Cooking and Baking with Coconut Oil?

Updated on April 13, 2012
J.B. asks from Boston, MA
8 answers

Does anyone cook or bake with coconut oil? I'm trying to get away from my habit of cooking with olive oil (saving that for dressings, marinades and drizzling but not high heat) and figure if I'm going to have coconut oil around to saute with, I might as well learn to bake with it.

So I understand that for cooking/baking if the oil is over 76 degrees it will be liquid, so I just sub for other oils (or melted butter) in equal proportions, right? What about subbing for butter in baking? If I use it while room temp under 76 (so solid but not brick hard) can I use it in place of butter? Does it change the texture and volume of baked goods? I don't think I'll try this with pastry or frosting but for something like cookies, has anyone tried this an had it worked?

I appreciate any tips you can share. Also, can anyone recommend a good quality brand that's widely available and not a fortune? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone! I'll try it in my next batch of cookies and see how it goes.

@ Sarah L updated research has shown that saturated fats are not the evil that they were made out to be 20 years ago. There are a lot of articles on this on-line if you're interested - here is one that I like because it's straightforward and doesn't try to sell the readers anything: http://www.truthaboutabs.com/unhealthy-vs-healthy-cooking...

The gist of it is that for high-heat cooking, it's best to use a more stable, saturated fat vs something less stable, which breaks down and oxidizes when heated, which can cause health issues. I've read this many times in many places over the fast few years and am finally just going to go ahead and change things up a bit and see what happens. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

More Answers

S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

I cook with coconut oil as I would olive oil. Melts down in the pan just the same. And it smells DIVINE! My husband stuck his finger in the jar once because obviously it has to taste as good raw as it smells, right? Um, no.

I notice I do have to use a little more coconut oil to cook with than I did olive oil. Takes more to coat the pan it seems.

I have never baked with it.

I use Garden of Life Coconut Oil. Never disappointed. I find it at my local health food store.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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N.D.

answers from Springfield on

Just remember that coconut oil can separate so you may need to be careful if it melts and then re-hardens. I make soap with it and my local Walmart no longer carries it... does anyone know an economical source (no shipping fees) for coconut oil or which supermarket chains still carry it? I live in Ware, Ma. Thanks, Nat

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B.R.

answers from Springfield on

I've used coconut oil as a one-to-one substitution for oil when baking brownies. Makes the brownies smell great and they have a slight coconut taste. Added to the chocolate it's just yummy!

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L.P.

answers from New York on

Put coconut oil into refrigerator to get to a solid and then measure. Use 3/4 of the recommended amount in the recipe. It is great for cookies and making brownies. OH, guess what!!! It is awesome on popcorn instead of butter. The brand I use is Tresomega Nutrition. I buy it at Sams.com or Amazon.com. Good Luck and Enjoy.

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S.I.

answers from Boston on

It is a fine substitute for butter, but remember that it is a solid fat at room temp, thus saturated. Keep your habit of using olive oil whenever possible! It is a far healthier fat for you. People who eat gallons of olive oil in their diet are generally much more heart healthy (e.g. Mediterranean diet).

P.L.

answers from Chicago on

Never cooked with it, I'm making soap with coconut oil, and of course other oils....maybe I should try.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi JB,

I havent tried baking with it because most baked goods are sweet and my husband is diabetic...I do saute and baste, etc with it though. It's really good for him as it lowers blood sugar. I use the Vitamin Shoppe brand. It's a high quality and it's relatively inexpensive...

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J.C.

answers from Hartford on

Go online to Vitacost.com. I got the nutiva organic, 54 oz for under $25. $5 to ship or free shipping on over $49. It is great. I thought, "it is such a big container, I will never use it all". Wrong - I use it for all cooking and baking, popcorn, so yummy! and on my skin instead of lotion.

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