Which is the best coconut oil for cooking? How to choose the best coconut oil for cooking? What type of packaging is best, and how long will it last? Is it food grade or cosmetic grade?
The above questions are mere reflections of what a consumer goes through for doing an ordinary chore like buying the best coconut oil for cooking.
It’s better to check the product inside out before buying. And, when it comes to edible coconut oil, you have to go the extra mile to find the best one among so many.
Let’s learn about the 6 things you must look out for in the best coconut oil to cook with before buying.
6 Factors to Help You Choose the Best Coconut Oil for Cooking
A simple internet search on coconut oil is enough to fill your free mind with all kinds of products. They all claim to be the best in quality, offering discounts. Some can be bought in pennies, while others can cost you a thousand bucks or more. So, which is the best?
Check these 6 facts to know the difference between good coconut oil and the best quality coconut oil.
Buy Only Approved Edible Coconut Oil
Selecting coconut oil approved by food safety organizations takes away half of the headache while sorting coconut oil. It narrows down your search from 50 to, say, 10. You can be sure that the coconut oil is of good quality and safe to cook with.
Always check for food and safety accreditations labels like FSSAI, AQSR, FDA, BQSR, Quality certifications etc on the packaging of the coconut oil. Having such labels also ensures that the brand is registered. Don’t buy loose coconut oil unless it is milled in front of you!
Go for Unrefined Coconut Oil: Wood Pressed or Cold Pressed for the Best Experience of Taste, Flavour and Nutrition
Unrefined coconut oil comes in two varieties: cold-pressed and wood-pressed. Both are ideal to use in cooking.
Even celebrities and world-renowned chefs are promoting unrefined coconut oil for cooking. Why? Well, unrefined coconut oil has richer flavor, aroma, and nutrients to offer than refined coconut oil.
If you want to buy coconut oil which is best for your health, buy cold-pressed or wood-pressed coconut oil.
Coconut Oil Extraction Process
Why not buy refined coconut oil? It’s cheaper, doesn’t smell, and is edible too! Yes, that’s true. But is it healthy? Is it pure?
The regular refined oil is extracted by treating coconut shells at extremely high temperatures. The high heat destroys the nutrient-rich fatty acids in coconut oil.
They are bleached to tone down their color, flavor, and aroma. The end product is just plain oil.
The wood-pressed and cold-pressed methods do not use high heat to extract oil from coconuts. The extracted coconut oil is not treated with chemicals. Its nutrients, flavor, and aroma: all qualities are preserved.
Organic, Preservative, and Chemical Free
This is important! In order to buy the best coconut oil for cooking, the coconut oil should be organic, naturally grown and harvested. After the extraction of coconut oil, no preservatives or chemicals should be used.
These chemicals, though found in traceable amounts, are not safe for health. It’s best to avoid products which use preservatives and chemicals to increase the stability of coconut oil.
- Packaging
Packing of the coconut oil can be done in food-grade plastic or glass containers. However, it’s best to get in a glass container to avoid the chances of a chemical reaction. Also, make sure that the bottle is not swollen and is sealed properly before buying.
Shelf Life: the fresher, the better
Usually, the shelf life of unrefined coconut oil is anywhere between 6 months to one year. Refined oil has a much longer shelf life as they are mixed with stabilizers.
Remember, with time, oil loses its nutrients and turns rancid due to factors like changes in temperature, oxidation, light, and humidity, etc. It’s better to buy unrefined coconut oil closer to its manufacturing date to get more benefits out of it.
Now you know what to look for in coconut oil for cooking before buying, let’s get to the favorite part – Buying unrefined coconut oil!
Top X Best Coconut Oil for Cooking in India 2023
Save yourself from the trouble of finding good quality coconut oil and check out these 10 best coconut oils for cooking and enjoy the hearty goodness of coconut oil.
TwoBrothers Coconut Oil, Wood-Pressed, Unrefined
TwoBrothers brings unrefined wood-pressed coconut oil to your doorstep straight from its organic farms. It is made from coconut kernels through traditional wood-pressed methods.
