Buzz
Coconut oil offers numerous health benefits and can be used for cooking or as part of skincare and hair care routines. The best quality coconut oil is pure, made using traditional methods without harmful chemicals. Here are three methods you can use to make pure coconut oil at home: the wet grinding method, the cold pressing method, and the distillation method.
Steps
Using the Wet Grinding Method
Use a knife to split the coconut in half. Make sure to choose mature coconuts rather than young ones.
Extract the coconut flesh. Use a dedicated coconut scraper, knife, or metal spoon to remove the coconut meat. This process requires a bit of skill. It's better to use a butter knife instead of a sharp chef's knife. Slide the knife between the shell and the flesh to carefully separate each piece, avoiding any slipping that might cause you to cut your hand.
Cut the coconut flesh into small pieces or grate it.
Place the chopped coconut in the blender.
Turn the blender to medium speed and blend until the coconut is finely shredded. You may add a little water to make the blending process smoother if necessary.
Strain the coconut milk. Place a coffee filter or a piece of thin cloth (like cheesecloth) over the opening of a wide-mouthed jar. Pour a small amount of blended coconut on top. Gather the edges of the cloth and squeeze the coconut milk into the jar.
- Squeeze firmly to extract all the coconut milk.
- Repeat the process with the remaining coconut flesh.
Leave the coconut milk in a cool place for at least 24 hours. During this time, the coconut milk and coconut oil will separate. The coconut milk will solidify and float to the top of the jar.
- You can place the jar in the refrigerator to speed up the solidification of the coconut milk.
- If not, simply leave the jar in a cool area.
Use a spoon to remove the coconut milk. What remains in the jar is the pure coconut oil.
Use the Cold Pressing Method
Use dried coconut meat. You can buy unsweetened dried coconut meat from supermarkets or grocery stores, but make sure it is 100% coconut meat with no other ingredients. If you prefer fresh coconut, cut it into small pieces and dry it using a food dehydrator for 24 hours.
- You can also dry the coconut meat by placing it in the oven, setting it to the lowest temperature. Before that, cut the coconut meat, place it on a baking sheet, and bake for 8 hours until completely dry.
- If using dried coconut from the store, opt for thinly shaved pieces instead of shredded coconut, as the latter may clog the press machine.
Place the coconut in the press machine. Note, divide the coconut meat into smaller batches to avoid clogging the press. The press will extract both the coconut milk and coconut oil. Gradually press all the prepared coconut meat.
Press the coconut pulp through the press machine once again to extract all the remaining coconut milk.
Pour the coconut milk into a glass jar and store it in a warm place for 24 hours. During this time, the coconut cream will settle at the bottom of the jar, while the coconut oil will float to the top.
Transfer the coconut cream to a different jar. Once the coconut oil has completely separated and solidified at the top, use a spoon to scoop the oil into another container. Your coconut oil is now ready for use.
Distilling Coconut Oil
Heat 4 cups of water. Pour the water into a small saucepan and place it on the stove. Turn the heat to medium and allow the water to begin steaming.
Remove the coconut flesh from two coconuts. Choose mature coconuts rather than young ones. Cut the coconuts in half, use a spoon to scrape out the coconut flesh, and place it in a bowl.
Blend the coconut flesh and water. Add the coconut flesh and hot water into a blender. Secure the lid tightly and blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Do not fill the blender more than halfway with coconut flesh and water. If you're using a small blender, blend in smaller batches as overfilling may cause the liquid and coconut milk to spill during blending.
- Tip: Remember to keep the blender lid tightly secured during the process to prevent it from popping off.
Strain the coconut milk. Place a piece of thin cloth (like gauze) or a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Pour the blended coconut and water mixture over the cloth, allowing the coconut milk to drip into the bowl. Use a spoon to gently press down on the mixture and extract more coconut milk.
- An easier method is to gather the cloth's ends and squeeze it to extract the coconut milk.
- For more coconut milk, add hot water to the leftover coconut pulp after the first squeeze, and repeat the process.
Cook the coconut milk. Pour the coconut milk into a pan and place it on the stove. Heat over medium heat until it starts to boil. Then, reduce the heat and continue to cook, stirring constantly with a spoon until the liquid evaporates, and the coconut milk separates from the coconut oil, turning a golden brown color.
- The entire process of cooking the coconut milk should take about an hour. Be patient and keep stirring while cooking.
- If you don't want to cook it, you can let the coconut milk and coconut oil separate naturally. Place the blended coconut mixture in a bowl, cover it, and leave it at room temperature for 24 hours. Afterward, refrigerate it, and the coconut oil will solidify and float on top. At this point, you can easily separate the coconut oil.
Advice
- You can use pure coconut oil in your cooking for recipes like light, fluffy scones (a type of quick bread popular in the UK) or pie crusts. Coconut oil imparts a gentle vanilla aroma and is healthier than traditional fats like lard or butter.
- In the past, coconut oil was considered taboo due to the fact that it contains nearly 90% saturated fat. However, recently, coconut oil has regained its place in a health-conscious world. Unlike hydrogenated oils, coconut oil is unrefined and chemical-free, thus preserving all the nutrients derived from plants. When used in moderation, coconut oil may even prove more beneficial than olive oil.
- A mature coconut can be identified by its hard, dark brown shell. Younger coconuts have lighter brown shells, while the green ones are usually small and still unripe. Mature coconuts yield more oil than their younger counterparts.
- Coconut oil made through the cold-press method doesn’t involve heat, which helps preserve more of its nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial vitamins for health.
- Freezing the coconut meat and then thawing it before placing it in a blender or press will soften the meat and extract more oil.
- Pure coconut oil is believed to offer over 200 surprising health benefits. Consuming a spoonful daily can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, relieve joint pain, and support cancer treatment. It can also be applied to the hair and skin to enhance moisture and repair damaged cells or follicles. Examples of damaged cells or follicles include diaper rash, dry skin, and insect bites. Other benefits include improved circulation, normalized thyroid function, boosted metabolism, and weight loss.
What You Will Need
Wet Grinding Method
- A mature, dry coconut
- A large cleaver
- A small, sharp knife
- A blender
- Coffee filter or cheesecloth
- A wide-mouthed glass jar
- A spoon
Cold-Press Method
- Food dehydrator
- Fruit juicer
Distillation Method
- Blender
- Fine mesh strainer
