Coconut-based products and recipes are rapidly gaining popularity, as its beneficial properties are used both in cosmetology and in cooking and medicine. It is important to find out in advance how to store coconut oil in order to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients in it.
What to look for when choosing
First of all, it is necessary to decide what type of product is needed - refined or unrefined. It will depend on this appearance, flavor and storage characteristics. Refined oil is white and odorless, while unrefined oil can be light yellow and have a pleasant coconut aroma.
Important! Natural, unrefined coconut oil should not smell harsh or too strong - this means that flavoring has been added to it.
The composition should not contain any additives, both visually and on the label. By carefully studying it, you can protect yourself from a fake.
Coconut oil can also be cold pressed or hot pressed. The first option is more gentle, so more benefit is retained in the final product. Hot pressing allows you to get more pomace, with some loss useful components. It is he who is most often used for culinary purposes.
Signs of rancidity
Despite the fact that coconut butter is stored for a long time and without special requirements for conditions, it can deteriorate. It is quite easy to determine a rancid product by external signs:
- bad or strange smell. The smell of smoked meats or sausages is a clear sign of staleness;
- bright yellow. The normal color may be light yellow or golden in the unrefined, and pure white in the refined. But if the color becomes bright, then the product is spoiled;
- bitter taste indicates rancidity.
These signs may appear over time due to proper storage or warn against buying already damaged goods.
Although this product is not tolerant of conditions, many people are concerned about how to properly store coconut oil in order to preserve its beneficial properties. The more favorable conditions are created, the more you can extend its lifespan.
The shelf life of unrefined coconut oil at temperatures up to +7 is no more than 6 months. Refined can be stored up to a year in a cool place. Therefore, it is better to keep them in the refrigerator, although room temperature it won't go bad for a long time. These are the minimum storage periods, there is information that environmentally friendly oil, without flavors and other impurities, can be stored for up to two years.
If coconut oil was purchased in plastic container, it should be poured into a dark glass bottle, for example, from wine. The bottle must first be washed and dried well.
Important! If the composition contains any additives or preservatives, pouring it into a suitable container will not extend the shelf life.
Temperature regime
Depending on the storage temperature, coconut oil can be either liquid or solid. Its useful properties do not depend on it. Transferring oil from one consistency to another is quite easy, it freezes at temperatures below +25 degrees. If the coconut oil has thickened, you can not worry about what to do, but just lower it for a minute under a stream of warm water.
Important! You can not freeze the oil, in the freezer its beneficial properties will not be preserved. It is better to choose for him the top shelf of the refrigerator.
The optimum storage temperature is between 4 and 20 degrees. A refrigerator is a good place, but you can also store it in a kitchen cabinet or pantry. If oil is used in cosmetic purposes must be melted before use. To do this, you can put it on water bath or a warm battery.
Lighting and air
After opening the package, it is better to store coconut oil in a dark glass container with a tight lid that will not let air through. Although it hardly oxidizes, it is best not to expose the oil to unnecessary risk, leaving access to air and direct sunlight.
It is preferable to keep a jar of oil in a closed place - a refrigerator, a cabinet or a closed shelf. If there is a choice, it is better to replace the screw cap with a cork, it can more reliably protect the oil from oxidation. For a glass jar, a glass lid is more suitable than a plastic one.
Features of storage of capsules and ampoules
If coconut oil was bought in capsules or ampoules, it is important to know in advance how to store it at home. As a rule, capsules are sold in protective packaging, which is best kept. It will protect the contents of transparent glass or plastic ampoules from direct sunlight.
To check if the contents have gone bad, you need to break one of them and squeeze out some liquid. It should show no signs of rancid oil and should be clear or slightly yellowish.
Important! It is advisable to use the opened capsule immediately and do not store it for more than 12 hours.
You need to store the capsules in a dark, cool place - a first-aid kit or a cabinet, and shortly before the expiration date - about three months - you should hide them in the refrigerator.
Features of storing homemade butter
This useful cosmetic and food product you can cook by yourself. The technology is quite affordable and does not require special equipment. Its shelf life is not too long - only 2 weeks, so after cooking, you need to pour the oil into a dark bottle and put it in the refrigerator.
