What do I do with coconut oil?

[aircantu1]

I've heard about it here and there and finally bought some -- but what do I use it for? It's just sitting on my counter staring at me...

[maple_mama]

We use it in lots of things:
Stir an spoonful into oatmeal
Use as a substitute for other oils in cookies/cakes/other baked goods
To cook pancakes in on the griddle
For stirfry
To coat sweet potato fries
Or my kids' favorite way--dip a spoon in the jar and lick it off!

Although this isn't cooking related, I also keep some in a little container in my bathroom to use as a moisturizer for my face and hands, as a lip balm, and use it every now and then on my hair in the shower. It also makes a nice oil for in the bedroom.

[ASusan]

put a blob in your blendered smoothie
use it as the oil in pancakes
use it on the griddle for pancakes
as butter replacement for corn on the cob, sweet potato, baked potato
as oil in cakes
as butter replacement in cookies
in your child's hair
in your hair
as a skin lotion
as a soother for yeast infections
as a lubricant. oh, are we in the nutritional forum? sorry

it does stain clothing and other fabrics.

[FrannieP]

try melting it and put on popcorn with a bit of sea salt and some nutritional yeast. YUM!!!!

[kiwiva]

I cooked brown rice with it the other night. Really yummy!

[Ola_]

You can also use it to oil wooden spoons and cutting boards.

[Magelet]

you can use co instead of mineral oil? seriously? it doesn't go rancid? whoo hooo!!!

I like to mix coconut oil with peanut butter and raisins as a snack or dessert. (honey opt).

I use it to cook with : fried some salmon cakes in it last night. the unrefined is great in things that are slightly tropical seeming (indian style food, mexican style food, thai style food. what can I say, we bastardize a lot of cultural foods around here.) because it adds a very very mild coconuty ness. make fry bread with it. I use it instead of margerine to make pareve food. (like challah). I'll spread it on bread when making a meat sandwich.

[velcromom]

Get up in the middle of the night, grab a ripe banana and a spoon. Put a little dab of coconut oil on each bite. Yum!

[PlayaMama]

cook banana mac nut pancakes in it and top with shredded coconut and chocolate chips. we use grain sweetened chocolate chips that are wheat and dairy free for a treat.

seriously, if you fry anything in co it makes it taste like a donut

[wanderinggypsy]

Not only will your pancakes be mind blowing if you cook them in coconut oil, so will your french toast. Absolutely insanely good.

I also use it when I make banana bread, instead of butter. Reallllly yummy.

[Meksmama]

We pop our popcorn in it add salt and it tastes yummy!

We also spread it on toast or bread like butter if we run out of butter.

pancakes and french toast I am trying tomorrow!

[treemom2]

I use it in any recipe that calls for butter, oil, or partially hydrogenated oil. I also use it for cooking. . .love eggs cooked in it and veggies are super yum. I use it after every shower on my skin. I use it as my deodorant. I love making cinnamon sugar popcorn. . .I cook the popcorn in the coconut oil then toss on some cinnamon and sugar. Any cookies or quick breads are more yummy with coconut oil. We no longer use canola or safflower oils in our home, we use coconut oil instead. I've tried using it as a lubricant, but it tends to make me itch

[aircantu1]

Great, thanks for all the ideas!