Forum Thermomix

Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: AliRo on July 08, 2012, 02:19:43 am

Title: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: AliRo on July 08, 2012, 02:19:43 am
So, I finally found myself some coconut oil which I've been dying to get for a while now.  I have a question though.  Because it's hard (cold pressed), how do I use it?  Do I just scoop it out hard, or do I have to heat the whole bottle to liquify it each time I want to use it?
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: gertbysea on July 08, 2012, 02:36:57 am
Cold pressed is just the process from which the coconut oil is extracted from the coconut flesh. The same as with olive oil. If it is in a bottle then it is liquid.


I have no idea how to use it? Why did you buy it?  Was it expensive?

I bet Quirky Jo's web site would have something on it about how to use it or just google it.
Gert

Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: meganjane on July 08, 2012, 02:53:15 am
Use it to make Ice Magic (http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=6101.0) Topping.

Here's a post by andisenji:

   
Coconut oil
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2009, 03:58:59 AM »

I've been using coconut oil for both baking and cooking for several years.  I substitute it for butter in many quick breads as I often cook for friends who are vegan and have found that it works better than the oils I had been using prior to the availability of coconut oil.

I have never bothered to refrigerate it and it remains solid except during the hottest part of the summer when I forget to turn the A/C on in the pantry and the temp gets over 100° F.  (37.7 C.).

I have a recipe book somewhere in my office, dedicated to using coconut oil and coconut milk, which I purchased at a local health food store that caters to vegans.   It has some interesting suggestions, including one for twice-baked potatoes that I have prepared many times. 
It also has a recipe for mayonnaise made with coconut oil and I also made garlic mayonnaise using a similar formula (silken(very soft) tofu, liquid soy lecithen, mustard, garlic and the coconut oil.)

http://www.coconut-connections.com/recipes.htm  is the cookbook I have -  I paid $27.95 for it.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: gertbysea on July 08, 2012, 02:59:31 am
MJ does it give the food a slight coconut flavour  or is it tasteless after processing?


Funny andiesenji said she used it for her vegan friends but my son is a vegan and his family use cows milk, cream and my daughter in law makes butter then ghee to use.  They use cows milk to make paneer, yogurt and  cheese as well as using goats milk for cheese Now I am wondering what a true vegan is?

Gert
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: faffa_70 on July 08, 2012, 03:07:23 am
I thought a vegan was no animal products at all ... I could well be wrong lol
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: Rara1 on July 08, 2012, 03:08:59 am
MJ does it give the food a slight coconut flavour  or is it tasteless after processing?


Funny andiesenji said she used it for her vegan friends but my son is a vegan and his family use cows milk, cream and my daughter in law makes butter then ghee to use.  They use cows milk to make paneer, yogurt and  cheese as well as using goats milk for cheese Now I am wondering what a true vegan is?

Gert

I am a lacto ovo vegetarian. I eat eggs and dairy products.
A vegan does not eat ANY animal products including honey.
My friend who is a vegan  does not eat some lollies as they contain gelatin.

Your family members are lacto vegetarians.

As for coconut oil I scoop it out and melt it in the frypan or tm.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: gertbysea on July 08, 2012, 03:21:48 am
Very interesting rara. My son and family are Hare krishnas so perhaps more of a religious thing. I once asked them why they ate the product of cows but not the product of chickens. It was explained to me that the product of a chicken was a potential chicken. My reply was not unless it was fertilised. In any case my DIL is very clever of making a substitution where necessary. Geletin is a no no but agar agar is not.  Animal rennet is a no no.

I know she reads all the labels and will make a phone call to the company for explainations if not sure but it has always been her way of life.

So there are vegans and vegans I guess.

Gert
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: meganjane on July 08, 2012, 03:44:03 am
Gert, the coconut oil doesn't taste 'coconutty'. The one I buy, from Aussie Soap Supplies (http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/coconut-oil.html) is Virgin Coconut Oil.

I'm an omnivore. I eat anything, but do draw the line at innards.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: mcmich on July 08, 2012, 03:49:07 am
Very interesting rara. My son and family are Hare krishnas so perhaps more of a religious thing. I once asked them why they ate the product of cows but not the product of chickens. It was explained to me that the product of a chicken was a potential chicken. My reply was not unless it was fertilised. In any case my DIL is very clever of making a substitution where necessary. Geletin is a no no but agar agar is not.  Animal rennet is a no no.

I know she reads all the labels and will make a phone call to the company for explainations if not sure but it has always been her way of life.

So there are vegans and vegans I guess.

