It is very easy and convenient to make your own coconut oil at home whether for cooking purposes or for applying on skin/hair. There are three methods for this:

  • Cold Process Method
  • Wet Mill Method
  • Boiling the coconut

We will be using the third method.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Stove
  • Blender/Shredder
  • Stainless steel pot
  • Sieve/Colander
  • Cheesecloth/ muslin cloth
  • Jar/Cans for storage
  • Brown coconuts (3 for this demonstration)

3-4 coconuts will produce about 1 liter of coconut milk. And 50 grams of coconut oil can be extracted from 1 liter of coconut milk. This quantity is better appropriate for making virgin coconut oil at home.

PROCEDURE:

For this simple DIY demonstration, we will be taking three coconuts at a time. The process is a bit time consuming, but it is very easy. There is no need for extra added preservatives for basic pure coconut oil.

Step 1: Breaking up the coconuts

Take three dried up coconuts and break them with a heavy and blunt object i.e screwdriver, hammer, or sharp knife. Once it breaks open, remove the coconut meat from its outer shell.

It is very easy to remove coconut meat from a mature coconut.

For extracting oil, it is better to use old mature coconuts compared to younger ones. Try not to waste the coconut water, fix a drink, and enjoy!

Step 2: Rinse and Chop the coconuts

Now wash and rinse the meat of the coconut. And chop it into smaller pieces. This way it fits into blender easily.

Alternatively, you can simply grate the coconut if you don’t have a blender.

Step 3: Extract coconut with hot water

Now boil some water. It is better to use hot water for coconut extraction, compared to warm or cold water as it gives makes more quantity of oil.

Pour the water into the blender filled with coconut chunks and grind it. Turn the blender off when it is turned into a fine paste of smooth consistency.

If you have used grated coconut then squeeze milk out of it with the help of your fingers, using hot water.

Step 4: Squeeze the milk out of coconut paste

Pour the ground paste onto a sieve to separate coconut milk from the chaff.

You can use a cheesecloth or a muslin cloth for this purpose as well. Press with your hands to squeeze the milk out. Put the chaff into the blender and grind it into a smoother paste.

Again, separate the coconut milk with a finer sieve to remove any small particles from it.

Step 5: Separate cream from the water

Leave the coconut milk in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours.

This separates coconut oil from the water and it settles at the top in the form of caked cream.

You can skip this step but then it will take longer to cook.

Step 6: Cook the coconut oil

Now, remove the top white layer of coconut cream and pour it into a cooking pot. It is advisable to use original stainless-steel pots instead of nonstick or coated pot.

Make sure to heat it on a moderate flame. A high flame will burn the oil and it will turn dark and will have a burnt taste.

Cook it slowly on low to medium flame until the water is evaporated and thick coconut chunks are left swimming in the oil. This will take at least 1.5 hours to 3.  The color of cooked coconut changes from white to brown over this time.

Coconut oil is very sensitive to high heat due to its delicate texture. If you catch it burning or if there is any smell of the sort then reduce the flame to a minimum. Moreover, make sure to stir periodically.

Step 7: Cool and filter the oil

After this, remove the cooking pot containing coconut oil from flame and let it cool down.

Once it has cooled down, use cheesecloth as a sieve to separate the oil from the charred bits.

To get even finer results, filter again to remove the tiny particles that may have crossed the cheesecloth earlier. A paper towel may be used to remove the final sediments.

After removing impurities, store the oil in a jar, can or plastic bottles for later use.

This coconut can be used for all purposes i.e. cooking, to be applied to the body or hair. The coconut water separated in step 4 can be utilized for a number of things. So instead of wasting it, pass it through a sieve of finer mesh and store it for later use. It can be used in cooking for all the recipes that call for coconut milk as the taste of it remains. Similarly, do not discard the coconut water from step 1.

How is virgin coconut oil made?

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) can be produced from fresh coconut milk, meat, or residue. Producing it from coconut milk involves grating the coconut and mixing it with water, then squeezing out the oil. The milk can also be fermented for 36–48 hours, the oil removed, and the cream heated to remove any remaining oil.

How do you make cold pressed coconut oil for your skin?

How cold pressed coconut oil is made?

The procedure starts with the meat of mature coconuts being shredded and pressed to extract as much milk as possible. Then, the milk is kept undisturbed for 24 hours, following which it separates into 3 layers: water at the bottom, oil in between and cream on top.

Why coconut oil is bad for your face?

Since coconut oil can clog pores, it may contribute to acne breakouts in some people. If you have oily skin, coconut oil might cause blackheads, pimples, or whiteheads to form on your face if left on overnight.

Can we drink cold-pressed virgin coconut oil?

When taken by mouth: Coconut oil is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in food amounts. But coconut oil contains a type of fat that can increase cholesterol levels. So people should avoid eating coconut oil in excess. Coconut oil is POSSIBLY SAFE when used as a medicine short-term.

What is the best time to drink virgin coconut oil?

When is the best time to take VCO? In general VCO maybe taken anytime of the day, either as a single dose or divided doses spread throughout the whole day. If specific concern is weight loss, take it before meals. If problem is constipation, take it after dinner.

What’s the side effects of coconut oil?

Ingesting too much coconut oil right off the bat can lead to nausea, consumer advocates warn. Other coconut oil-linked side effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, swollen glands, joint or muscle pain, stomach upset, chills, hives or rashes, or other adverse skin conditions.

How can you tell if coconut oil is pure virgin?

An easy way to check if you’re buying quality coconut oil is to make sure it’s certified organic and verified Non-GMO. The next step is to confirm that Virgin Coconut Oil is cold-pressed, made without hexane, and never deodorized or bleached.

Which is better coconut oil or virgin coconut oil?

Is all coconut oil edible?

The energy content of both virgin coconut oil and regular oil is the same. However, since normal coconut oil is hydrogenated, it may contain some trans-fat. But virgin coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, has good cholesterol and almost negligible amounts of trans fatty acids.

Does coconut oil expire?

Due to its mild flavor and high smoke point, refined coconut oil is a better choice for baking and cooking. However, minimally processed unrefined coconut oil may be better for skin and hair care, as well as certain dietary preferences.

Does coconut oil grow hair?

Is coconut oil OK if Liquifies?

Coconut oil can spoil, and believe me when I say that you’ll know when coconut oil has gone rancid. The good news is that coconut oil has a naturally long shelf life: about two years. If you don’t remember exactly when you bought that last jar of coconut oil, don’t worry.

Should you refrigerate coconut oil?

Yes, indeed it does. “Coconut oil will definitely help your hair grow healthier, thicker, and longer,” Brown confirms. “The vitamins and fatty acids in coconut oil help nourish your scalp and penetrates the cuticle of the hair.

How long does coconut oil hair last?

It will be fine, don’t worry about it melting – it is of course, the natural state for coconut oil. You will have discovered that when the mercury hits around 24 degrees, your Virgin Coconut Oil starts to melt, and as the day cools off or perhaps overnight, the oil may re-solidify.

Can coconut oil whiten teeth?

Coconut Oil: Don’t Refrigerate

With its high smoke point and composition of 90% saturated fat (about half of which is made up of healthful medium-chain triglycerides), this popular oil is shelf stable.

How long does coconut oil last once opened?

Coconut oil takes a long time to oxidize which means it takes a long time to go bad. As mentioned above, refined coconut oil can last up to 18 months while virgin coconut oil can last up to five years.