How to properly store coconut oil?
In the modern world, coconut oil began to be extracted relatively recently. And after the appearance on the market, it began to be actively used in the cosmetic field: it is used as a natural hair mixture or a treatment for unhealthy skin. But after buying a jar of coconut oil, many begin to make storage mistakes. It is worth considering how to store coconut oil so that it retains all the micronutrients for a long time.
Beneficial features
To begin with, it is worth considering the positive qualities of coconut oil, namely:
- this oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids, organic compounds, monobasic saturated carboxylic acids - these are very important elements that the human body needs;
- coconut oil contains strong antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, as well as phosphorus and calcium;
- this product controls that the level of cholesterol in the blood does not exceed acceptable levels;
- it contains substances that prevent the appearance of fungi, viruses or other inflammatory diseases;
- with the help of this oil, acute inflammatory processes can be cured, including dermatitis that occurs after an allergy;
- after applying the mask from the coconut mixture on the head, the hair becomes soft and silky;
- the same mask can be applied to dried skin, giving it tenderness and ductility;
- coconut mixture can be eaten during a diet, because it additionally contributes to natural weight loss;
- this product has practically no contraindications; if coconut is still not suitable for your body, then it is better to refuse it.
In China and India, it is extracted from the insides of a coconut and added to food, since the rest of the oils are not very common in the countries of the East. In Russia, coconut oil is rarely added to food, and it is less common as a dietary supplement. In our country, housewives are accustomed to using it as a nourishing mixture for hair.
How to choose?
The choice of this product should be taken very carefully. Buy it only at reputable points: large pharmacies, large supermarkets, or in stores specially created for the sale of coconut oil.
If you have gone on a tourist trip to countries where coconut palms grow, do not purchase oil from passerby sellers. Usually these are bright jars that attract the eye of the buyer, but the quality of such oil rarely meets the standards. And there is no guarantee that these merchants store their products correctly.
Before you buy, carefully look at the color of the oil. Do not be afraid if in different places it is of a different color. It is extracted in different ways: by hot pressing or cold pressing, it can be purified and unrefined. The color of the product depends on these factors: a yellowish mass, milky or transparent.
Unrefined oil is much more expensive than refined oil. The fact is that it is extracted by pressing, so the final product is released very little, but it retains all the useful elements: microminerals and vitamins that are in the pulp of coconut, and also retains a pleasant smell of coconut. All these points leave their imprint on the price of the product.
Storage time
Refined oil is cheaper, as it is extracted by hot pressing. Therefore, it is possible to squeeze out more oil from the same amount of fruit. It does not smell like coconuts and loses many useful properties during cleansing. Hence the price. Pay close attention to the consistency. If you bought the oil in a pharmacy or in a room where it was rather cool, then the mass should be a little thick. It melts at a temperature of +25 degrees, so warm oil is liquid, light in color.
Storage nuances
It is worth considering how to store coconut oil after purchase: leave it in daylight or place it in a refrigerator. Coconut oil is very picky about the light, temperature, and container in which you will store it in the future.
Light
Many foods spoil in direct sunlight. And coconut oil is no exception. But on top of that, it also deteriorates from the light of an electric lamp, so this mass should be stored in a closed cabinet that does not penetrate light, or in a refrigerator.
Temperature
As mentioned above, this product can be stored both frozen and at room temperature. However, there are some peculiarities here as well. So that the oil does not disappear and does not lose its medicinal properties, the temperature in the room should not exceed +18 degrees. It can be stored in a closet if the air conditioner is constantly running in the house. But strong freezing is also contraindicated for coconut oil.
If the temperature in the refrigerator is +5 degrees, then the container with the mass can be put in the door or the far corner.
Do not store coconut oil in the freezer. This product requires individual storage conditions.
Tableware
In factories for the production of this product, it is packaged in small glass bottles the size of a medical ampoule. Therefore, you do not have to pour it into another dish after opening. There are situations when the oil is packed not in a vial, but in a jar, the lid of which opens without much effort. In this case, the mass must be poured into a container, the lid of which is tightly closed. It is important that air does not penetrate into the dishes, as upon contact with it, the mass will quickly turn sour.
Storage time
The periods during which coconut oil can be stored at home without losing its properties are always indicated on the jar in which it is sold. They must be strictly observed. The packaging often states that the product can be kept open for 1 year, but this is far from an accurate figure.
If you do not store butter in the refrigerator, then this time is significantly reduced. And if it is closed in the refrigerator, then the shelf life, on the contrary, increases.
And also do not forget about the scope of this product. If you purchased it for eating, and not for external application, then in the last few months it is no longer recommended to use it.
After placing the oil in the refrigerator, periodically check if its color has changed. If it has become dark yellow or a pungent smell has appeared, then such oil cannot be used for medicinal, cosmetic, and even more so for culinary purposes. But for domestic needs, coconut oil is ideal even after the expiration date. Experts say that it is one of the best means for polishing furniture.
Important! Do not buy the product in too large quantities, as it may spoil.It is better to buy fresh oil in small portions each time so that you do not regret the money spent later.
You can learn more about storing coconut oil in the next video.