Unrefined Coconut Oil: What's the Difference?
Coconut oil has become one of the most popular cooking oils in the world over the past several years, and it is traditionally used as a source of fat in many Pacific and Asian countries.
This plant-based fat has some properties that other cooking oils don't, such as that it is mostly saturated fat, making it solid at room temperature.
Some fat-burning and heart-protective benefits may be provided by it.
The differences between refined and unrefined coconut oil are reviewed in this article.
The major difference between refined and unrefined coconut oil is how they are produced, which affects some of their physical properties like flavor and smoke point.
unrefined coconut oil is oil that has been pressed from coconut meat and has not been processed.
The wet process is used to extract coconut oil.Some coconut oils are labeled as "cold pressed", which means that there was no heat involved during the process.
Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and has a strong coconut flavor and scent, which it can impart onto foods that include it.The temperature at which the oil begins to smoke is 350F.
Coconut oil undergoes some additional processing to make it better suited for cooking.
It starts with coconut oil.The process may be similar to the dry extract of coconut oil.Depending on the manufacturing process, one or more of the following steps may occur.
The smoke point of coconut oil is 400–450F, making it more suitable for high temperature cooking.It is odorless and flavorless for most of the time.
120 calories of pure fat is provided by refined and unrefined coconut oils.Each type has the same ratios of saturated and unsaturated fats.
Coconut oil can be dry, wet or refined.There is a higher smoke point for refined coconut oil.
Most of the time, choosing refined or unrefined coconut oil is a matter of personal preference.Some applications may be better suited for one type than the other.Here are a few examples.
Coconut oil with a strong coconut taste and scent may be a better choice for baking.If you use refined coconut oil, the result will be free of a coconut taste and smell that could otherwise clash with the product's flavors.
The quality of baked goods will not be affected by the lower smoke point of coconut oil, as the food won't reach such high temperatures, even in an oven set higher than 350F.
Regardless, either type of coconut oil is a great vegan alternative to butter in baking applications, as they are both solid at room temperature.
Coconut oil is ideal for use in vegan biscuits and pie crusts in which the use of solid fat helps create a light and flaky product.
The higher the smoke point of coconut oil, the better it is in cooking.It is ideal for high heat cooking.
You can use coconut oil for cooking, but you may need to cook at a lower temperature for a longer period of time.
It's possible that the oil is even better suited for deep-frying.It has a smoke point of 488–520F (253–271C) and a mild, nutty aroma that is often a good complement to fried or sautéed foods.
Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice if you want an oil for salad dressings or to drizzle over prepared food as it is mild-tasting and liquid at room temperature.
The smoke point of olive oil is between 350 and 410F.
Although you can use refined coconut oil for this if the smell of the unrefined variety is bothering you, it may be a better choice as it is less processed and is likely to be more gentle on your skin and hair.
Some people use coconut oil because of its health benefits.The oil is a popular choice for people on a high fat diet as it contains small amounts of potentially fat-burning MCT oil.
Some people may be more concerned with the quality of their diet.If you are on a paleo or clean eating diet, unrefined coconut oil would be the best option because it is the least processed.
Coconut oil with a high smoke point is a better choice for cooking and baking.It is possible that minimally processed coconut oil is better for skin and hair care.
Both refined and unrefined coconut oil have the same number of vitamins and minerals.
unrefined coconut oil is minimally processed with a strong coconut flavor and lower smoke point, but has a milder scent and flavor.
One type may be better suited for you than the other.Both refined and unrefined coconut oils are great sources of healthy fat.
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