Features of storage of edible oil
In food, as a rule, hot-pressed oil is used. This involves resolving the issue of where to store coconut oil in favor of a refrigerator. Thus, it is possible to significantly extend the period of its suitability for use.
But despite the ability to be stored for a long time, you should not buy this product in reserve. The fresher it is, the more benefits it can bring, so it is better to replenish oil supplies gradually, in small quantities.
Coconut oil can be used in many ways, but in any case, it is important to follow the rules for storing it. This will determine how long you can use it. With proper storage, coconut butter can retain its beneficial properties for up to a year.
All materials on the site are presented for informational purposes only. Before using any means, consultation with a doctor is MANDATORY!
Coconut oil has a wide range of uses. In addition to cosmetology, where it is used in various preparations for the skin and hair, it is used in cooking and medicine. The product contains substances necessary for the body, in order to save them, you need to know how to store coconut oil.
The drug is supplied mainly from India, Thailand and the USA. It is sold in jars or capsules, the contents of which are intended for oral administration.
In cosmetology, coconut oil is included in all kinds of skin and hair products: creams, tonics, masks, scrubs. It is suitable for all skin types, hypoallergenic, perfectly absorbed without clogging pores, soothes irritated areas, relieves dryness. By smoothing fine mimic wrinkles, it refreshes the skin and slows down the aging process. It is recommended to apply the product on small wounds for healing.
When taken internally for therapeutic and preventive purposes, coconut oil can solve many problems. First of all, it is a general tonic that can support the immune system, which is especially important during the season of viral diseases. For those who follow their figure, it will be interesting to know that coconut oil speeds up the metabolism, helping to fight excess weight. The fats in it are easily burned, without lingering in the body. It has a beneficial effect on the condition of bones, teeth and gums, cleanses blood vessels.
Useful composition
What is so amazingly healing contained in the product? It is a source of healthy fats that fill the body with energy and do not accumulate under the skin. Lauric acid has an antimicrobial effect. In addition, the product contains hyaluronic, palmitic, caprylic, oleic, capric, stearic acids, which nourish, moisturize, protect the skin and hair.
By the way, the smell of a natural product is different from the flavor, so it may seem unusual.
It can smell differently: refined has a less pronounced coconut smell than unrefined. Liquid and hardened also smell differently.
The product may contain a preservative. This ingredient cannot be called healthy, but it helps to increase the shelf life, while you do not need to be too sophisticated and look for special ways to store it after opening: the oil will remain in perfect condition exactly as long as it is written on the package.
What you need to know when buying coconut oil?
You can often hear about oil that it is refined (refined), unrefined (unrefined), virgin and so on. First of all, let's figure out which one is the most useful.
Only unrefined coconut oil can be called natural, which is obtained by the first cold pressing. It contains all the vitamins and minerals that can be in this product. But, unfortunately, the most natural oil has the shortest shelf life - from 6 months to a year.
Refined oil has little value for health and beauty. The most important ingredients are removed from its composition by thermal or chemical treatment, so it is suitable only for soap making and confectionery purposes.
Many tourists returning from Thailand carry bottles of coconut oil with them. This is not surprising: raw materials are cheap, and if desired, you can find quality product. It is better to make a purchase in specialized stores or pharmacies. In the markets of Thailand a huge selection natural oils, but be careful not to run into a fake.
Storage container
Pay attention to the packaging. After opening the product, it is better to store it in a dark glass container with a tight-fitting lid that will not let air through. It is believed that the coconut product is unpretentious and rarely oxidizes, but it is better not to take risks and choose the right place and storage conditions.
If the oil was bought in ampoules, do not throw away the cardboard packaging: it will protect the product from the harmful effects of light. If it is supposed long-term storage, it is advisable to drain the contents into a jar of dark glass and close tightly.
Temperature and Humidity
After purchase, put the bottle in a cool, dark place with a humidity of more than 60%. Temperatures up to +20 degrees are allowed.
Unrefined oil is a very capricious product in terms of storage. The shelf life is about a year at a temperature of no more than +7 degrees, so it is correct to keep it in the refrigerator. Before use, heat the required amount in a water bath so that after hardening the product becomes liquid and transparent again.
