You will never buy coconut oil at the store when you learn how to make this homemade DIY coconut oil.
This natural homemade coconut oil recipe is easy to make. The flavor and aroma are nothing like those you will find on the shelves at your local stores.
Is Coconut Oil Bad For You?
There has been controversy in the health care field around the health and risk benefits of consuming coconut oil. Even though coconut oil is plant-based, it contains a number of saturated fats.
Saturated fats are mainly found in meats, and are associated with Cardiovascular diseases.
According to The Harvard School Of Public Health, studies have shown that coconut oil tends to raise LDL (bad cholesterol) as well as HDL (good cholesterol) cholesterol.
Care should be taken when consuming coconut oil, especially if you are at risk for heart and cardiovascular diseases.
Moderation is the key. The Dietary Guideline for Americans recommends limiting saturated fat to less than 10% of your daily caloric intake. A serving of coconut oil is 1 tablespoon.
Coconut oil years ago was used mainly for cooking. But over the years has increasingly become an ingredient in many skin and hair care products. Many diet trends such as the ketogenic diet call for coconut oil.
What The Coconut!
The coconut palm tree bears the coconut fruit. When the husk is green, it is popularly referred to as “jelly coconut” because the meat resembles jellyfish or aloe vera.
As the coconut matures, the coconut husk turns from green to brown.
The meat of the coconut also turns from a succulent jelly-like texture to a solid white.
This is what is called the coconut. Coconut is used in many dishes ranging from sweet to savory.
Nutrition Facts of Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon (14 g) coconut oil has 14 g fat and 12 g accounts for saturated fats. There is a total of approximately 120 calories per serving.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
According to Healthline’s “Top 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil,” Coconut Oil may:
(1) Encourage fat burning/ reduce abdominal fat
(2) Antimicrobial
(3) Decrease hunger; make you feel fuller for longer
(4) Raises the good HDL cholesterol
(5) Protect your skin, hair and teeth
(6) Improve brain function
(7) Contain MTC (Medium Chain Triglycerides) is a good source of energy.
Easy Homemade DIY Coconut Oil
How To Make Your Own DIY Coconut Oil in 7 Easy Steps.
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Metal Spoon
- Hammer
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Sieve/Strainer
- Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 Fresh Mature Coconuts yields about 6 cups cubed
Instructions
- In Jamaica, we most often crack our coconut on a rock, concrete or hard surface. The best option for us living the city life is to use a hammer to break the coconut into manageable pieces. This allows for easy removal of the white coconut meat from the hard shell. You can drain the coconut water in a container and chill in the refrigerator for a cool refreshing drink later or to add to your smoothie.
- After you have broken the coconut into manageable pieces, use a knife, preferably a dinner knife, and Insert the tip of the blade in-between the shell and the meat of the coconut. Gently slide blade along the edge and lift to release and remove the coconut meat from the shell.To help protect your hands, hold coconut in a kitchen towel.
- Add coconut pieces to a bowl and wash under running tap water. Drain excess water.
- Traditionally in Jamaica, the coconut meat was grated on a grater. From my experience, this process took a longer time and if not careful, you can end up accidentally grate a piece of your finger. Least to say, grating coconut was a good muscle arm workout. Thank goodness for the invention of the blender. Use a knife to cut coconut pieces into fairly small cubes.
- Add the cubed coconut pieces and 5 cups warm water into a blender. Blend for 1.5 - 2 minutes or until fairly pureed.
- Strain the blended pulp using a strainer or a cheese cloth into a sauce pan. Use a spoon to press out as much of the coconut milk.
- Take the grated meat and add back to the blender. Add 3 cups warm water and blend for 1 minute. Repeat the process of straining the coconut milk into the sauce pan. Save the "coconut trash". I will be using the remaining pulp to make a dessert/sweet treat called "grated coconut drops" or "coconut cake."
- Over low to medium heat, boil the coconut milk for 1 hour. Some people add salt to the coconut milk. I choose not to add it. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking and burning of the custard.
- As the coconut milk boils, the water will evaporate and a "custard" will form as the oil starts to separate. Allow mixture to continue to simmer to extract as much of coconut oil. The time it takes to extract the oil will depend on the number of coconuts used and the amount of coconut milk extracted.
- One slight mistake I made was to increase the flame to high closer to the end of the cooking process. This resulted in a darker color coconut oil. Therefore, cook on low to medium flame throughout the entire process.
- The sweet aroma of virgin coconut oil will permeate the entire apartment or house. After the oil has separated from the "custard," strain the oil using a metal sieve into a glass container and allow it to cool at room temperate.
- The coconut oil will become harden when stored in the refrigerator. If stored at room temperature, it will become semi-solid. This is natural and is due to the saturated fat content of the coconut oil.
- The custard is my favorite part of the process; never discard of this delicious custard texture solids. As a child, I would spread it on bread and crackers and enjoy a very flavorful and tasty snack. You can also add them to stir fry vegetables for added flavor.
Video
Notes
DIY Homemade Coconut oil
Homemade Coconut Oil
Wow! Loved this! I’ve always wanted to learn how to do this but never created the time for it, I should try it soonest now that I see how easy it is.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow! This was super insightful and in depth! I think I am going to have to go make my own coconut oil now!
I did not know you could make coconut oil at home so easily! Thank you for sharing.
I can’t wait to try this coconut oil!!
Wonderful. I love all the information you include in this post. Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow! Loved this. I’m gonna share this with my mom. This is well researched:)
This was such a fun read! I’ve never considered making coconut oil at home, but honestly, the best part in my opinion was how it also gave way to several other treats – from the leftover pulp to the custard at the end. So many delicious treats from a coconut! Now I want to try this for myself!
You will not be disappointed. Moreover, you will never buy coconut oil again. Thanks for dropping by.
Looks delicious
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Obviously your content on this page is so accurate for multiple reasons. It stays away from the accustomed errors and errors most fall into- buying defective alternatives. Thank you!
Looks like a good idea. Very practical and always feels good to make your own.
So cool! I had no idea you could make coconut oil yourself. Thanks so much for sharing this great idea!
What a useful article! I will follow what you wrote to DIY one.
Wow… DIY coconut oil eh? This is awesome. I would like to try this DIY. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Fadima. I implore you to try it.