The Pros & Cons To Unrefined Coconut Oil

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

Unrefined Coconut Oil

Unrefined Coconut Oil is one of the top selling oils in manufacturing and on retail shelves today. It’s been a rising star only over the last couple of years, but it’s in the height of it’s popularity right now.

That said, people often run into a lot of confusion when it comes to buying coconut oil — which one is right for what you’re looking for? Which one will fit the products that you’re making, or the cooking that you’re doing?

Unrefined coconut oil is a top choice in quality and nutrition, so if you’re cooking at home I highly recommend it. That said, there are still some pros and cons when you’re thinking about using this oil for manufacturing — you have to really decide if it’s the right fit for your product.

Just to be clear, when we talk about unrefined coconut oil, this is also known as virgin coconut oil (virgin means that it hasn’t been refined and has been expeller pressed). Most often in the US, this virgin coconut oil is found as an organic oil.

 

The Pros & Cons: A Quick Review

Pros

  • It’s High Quality
  • High In Nutrition
  • Expeller and/or Cold Pressed

 

Cons

  • It’s Expensive

 

The Verdict Is Out On...

  • It Has A Strong Coconut Flavor
  • It Has Coconut Particles / Some Color

 

High Quality & Expensive

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is a very high quality oil. This means that it’s made from fresh and high quality coconut meat, as opposed to lesser grades of refined coconut oil which are made from “copra” (dried older flakes of coconut oil).

As a result though, this organic virgin coconut oil is sizably more expensive than any other type of coconut oil available — both organic refined coconut oil and conventional refined coconut oil. So expect a high cost if you want to use this oil for manufacturing.

 

High In Nutrition (Expeller & Cold-Pressed)

Because this oil is produced from fresh coconut and isn’t refined, a lot of the natural nutrition is left in the oil. This includes a lot of antioxidant properties, and all of the “good stuff” that you hear about in relation to coconut oil.

It’s also an expeller pressed oil (which means that the oil is taken out of the coconut meat without the use of chemicals or harsh solvents). Sometimes this organic virgin coconut oil is also cold pressed, which means that no heat is used during this expeller pressing process, which helps to further preserve the nutrition in the oil.

Coconut Oil, Unrefined Virgin Extra Virgin

 

Strong Flavor & Natural Consistency

Organic virgin coconut oil is unrefined, which means that a lot of the natural flavor of the coconut is left in the oil. It’s going to have a strong flavor, which is why I put this property as neither good nor bad — it just depends on what you need for your product.

If you are producing chips, you probably won’t want to have the strong taste of coconut, because it would ruin the flavor profile of your savory snack. But if you are making a coconut dessert, it would only enhance your flavor. It’s all about what you want.

On a similar note, organic virgin coconut oil doesn’t always have the same consistency throughout — it is a natural product, which means that you may find small coconut particles in it, and it won’t be a bright white color — it may be more like an off white or a light tan color depending on the production lot.

This is all just as to be expected; it’s a part of the fact that this oil is completely natural and hasn’t been refined.

Coconut Oil Comparison

 

In Summary

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the best coconut oil options out there. But it may have a few drawbacks depending on what you’re looking for.

If its natural properties clash with what you are looking for (aka, if you can’t have any coconut flavor), you’ll probably have to look for a different option no matter how much you like the oil.

That said, you can’t beat this oil out when it comes to high quality to provide the nutrition of coconuts in all their greatness!

Topics: Coconut Oil

 

 

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