Coconut oil, or copra oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It has various applications. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidification, lasting up to six months at 24 °C (75 °F) without spoiling.
It is very common in Nigeria . This oil which used to be just for people in the remote places right now is being used by all.
How it is produced
Break the coconuts with a heavy blunt object.
When done, pry out the coconut meat from the coconut shell with a knife. (Once the coconut is mature, the coconut meat should come out of the shell easily.)
Rinse the pieces of coconut thoroughly and cut them into small pieces to help your blender.
Blend the coconuts with warm water.
Pour in a sieve to separate the coconut milk from the chaff.
Then press with your hands to squeeze out the last drop.
Grind the chaff a second time to get more coconut milk.
Use a sieve with a finer mesh to remove the tiniest particles from the coconut milk.
When done, cover the bowl of coconut milk and keep it
The next morning, you will see that the coconut oil has separated from the water and caked beautifully on top like a frozen lake.
Take the caked white coconut oil and place in a clean dry stainless steel pot. (The water remaining in the bowl still has some coconut taste and can be used to boil White Rice, prepare Jollof Coconut Rice, White Coconut Rice and any other recipe that calls for coconut milk.)
Cover the pot and start cooking on low to medium heat. Cook till you notice some charred coconut bits in the oil.
Set the pot aside so the coconut oil can cool down to a comfortable temperature.
Sieve with a chiffon cloth or a cheese cloth to remove the charred bits. If you still notice any charred bits in the sieved coconut oil, sieve again with a paper towel.
Store in your cupboard and use when you wish.
That’s it! Use coconut oil for cooking, for your hair and body.
Uses/Storage
Unlike most other oils, coconut oil has a high melting point – about 24 to 25 degrees Celsius or 76-78 Fahrenheit. Therefore, it is solid at room temperature and melts only when the temperature rises considerably. It is often in this form, and obviously, don’t keep it in your refrigerator.
If you are using coconut oil for topical purposes, especially hair care, just melt the oil (if it is solid) by keeping the bottle in the sun or soaking it in warm water. You can also take some oil out and put it in a small bowl and heat the bowl over a flame (don’t use a microwave). Then, take the oil on your palm and apply it to your hair.
If you want to use it for internal consumption, simply replace butter or vegetable oils with coconut oil in your recipes. Remember, you don’t need to completely switch to coconut oil because then you will lose other benefits of more traditional oils and dairy products.
Benefits
Hair Care(natural hair trend)
Skin Care
Weight Loss(keto diet)
Improves Immunity
Boosts Digestion
Dental Care
Prevents Candida
Speeds Up Healing
Keeping Organs Healthy
Hope this will be of some help to you. Your comments are welcome!