Gert
Absolutely. I was raised in a vegetarian household for reasons of my parents faith, which I no longer adhere to. I do have problems handling meat, can't get my head around pork and am blessed with a DH that will eat legumes and pulses.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: gertbysea on July 08, 2012, 03:50:18 am
Gert, the coconut oil doesn't taste 'coconutty'. The one I buy, from Aussie Soap Supplies (http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/coconut-oil.html) is Virgin Coconut Oil.

I'm an omnivore. I eat anything, but do draw the line at innards.

What no chicken livers?

Gert
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: AliRo on July 08, 2012, 03:59:48 am
I guess I'm thinking about if I substitute it for say, macadamia oil, in a cake recipe or whatnot.  Because it's solid I can't just pour it out of the bottle, so wasn't sure whether I should just scoop the solid oil out or whether I should liquify it and then pour.

As for the vegan thing, sometimes it's just easier to say a certain label to people than to have to explain all the ins and outs of what you eat and what you don't eat and why.  Most people understand vegan and vegetarian, but not all the lacto ovo etc etc.

For example, 99% of my diet is vegetarian, however sometimes when I'm out and there's no good vego choice, I'll have fish or chicken.  But I tell people I'm vegetarian because it's just easier that way, otherwise it turns into an essay!
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: Yummiemummie on July 08, 2012, 04:13:48 am
I'm vegan, we are a vegan family!

Depends which aspect you want to use your coconut oil for? I use it several times through the day! As a wrinkle prevention cream, make up remover, nappy cream to prevent fungal rash, hubby uses it on his hands after he has been digging at work, lip gloss for the young 2, great hair treatment for my eldests wild corse hair http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

It has weightloss benefits and can balance out thyroid issues.

Cooking wise I use it instead of olive oil on a fry pan, yummy as a 1:1 in cakes or when you require butter. You can place the jar in a saucepan of hot water to soften then measure out or melt it in your TMX. Makes yummy raw chocolate or dipping chocolate.

 It's nothing like copha which is hydrolyzed, If you get cold pressed virgin coconut oil.

Vegans don't consume any animals or by products.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: achookwoman on July 08, 2012, 05:56:15 am
Coconut oil goes solid in cold temps.  If you want to use it and can't get it out of the bottle,  just stand it in hot water until it becomes liquid.

I use it in all types of cooling where you might use butter or oil.  You can replace all or some of the fat componant. 
I find It tastes slightly coconuty.  I have posted several recipes using both coconut oil and coconut flour. 
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: ElleG on July 08, 2012, 07:58:37 am
AliRo,I  have a jar of coconut oil in my kitchen and another one in the bathroom.

In summer the oil is liquid in the heat. It is solid now. Depending on what I am using it for I sometimes just scoop out and use without melting. Works no problems. The current jar I have I can taste a slight coconut taste.

 I smell like a coconut for a few minutes after using it in the bathroom ;D I use it on my face and as an all over moisturizer after my shower. Rub it on before drying off. It hasn't hurt the towels. Also after years of trying to cure a fungal rash/mark on two toenails, it was cured after a few weeks of rubbing coconut oil into my nails.

So if you don't like it in the kitchen, take it to the bathroom.  :D
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: mcmich on July 08, 2012, 08:03:29 am
Very interesting Elle.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: Jude59 on July 08, 2012, 10:28:06 am
I have it in the kitchen and bathroom too. A little seems to go further than oil but maybe my imagination. Also it really cooks salmon with skin  really crunchy and nice. The best I think.  DH doesn't like the smell of it cooking but will eat a tbsp each night as he finds it helps the inflammation and pain in his hips (old age).  I can't eat it like that but if I put  it in hot water and drink its ok that way.  Great for your skin too.
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: meganjane on July 08, 2012, 12:38:49 pm
The coconut oil that we buy is Coconut 76, that means that it's liquid at 76 degrees F. I buy it by the kilo for household use and it's sold in a bucket, so easy to scrape out.
I use it instead of ghee in Indian cooking. It's also yummy blended with other oils to cook chips in a deep fryer. Not that we do that very often...
Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: droverjess on July 08, 2012, 05:00:28 pm
How interesting Megan, if i understand right you buy coconut oil from soap supplies and use in kitchen...

Title: Re: Coconut Oil - How do I use it?!
Post by: meganjane on July 08, 2012, 09:29:55 pm
Yes, DJ, that's correct. I buy RBD coconut for soap making in 20kg buckets.  It's refined, bleached and deodorized. Cheaper than VCO.