coconut oil

[Red Pajama]

I just ordered some gold label coconut oil from Tropical Traditions. Can I please hear some baking/cooking tips, as well as what you love (or hate) about using coconut oil?

Thanks

[_ktg_]

I'm not much for using it in baking as I am not a baker but for cooking - I use CO anywhere I used Olive Oil.

For me I take it as a supplement vs addition to my cadre of cooking supplies and that works for me & the family.

I love mine in my coffee, with cream & stevia in the morning....

[lakeruby]

I have not found anything to hate about Coconut oil! I LOVE it. I use it every morning to fry my eggs and it's deliciuos. DP puts a tablespoon or so in his smoothie every morning. We also use it as a moisturizer, and I put it on the ends of my hair as a conditioner.

I like to use it in baking. I don't mind the coconut flavor, so I use it in place of any oil in a baked goods recipe.

My favorite thing to do with it is to sautee veggies. I love to just eat the veggies or put them in a quiche-- so yummy! The coconut flavor is subtle, and lends a sweetness.

[sellendie]

I add it to coconut milk and berry smoothies. I also love julienned carrots sauteed in coconut oil, which is my current addiction. It is a wonderful addition to thai fish marinades as well.

I also use as my sole body product, other than jojoba occasionally.

[princesstutu]

I love it! It's the best for frying eggs and sauteeing vegies. Much betterr than butter even.

Don't like it for baking anything that calls for shortening, tho. Coconut oil melts so fast and easily that if I'm making something that calls for an oil with a shortening consistency, using coconut oil instead has disappointed me every time. I'm pretty anal about my baked goods, tho.

[Feb2003]

not everyone around here is crazy about the coconut flavor so we use both the expellar pressed from TT and the gold label. We cook all the time in the EPCO since it has no flavor and still gives us some benefits. I save the Gold EVCO for raw uses (like coconut oil 'candy') and cosmetic uses.

HTH

[Fi'sMom]

I use Garden of Life's CO.... Every morning I mix 2 Tbsp. of it with 2 scoops of Garden of Life's Perfect Food green powder and 1/4 c. almond butter. I also fry my eggs in it and spread it on Ezekiel toast. It makes me feel awesome!

[SweetSurrender]

We use it for lots of things from sautéing veggies, eggs, or meat to baking with it. I'm with the other poster who mentioned using the flavorless kind sometimes when sautéing veggies because I don't like all my veggies tasting like coconut. I know it's not quite as healthy as the cold pressed unrefined kind but it's better than not using it at all IMO. I do bake with it al lot and personally, I have had very good results. I will say that I prefer to use butter for pie crusts though as they come out flakier. Half & half butter and coconut oil is a decent substitute as well. Hubby & I also use it as our deodorant and we love it! It works better than the natural deodorants i have tried and costs way less plus you have the benefit of the coconut oil seeping into your skin. Since EVCO is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, etc, it kills the odor causing bacteria. It can be used by itself but I find it more effective when mixed with a bit of baking soda & potato starch or arrowroot powder. It makes a nice paste (except in the summer when the coconut oil rises to the surface but I just dig a little deeper to get the rest. Oh and it's also great as a diaper ointment...works wonderfully on rashes since it kills the bacteria and moisturizes!

[Arduinna]

I love using it in baking. I use it in my chocolate cake and carrot cake recipes and it's great. I am careful in using it for rice pilaf because it can overpower and effect the balance of flavors in the dish.