Second-pressed oil intended for use in cooking is stored in a cool place, preferably in the refrigerator, for no more than six months.
Signs of spoiled coconut oil
- Strange smell, for example, smoked sausage. Most likely it went rancid due to non-compliance with the shelf life.
- Bright yellow color. natural color hard butter- white, liquid - slightly whitish.
- Bitter taste indicates oxidation of the product.
Important
- At temperatures below +25 degrees, the liquid begins to harden.
- Storing in the freezer will not extend the shelf life.
- Close the lid tightly after each use to prevent rancidity.
- To extend the shelf life, store the product in the refrigerator.
- A jar of coconut oil is an inexpensive but very valuable souvenir that you can bring from Thailand.
A jar of coconut oil will help strengthen the immune system and improve the condition of the skin and hair. If you follow a few simple rules, you can easily store the product at home for a long period.
Your brownie.
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Coconut oil is a product that has won the hearts of many women. This oil is used not only for cooking various dishes, but also for skin, hair and nails care.
However, it must be stored properly so that it retains its beneficial properties and does not deteriorate prematurely. And also be able to identify an expired product.
In order to purchase a truly high-quality product, it is necessary to take into account a number of signs. Coconut oil comes in two types:
- unrefined - pure and natural, obtained from fresh pulp by quick drying;
- refined - past heat treatment obtained from the pulp pulp.
During refining, it loses most useful properties. However, such a product is stored for 1-2 years longer.
Unrefined is considered better quality. Suitable for both outdoor and indoor use.
It is also important to pay attention to other features. Quality:
- quickly absorbed into the skin;
- does not leave a greasy film;
- has a sweetish aroma;
- has a light yellow or transparent hue in liquid form;
- white in a frozen form;
- sweet taste;
- melts in your mouth.
Thus, it is worth giving preference to unrefined. It is considered completely natural, since it has not been subjected to additional processing.
Storage conditions at home
Even the highest quality product can be spoiled if stored improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to create the right conditions in order to preserve useful properties.
Storage capacity
Manufacturers do not always take into account the peculiarities of storing coconut oil, and package it in transparent packages. It is advisable to transfer the opened product to a dark glass jar. Coconut product deteriorates in the light, and it is this packaging that provides protection.
Also pay attention to the lid. It should close tightly.
Temperature and Humidity
Coconut oil can be stored in the refrigerator or indoors. In the first case, the temperature should be around +5-6°C. If it is stored in a room, it must be ensured that the temperature does not rise above +20°C. Heat and cold are contraindicated. Humidity should be no higher than 60%.
Light
Keep the product away from direct sunlight. The best place for storage is a closet with closed shelves or a refrigerator.
Oxygen access
If you store coconut oil in a loosely sealed container, it will soon oxidize. It is recommended to use stoppers or glass lids as they provide more protection.
However, the use of plastic caps is not excluded if tightly screwed on.
Where is the best place to store
The shelf life will be longer if stored in the refrigerator. In this case, it will remain usable for a year.
If it is stored in a room, it usually loses its freshness in six months.
Signs of corruption
If the storage rules are not followed, the product quickly becomes unusable. It is easy to identify a damaged product:
- the shade has become dark;
- smell bitter or sour;
- the taste is bitter.
These signs should be paid attention to when buying. Otherwise, money may be wasted.
How long does store-bought coconut oil keep before and after opening?
The shelf life of the purchased product depends on the type. Unrefined is stored for a year. The refined version can last 2-3 years. After opening, the shelf life does not decrease. Therefore, you should always count from the date of manufacture.
Storage conditions in ampoules and capsules
Storage conditions depend on how long it will be used. If it will be used in ampoules immediately after purchase, you can not remove it from the carton.
When calculating for longer periods of storage, the oil from capsules and ampoules should be poured into dark glass containers.
Regardless of where you are going to store the product, you must observe the temperature regime. The temperature should be within + 5-20 degrees. You can put the oil in a cupboard or refrigerator.
It is worth considering that after opening the ampoule must be used up within 12 hours. Closed packaging is stored for a year.
