In Food
Coconut oil is commonly used in cooking, especially for frying and is a common flavor in many South Asian curries. In recent years, virgin coconut oil has increasingly become popular in natural food circles and with vegans.
It was described in a New York Times article as having a “haunting, nutty, vanilla flavor” that also has a touch of sweetness that works well in baked goods, pastries, and sautés.
Coconut oil is used by movie theatre chains to pop popcorn, adding a large amount of saturated fat in the process.
Coconut oil contains a large proportion of lauric acid, which is converted to monolaurin in the body, a fat found otherwise only in human breast milk. It is also often used in infant formula. Other culinary uses include replacing solid fats produced through hydrogenation in baked and confectionery goods.
Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated coconut oil is often used in non-dairy creamers, and snack foods including popcorn. Hydrogenated coconut oil is also sold in Australia under the brand-name Copha and is the main ingredient in Australian snacks such as Chocolate crackles and White Christmas. The smoke point of coconut oil is 138 °C (280 °F).
Industry
Coconut oil has been tested for use as a feedstock for biodiesel to be used as a diesel engine fuel. In this manner, it can be applied to power generators and transport using diesel engines. Since straight coconut oil has a high gelling temperature (22–25 °C), a high viscosity, and a minimum combustion chamber temperature of 500 °C (932 °F) (to avoid polymerization of the fuel), coconut oil is typically transesterified to make biodiesel.
Use of B100 (100% biodiesel) is possible only in temperate climates, as the gel point is approximately 10 °C (50 °F). The oil must meet the Weihenstephan standard for pure vegetable oil used as a fuel, otherwise moderate to severe damage from carbonisation and clogging will occur in an unmodified engine.
Further research into the oil’s potential as a fuel for electricity generation is being carried out in the islands of the Pacific. Coconut oil has been tested for use as an engine lubricant and a transformer oil. Acids derived from coconut oil can be used as herbicides.
Personal uses
Coconut oil is sold in cylindrical containers rather than bottles due to its inability to be poured Coconut oil can be used as a skin moisturizer, helping with dry skin and reduces protein loss when used in hair.
Though it can be used as a sexual lubricant, it will weaken latex condoms. Before the advent of electrical lighting, coconut oil was the primary oil used for illumination in India and was exported as Cochin oil.
Coconut oil is an important base ingredient for the manufacture of soap. Soap made with coconut oil tends to be hard although it retains more water than those made with other oils and therefore increases manufacturer yields. It is more soluble in hard water and salt water than other soaps allowing it to lather more easily. A basic coconut oil soap is clear when melted and a bright white when hardened.
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