The Best Way to Melt Coconut Oil
- Microwave: If the coconut oil is in a glass jar, pop the whole jar right in the microwave.
- Direct heat on the stove: Spoon the desired amount into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
How do you fix hard coconut oil?
Fill up a saucepan or large bowl to about halfway with lukewarm water. To be exact (and if you have a thermometer), have your water at around 86°F (or 30°C). Coconut oil melts at 76°F (or 24°C) so we want to get close to this temperature for the oil to soften without fully melting.
Can you melt hard coconut oil?
Microwaving Coconut Oil for melting is easy. Just measure the approximate amount of Coconut Oil that your recipe calls for, then place it in a microwave-safe container. Heat oil in microwave for 15 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Once it’s melted, let it cool and measure it exactly.
Is it normal for coconut oil to be hard?
Coconut oil melts at about 78° F, so at normal room temperature it will be solid. Putting the bottle in some warm water or near a warm air source will heat it above the temperature needed to liquefy it. This change from liquid to solid and back again does not affect the quality of the oil in any way.
Why did my coconut oil Harden?
When the temperature goes even lower, the oil will solidify. That means that if it sits in the fridge, it will become hard as a rock. You can store coconut oil in both mentioned consistencies – liquid and solid. Melted coconut oil is not bad by any means, and the consistency change is perfectly natural.
Does heating coconut oil damage it?
But coconut oil is perhaps most unique for its high content of the saturated fat lauric acid, which makes up around 40% of its total fat content ( 1 ). This makes coconut oil highly resistant to oxidation at high heat. For this reason, it is very suitable for high-heat cooking methods like frying ( 2 ).
Does microwaving ruin coconut oil?
Melting coconut oil in the microwave is unlikely to hurt the oil but you could accidentally over heat it and give yourself a nasty burn. To be safe you might want to melt the oil in a bowl of hot water instead.
What happens when you microwave coconut oil?
The popping that happens when coconut oil is microwaved is that trapped water is being turned to steam and popping out excitedly. Perhaps you have experienced the same issue when melting butter in the microwave. Butter, an emulsion of fat and water, will do the same thing.
What is the difference between liquid and solid coconut oil?
Coconut oil is liquid whenever it is above 75 degrees F. Below that, it will become a solid fat. When solid, coconut oil is thick and creamy and may be lumpy in parts. When liquid though, coconut oil is often cloudy and easy to pour.
How do you know if coconut oil has gone bad?
If the oil starts to turn yellow or green or has any dark oil spots or signs of mold, it has turned rancid. 2. Expiration date: Check the expiration date on the coconut oil packaging. Per typical food safety protocol, throw away any jar of coconut oil that has passed its expiration.
How long does coconut oil last once opened?
Coconut oil takes a long time to oxidize which means it takes a long time to go bad. As mentioned above, refined coconut oil can last up to 18 months while virgin coconut oil can last up to five years.
What is the shelf life of coconut oil?
The good news is that coconut oil has a naturally long shelf life: about two years. If you don’t remember exactly when you bought that last jar of coconut oil, don’t worry. Most jars of coconut oil in the United States come labeled with a “Best By” date, so you know when it’s time to replace your stash.
How do you fractionate coconut oil at home?
This is carried out simply by melting coconut oil and letting it cool down slowly at room temperature. After a few minutes, long-chain fatty acids or those with high melting points such as lauric acid, which represent a “fraction” of the entire volume of the coconut oil, are expected to solidify.
Can you microwave hair oil?
Hot oil tends to work best on clean hair. This allows the oil to deeply penetrate the hair cuticle. Once you’ve washed your hair, microwave 3 to 6 tablespoons of the oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 10 seconds.
What happens if you overheat coconut oil?
When you cook with oil that’s been heated past its smoke point, you do more than impart a burnt flavour to foods. Beneficial nutrients and phytochemicals found in many unrefined oils are destroyed when the oil is overheated. Overheating also creates harmful free radicals.
Should you microwave coconut oil before putting it in your hair?
Coconut oil will warm up a bit in your hands. But microwave heating the oil makes application a breeze and offers best benefits to hair. Here’s how it works. Heat opens the cuticle layer of strands, allowing healthy ingredients to more easily penetrate and work their magic.
Can I boil coconut oil?
As known for being the most prime contributor amongst all oils when talking about health benefits, it is also essential to keep in mind that like other oils, coconut oil should also not be heated beyond its smoke point.
Can I microwave coconut oil in a plastic bottle?
Do NOT microwave your coconut oil directly in the container it came in. It often comes in plastic, glass, or metal container. These containers are almost always going to be unsafe to zap with the microwave. It is a much better idea only to put microwave-safe materials into your microwave.
Does freezing coconut oil damage it?
Coconut oil does freeze well. You shouldn’t notice too much difference in texture by the time it has melted and the taste won’t change at all! The only thing to be careful of is that your coconut oil is kept airtight in the freezer because this is what will protect it from getting that freezer burn taste.
Can you microwave a glass jar of coconut oil?
So “can you microwave coconut oil?” Our quick answer for you is Yes. With just a few simple steps, you can turn your coconut oil into liquid perfection in the microwave.
How do you melt coconut oil for massage?
If you have solid coconut oil and want to melt it down a bit, just pop it in your towel warmer. Some put their oil in hot water to liquefy too, quite rapidly. No matter what you decide, coconut oil is a great product to use for massage.