Storage conditions for homemade coconut oil
Many women successfully prepare coconut oil at home. Such a product may be no less effective, but it is stored for no more than two weeks. So don't overcook. The rest of the conditions are the same as for the purchase.
Conclusion
The type affects the shelf life in the first place. Refined will stay fresh longer, but its properties are worse than those of the unrefined version. Product home cooking stored for only two weeks. And an open ampoule will become unusable after 12 hours. At right conditions the shelf life of the oil remains unchanged.
The shelf life of coconut oil is quite long, but for proper storage it is necessary to take into account some of its features. First of all, it is important to know that it is mined in different ways.
Surely everyone has heard about cold pressing and knows that this production technology allows you to keep everything in the oil. useful material and vitamins. Such a product is usually sold with the mark "Extra Virgin" on the package, and its price is quite high.
Everyone is used to calling hot-pressed oil "refined", its cost is much more affordable, since the starting material for production is required in a smaller amount than for an expensive counterpart. But there is less benefit in such an oil, because during thermal exposure, irreversible processes of destruction of valuable substances occur.
What is coconut oil?
Some are convinced that coconut milk, from which valuable vegetable fat is extracted, is a transparent sweetish liquid inside the nut, but this is an erroneous opinion. These pleasant-tasting waters are only good for making cocktails. In fact, coconut milk is contained in the white flesh of the coconut, which is exactly what is pressed.
In case of cold technology production, pieces of fragrant raw materials are pre-dried, and then squeezed. The result is a wonderful product that is widely used in cosmetology, both in its pure form and in the compositions of various body and face care products. Unfortunately, this method allows you to extract not at all a large number of oil, which is why the price is so high.
With the hot method, the coconut pulp is also dried and crushed, but not a press is used to extract the oil, but a centrifuge heated to a very high temperature, due to which the product, simply speaking, melts and flows into the container itself. It is used mostly in cooking.
In the first case, the oil has a rich smell of fresh coconut, and in the second - a very delicate and delicate aroma.
What does fresh coconut oil look like?
When melted, it has a liquid consistency and a golden hue, while being transparent. At temperatures below +25˚C, the oil solidifies, becoming almost whitish and losing transparency; this is his natural property.
At low temperatures, the oil thickens, and at high temperatures it becomes liquid.
Signs of spoilage
Like any product, coconut oil can go bad when not stored properly. Unfortunately, you will have to part with him if the following is observed:
- the color of the oil became poisonous yellow;
- smell has changed
- the product tastes bitter;
- mold appeared.
All these unpleasant things are sure to happen if coconut oil is not stored properly.
Surprisingly, this exotic product is not capricious at all, and therefore does not need to create any special conditions. It is enough to take into account only a few important factors.
Temperature
The main thing is that it should be constant and not exceed +25˚C, that is, it makes no sense to constantly transfer oil from the refrigerator to the cabinet shelf and back. Each time it will change its consistency, because at room temperature the product melts, and in the refrigerator, on the contrary, it freezes.
If it is more convenient to use it in liquid form, then you can put it in a kitchen cabinet, and if the difference is not fundamental, then, of course, it is better to put it in the refrigerator. Before use, you can take out the right amount of product from the container, it will melt in the heat and will be ready for use.
Influence of light
Light is detrimental to any oil, which is why it is customary to keep the most expensive varieties in bottles or jars made of dark and thick glass. When deciding where to store coconut oil, it's important to choose a dark location out of the reach of sunlight and household lights.
The less light gets on a valuable product, the longer it will remain usable. If this condition is not observed, the oil will go rancid, an unpleasant smell will appear, and the taste will become simply nasty.
Package
dark glass - the best option, but if additional packaging was also provided, for example, cardboard, then it can be saved and used for its intended purpose. The lid plays an important role. It must be as tight as possible. Under the influence of oxygen, fats are oxidized, and this is highly undesirable.
In addition, any oil very intensively absorbs odors. This, perhaps, will not affect the quality, but it is much more pleasant to apply a fragrant agent to the skin of the face than a substance that exudes a distinct smell. smoked sausage or (oh, horror!) herring.
