Recently I was sent Virgin Coconut Oil by Tropical Traditions to try out. Tropical Traditions sends their packages out quite fast and they’re well packed, which I think is important when you’re sending heavy jars of oil.
In our household, Ray does most of the cooking as he’s a much better cook than I am. I prefer to bake. He’s not particularly fond of coconut, but he was willing to try this out, as he’s been slowly trying different coconut products more and more often. I have recently become fond of coconut, thanks to coconut milk vegan ice cream and some coconut-based soups at vietnamese restaurants. Yum.
So far we’ve tried the coconut oil out in ways we’d use olive oil. We’ve used it as a salad dressing, as ‘butter’ on bread, with stir fry, and to make couscous. I love the flavor it adds!
You can use it to replace any butter or oil with cooking, from what I can tell. So far, my favorite use of it has been in couscous. It was also really great in our seitan stir frys. I can only imagine it would be great in smoothies, cookies and brownies, especially if you like a hint of coconut.
This is a flavorful cooking oil to me and definitely one I would recommend if you like the flavor. It’s a nice change from olive oil, which I do truly love.
I do know that you can use coconut oil on hair and on skin, but I haven’t tried it that way yet.
Do you have any favorite ways to use coconut oil? I’d love to hear about them!
Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
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Hello Cotton
I’ve been looking for virgin coconut oil to use in my hair, since I’m trying to be very patient and grow it out. I need a good deep condition to use once a week and, from my research, this seems to fit the bill – we just don’t have a natural foodstore around here, or anywhere else, that carries it. I’ll have to start poking around online to find somewhere to order it where shipping prices aren’t ridiculous.
Maybe email them to see if they have other shipping options? Though I will tell you, this jar is HEAVY, which is probably why it costs so much to ship!
Hmmm — interesting using coconut oil like olive oil with bread. Never would have thought that it would be a good combination but now I will have to try it. I like using coconut oil in my stir fry.
Thanks for the suggestions!!
You’re welcome! I’m looking for more suggestions on how to use it. I like the flavor.
Coconut oil is so good for you. There was a study that was done where they were trying to fatten up cows (or some type of herd animals), so they fed the cows coconut oil because it is a saturated fat. Cows actually lost weight. I love Thai Food and panang curries are my favorite. I made scones with half butter and half coconut oil one time, and they were SO good.
Hah! I didn’t know it would make them lose weight! I usually used olive oil before that, and even my butter is with olive oil and sea salt.
The scones sound wonderful!
I think I told you this before but I use coconut oil as a hair mask and as lotion. I love the way it feels especially with dry winter skin.
Do you just put it straight on your hair? Or how do you prep it?
I just apply it straight to my hair. I brush my hair really well first. The coconut oil I have is sort of solid so I have to plop it into my hands and rub it around to warm it up to become more liquid. Then apply it so it coats everything and comb it through. I leave it on for at least an hour then wash it out. For our last camping trip, I put coconut oil in my hair right before we left so I had very soft, shiny hair all weekend. Then washed it out when we got back. Was the best deep conditioning and I plan on doing that every time we go camping now.
Would you mind taking a picture of the back of the jar and either posting it or emailing it to me? I was trying to look for more info on the website about where it is processed and whether or not it is processed on equipment that handles nuts or tree nuts, but there’s nothing on there about it.
I would appreciate it!
Coconut oil is SO good for you! It has all sorts of good stuffs other oils don’t have. A friend made wild rice with coconut oil – it was AMAZING!
Oooh I bet it would be great with wild rice!
I use coconut oil a lot. My favorite use is probably to pop popcorn. It makes it nice and crisp and gives it a lovely flavor.
Do you just buy unpopped seeds? I only ever buy the type you get in a bag and microwave. How do you make it?
Yeah unpopped kernels. My favorite is Amish (especially the purple, the kernels are purple, but once popped they are normal popcorn) or Orville Redenbacher.
Get a heavy pot with a lid. not sure if you have gas or electric stove but it should work the same either way. Med High – High heat. Melt the coconut oil in the pan, about 1-2 tbsp depending on how much popcorn you are popping. Once it’s melted toss your kernels in the oil to coat them. Put the lid on and listen for it to start popping.Grab some pot holders and stay near it. Give the pot a shake every so often to keep from burning. Once you hear it slowing down and not popping as often turn off the burner and keep shaking every so often til it stops popping then remove lid, season and eat
I’ve gotta see if I can convince Ray to do this for me. I wanna try it!
I forgot to mention.. depending on the size of the pot.. I usually use a 5 quart to be on the safe side.. 1/2-2/3 cup of popcorn will fill that size and start popping the lid off the pot.
Thanks for this! We make popcorn every few nights and I never thought to use the coconut oil.
i only ever use it on my hair since coconut oil can actually penetrate into the cortex. i try not to cook with oil whenever possible.
Oooh it can penetrate the hair?
i use this in my hair as a deep conditioner, as well as on my face when it gets really dried out from using retinols.
Do you steam it, or just put a thin layer on?
I use coconut oil on my skin after the shower. It absorbs quickly, it’s light and moisturises wonderfully. I haven’t cooked with it yet but I lovelovelove coconut milk in food.
Yeah it’s got great flavor in food and I LOVE coconut milk ice cream.
Lurker unlurking! And mostly because I have a very strong fondness for coconut oil!
I’ve never actually cooked with it, though allegedly it’s healthier than olive oil?
I use it on my hair every day! Coconut oil is really close to the natural sebum produced by your scalp, so it’s an amazing moisturizer. It’s also a great carrier oil, if you wanted to mix in some essential oils to jazz things up a bit. AND if you have curly/wavy hair & want it to be curly/wavy, coconut brings that out. Which is kind of awesome, if you ask me. I have used it on my skin, also. I get irritated spots from the dishwashing liquids at my job & coconut oil does amazing things without all the chemicals traditional lotions have.
Anyway, thought I’d share that with you!
Wow, it sounds like coconut is perfect on hair! I need to try it on mine
Thank you so much for delurking and sharing!
LOL – I had no idea it was for anything other than cooking. I have been replacing coconut oil for any other type of oil in my baking (banana muffins for one). I don’t feel it tastes overly like coconut though. And apparently it is much healthier than canola and veg oil.
My husband is going to be so stumped now when I take the bottle into the bathroom with me.
For what it’s worth, I purchased mine in Whole Foods inthe oil section. They also have coconut butter in the baking section which is about the same thing, just thicker.
I got mine from Whole Foods, too! I just love how a simple product can do so much for you.
I think if you’re sensitive to it, you notice it. Haha, your husband’s face would be priceless!