The coconut oil is single-filtered and also has fiber, which makes it unique. Being single-filtered gives it a richer aroma, flavors, and nutrients than any other double-filtered or processed oil.
It is approved by various health accreditations like BQSR, FSSAI, and FDA and comes in both food-grade plastic and glass bottles, with a shelf life of one year.
Buy this healthy single, filtered, unrefined wood-pressed coconut oil for cooking from TwoBrothers online store.
Max Care Coconut Oil
Max care coconut oil is unrefined and made from coconut milk. The coconuts are cold-pressed and give a strong aroma and flavor to the coconut oil. You can use it for cooking and other purposes too. It is FSSAI approved and has a shelf life of 24 months.
Conscious Food
Conscious food coconut oil is cold-pressed, organic and edible. It has the taste and aroma of coconut oil and is FSSAI approved. It comes in a plastic bottle with a shelf life of 9 months.
Pure Nutrition
Pure Nutrition coconut oil is also cold-pressed. It is an edible extra virgin coconut oil with a shelf life higher than other cold-pressed and wood-pressed oils: 24 months. It is approved by FSSAI and has a NON-GMO label too. It’s available in sizes of 500 ml.
Nutriorg
Nutriorg is another Indian-origin edible coconut cooking oil which is organic, FSSAI certified, and cold-pressed. It is available in two variants: extra virgin and virgin coconut oil in sizes 250, 300 and 500 ml.
Nutiva Organic
Another one on this list is from Nutiva nurture vitality coconut oil. It is cold-pressed, USDA organic certified, and easily available on Amazon. It has a medium smoke point and a rich taste. It comes in an opaque plastic container making it easy to carry.
Kirkland Organic
Kirkland organic virgin coconut oil comes in corn flavor. It is ideal for people who don’t like coconut’s natural flavor in cooking. It is cold-pressed, USDA-approved, and comes in a big container for easy access.
Nature’s Way
Nature’s Way coconut oil is extra virgin, cold-pressed and organic. It is also USDA organic certified and ideal for cooking.
Jivika Naturals
Jivika Naturals coconut oil is milled using a centrifugal technique. It is organic, unrefined, and cold-pressed. It comes in a plastic bottle in sizes of 250, 500, and 1000 ml and is a bit pricey.
Harvest Bay
Harvest Bay coconut oil is cold-pressed, organic certified, and extra virgin. It is USDA and non-GMO-approved. It comes in a plastic container with a wide opening for easy access. It can be bought on Amazon online store.
You can choose the best coconut oil for cooking from the above list based on your budget and diet requirements. It’s best to buy wood-pressed coconut oil because of the additional benefits it gives. Read more about it in 10 Benefits Of Wood-Pressed Coconut Oil.
FAQs: How to choose the best coconut oil for cooking in 2023?
How do you know which coconut oil is best?
Check for these 6 facts before buying any coconut oil to choose the best coconut oil for cooking: Is it certified and unrefined? Is it organic, preservative, or chemical Free? Is it packed in food-grade packaging, what is its shelf life and how it is made? Read more in this article above to know more.
Which coconut oil is good for Indian cooking?
Unrefined, single-filtered coconut oil is suitable for Indian cooking. A few of them are listed above; check them out.
Which is the healthiest oil for Indian cooking?
Indian cuisine uses a variety of oils inspired by the age-old tradition and science of Ayurveda. A few of the oils that have been part of India’s healthy culinary recipes are desi ghee, groundnut, coconut, sesame, mustard, and safflower oil. These oils are best used in their cold-pressed or wood-pressed forms for a healthy cooking oil experience.
Conclusion
Choosing the best coconut oil for cooking in 2023 is not an easy chore. But we hope to have helped you with finding the best coconut oil for cooking your everyday meals. The best coconut oil is obtained from the wood-pressed or cold-pressed traditional method. Its pure taste and aroma distinguish it from other oils. Its regular use keeps the body healthy and energetic.
For more healthy, hearty products close to Indian traditions, visit the TwoBrothers store. Witness our journey of introducing the world to organic and sustainable edible goods and bringing close to our roots.