Storing coconut oil in a plastic container is not right. This material negatively affects the smell and composition of the product. Thus, it becomes clear that the packaging largely determines how long the oil will remain fresh.
Shelf life and useful properties
So, under all conditions, cold-pressed oil without preservatives in the composition can be stored for six months, and hot - twice as much. Practical experience suggests that the specified periods are minimal, and the oil can be used even after their expiration, if the signs of deterioration described above are not observed.
The first helps to significantly improve the condition of the skin and hair, and the second can become a vitamin food supplement that allows you to enrich the diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A, E and C, phosphorus and calcium.
How much coconut oil is worth buying, everyone decides for himself based on his personal intentions. Those who use this product daily, they are not afraid to buy it in large portions, but those who want to try it for the first time opt for small packages.
Coconut oil in ampoules is intended for cosmetic use only, and is stored in the same way as in bottles or jars. An open ampoule must be used within 12 hours.
Oil can be extracted from the pulp of coconut and independently in a fairly simple way.
homemade recipe
If you want to make your own coconut oil at home, then here's how it's done:
- coconut pulp is rubbed on a fine grater and milk is squeezed out;
- the cake can be used to prepare fragrant pastries, and the milk must be brought to a boil;
- the mass will be divided into two components: lumps of curdled milk and a transparent yellowish liquid, which, in fact, is coconut oil.
- all that remains is to strain everything through a fine strainer, and the output will be approximately 30 ml of oil of our own production.
By the way, this is how this product is obtained by owners of small family businesses in Asian countries. Oil prepared at home is best used within ten days, it should not be stored longer.
Ways to use coconut oil. Video
05/14/2018 0 1 252 views
Given the interest of the general public in a new product for them, is it worth figuring out how to properly store coconut oil at home? For the first time, this product appeared in large quantities with us after the wide spread of travel agencies associated with trips to Thailand: after all, it is Thai women who have been using oil pomace from the pulp of a mature coconut for many centuries to care for both their hair and body.
Prepared in a special way, it is used for face care and for the most delicate areas of the skin around the eyes. Moreover, for the purposes of cosmetology, only the first cold-pressed oil is used, and necessarily natural refined, as it is purer.
What is coconut oil and what is it made from?
Let's start with the main thing: coconut oil and a product called "palm oil", which has been subjected to considerable criticism recently, have nothing in common!
These two substances are even extracted from the fruits different kind palms: coconut (as the name implies) - from the fruits of the coconut palm, and palm - from the fruits of the oilseed, which, as such, are not used for food, but serve only to extract oil from them.
They also differ in cost - coconut, especially the first cold pressing, is more expensive. Unrefined, preserving the whole complex of aromas of mature coconut and the richness of its vitamin set, they are used mainly in cooking: in confectionery, where it gives an exquisite taste in creams and fillings of cakes and pastries, in the preparation of cheesecakes, casseroles, pancakes, toasts. And also for frying products of vegetable and animal origin.
Who tried Thai cuisine, remembers amazing taste chicken fried in this oil or green and red bananas specially cultivated for this.
Beneficial features
food
The oil is rich in saturated fatty acids. In particular, a high content (up to 45%) of lauric acid. Therefore, the calorie content of 100 grams of the product is high - about 890 calories. However, it is used in special weight loss diets! The fact is that it acts as a catalyst for fat burning in the body, while lowering the feeling of hunger.
And if we take into account that not only the external, subcutaneous, but also the so-called “internal” fat, which is much more dangerous for the body, “burns out”, then the importance of such oil in a special diet can hardly be overestimated.
However, it should still be remembered high calorie and, as a consequence, that the doses of the product should be small and balanced, and the use - under the supervision of a specialist nutritionist.
Therapeutic
- It removes "heavy" cholesterol of animal origin from the body and helps the formation of "light" ones that do not clog blood vessels, that is, high-density lipoproteins.
- Prevents and treats diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Lauric acids increase the infectious threshold of a person, and hence immunity to fungi, bacteria, viruses.
- Helps dissolve kidney stones. In the Indian medical practices of Ayurveda, a whole course is devoted to this.
- When rubbed into the gums, it eliminates bad breath, reduces bleeding, and whitens teeth.
