food and cosmetics industries due to its low price and long lifespan.
100% pure coconut oil
In addition, 100% pure coconut oil is one of the lightest oils available, it is easily absorbed by the skin.
Rich in essential fatty acids, lauric acid and myristic acid, this type of coconut oil acts as a great moisturizer for all skin types as well as slows down wrinkles and sagging skin.
homemade coconut oil
This is one of the types of coconut oil that can be extracted at home.
In addition, it has a yellow color and a very strong flavor and aroma.
This oil is obtained by boiling coconut milk until all the water content evaporates.
The oil left behind with some solid matter is traditional coconut oil.
Alternatively, you can also ferment coconut milk for two days to release the oil. The oil is then heated to remove any remaining moisture.
It is best to consume homemade coconut oil right away as it has a very short shelf life.