- It has a persistent and highly therapeutic effect in the treatment of various dermatitis, eczema, softens, and at times completely stops the course of psoriasis, depending on its etiology.
- If added to hot chocolate, milk or cocoa, you get an excellent remedy for a cold.
Cosmetic
- Tones, restores skin elasticity, moisturizes it. Since it is perfectly and quickly absorbed, it promotes the healing of microcracks in the skin, especially on the rough areas of the fingers, soles of the feet, and heels.
- When applied to the scalp, it treats dandruff, strengthens hair follicles, preventing hair loss. Nourishes hair, making it supple and shiny.
- Applied to problematic age-related changes in the skin of the face, smoothes fine wrinkles.
Compound
- saturated fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, caprylic, capric, lauric, caproic, butyric;
- monounsaturated: nervonic, oleic, palmitoleic;
- polyunsaturated acids omega-6 and omega-3;
- the remaining 1% is water.
Contraindications for use
Harmful effects have not been identified, except that a person may have an individual intolerance. In order to pre-identify possible allergenicity for a particular consumer, a small amount should be applied to the neck, face and forearms. If within two hours the skin does not turn red, there is no burning sensation or itching, the oil can be used for cosmetic purposes.
In addition, one should be aware of its high calorie content when used as an edible fat for food.
It can cause an exacerbation in cholecystitis and pancreatitis - however, like any other fats of animal or vegetable origin.
What affects its shelf life and what conditions are needed for this?
The cosmetic and perfumery industries, with their production volumes, use preservative additives in the preparation of ointments, creams, shampoos and soaps from coconut oil. Only they contribute to the preservation of the quality of coconut oil for a long time.
But, naturally, this method of preservation is unacceptable when a person buys pure oil in the country of origin. It is expensive and unsafe - preservative additives, substances from group E, are introduced in carefully calculated, microscopic quantities at a pre-calculated temperature and kneading time.
Where and how to store coconut oil after opening?
To increase the shelf life, keep both cosmetic and edible coconut oil in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to plus 4⁰. The main thing is to ensure the tightness of the packaging so that, like any other fat, it does not absorb foreign odors. And protect from light - photo sensitivity will make the light yellow, and this will reduce efficiency.
It is better not to use storage in the freezer - crystallization during freezing with long periods of storage can become irreversible. Remember that you still have a tropical product in front of you, in the properties of which frost resistance is not planned!
How to understand that the product is already damaged?
If after storage in the refrigerator, under all the above conditions, the oil has not changed its taste, color, texture, then its residues should be used within two, no more, months.
If the listed signs have changed, it is not recommended to use the product in any form.
Video: use and storage of coconut oil.
Unique properties
If you're on a diet but can't give up fried foods, then you should know that during the high-temperature cooking process, up to 170 degrees, when using coconut oil, its taste is not lost and carcinogenic substances are not formed.
The strength of bones in the human body is impossible without calcium, but this element is not absorbed by the body without the presence of fats, and no matter what - animal or vegetable origin! Therefore, for people who follow a vegetarian or even vegan diet, the use of this product in food is not forbidden.
Refined coconut oil does not have the characteristic taste and smell of unrefined coconut oil. Therefore, in the traditional European cuisine indispensable in the preparation of children's and diet meals, as well as to give an unusual and exquisite taste salads and vegetable smoothies.
Can you make your own coconut oil?
- On the outer surface of a nut bought in a store, in the place where it was attached to a palm tree, four marks are found - the places of the stalk. Drill two holes to drain the milk.
- Then the top is separated with a knife or a file, the copra is cleaned, rubbed on a coarse grater, poured with hot water (temperature 50-60⁰); then wait for cooling, after which they put in the refrigerator.
- Carefully remove the fatty crust formed after cooling, place in a clean container, melt. But do not boil, remembering that the melting temperature of coconut oil is about 24 degrees!
- Pour into a dark glass or ceramic container. Cover tightly with a lid to keep fresh air out to prevent oxidation. Put it back in the refrigerator.
Such freshly melted butter is used, as a rule, for face masks, and, first of all, for the skin around the eyes and on the eyelids. Note that about 50 mg of oil is obtained from one coconut oil.
