For most types of oils, storage in a dark, dry place at a cool temperature is best. In the case of coconut oil, it can be stored at room temperature without any problems. But here it is important to remember one thing: The consistency of coconut oil will also depend on the storage temperature. For example, at a temperature of 24 degrees and above, it will become liquid. In cooler conditions, this oil will have a jelly-like form, while in the refrigerator it will become hard and dense.

Why does all this need to be taken into account? Well, firstly, from the point of view of convenience: if you often use it, then, of course, it is more convenient to keep it in liquid form. Secondly, in solid form, it is not suitable for cosmetic purposes, in particular for application to the skin.

2. Does temperature affect the duration of its storage?

Not really, if we take equal conditions (of course, if you store it in outright heat, it will deteriorate faster). However, a dark, dry and cool place is still the best option. If the place is warm but humid, chances are it will shorten the shelf life of the coconut oil.

At what temperature does coconut oil melt?

As mentioned earlier, it melts at room temperature and above.

3. Store it at a constant temperature

This, again, will have a positive effect on his term. Also, don't keep oil in the bath, as fluctuations in temperature and humidity can significantly shorten its shelf life.

If it is in your refrigerator when you take it out, do not keep it outside for a long time, otherwise it will become unusable sooner. If you use it often, then just store it in a dark and cool place.

4. Keep it away from direct sunlight

Direct sunlight can speed up the deterioration of the oil. Therefore, do not leave it under the sun - it is best to keep it in a dark place.

5. Store in a clean, dry container

Well, it's kind of obvious. In addition, the oil container must be tightly closed. Also remember that you also need to take a portion of oil from the “common boiler” only with a dry and clean spoon or fork (well, or whatever else).

If liquid or food particles get into the oil, it may become moldy.

If you bought it in large quantities, it may be more convenient to melt it in a large saucepan so that it has a uniform consistency, and then pour it into small containers.

Most brands claim a shelf life of up to 2 years for refined oil, and up to 4 years for unrefined (Extra Virgin). True, if you know how to store it correctly (as we talked about above), then its shelf life can even be increased.

7. How can you tell if coconut oil has gone bad?

First, just look at it carefully: if it seems “discolored” or traces of mold are visible on its surface, it means that it is already unusable.

Of course, sometimes they say that you can just remove the mold, and everything will be fine. The problem here is that it is difficult to determine how deep the mold has penetrated into the oil.

If everything looks like a bunch of oil, first smell it, then taste it. If the smell is bad, then throw it away! If it smells normal, then it's up to the taste - if it's normal, then the oil is still good!

Now you know how to store at home. Moreover, this applies to all brands, whether they are from India or Thailand.

Natural home cosmetics have been very popular among women and men for several years in a row. To date, there are many recipes for preparing skin and hair products, but not everyone knows how to extend their validity. In modern times, more and more people use exotic products, so this article will tell you how to store coconut oil and how to use it correctly. Thanks to the observance of elementary rules, you can forever forget about the problems with expensive ingredients and products that are necessary for self-care for both women and men.

In fact, you can figure out how to store and use coconut oil quite quickly, because there is nothing complicated about it. This oil is actively used to preserve beauty and maintain health. It is used not only for external, but also for internal use. But in order to get the maximum effect, you need to know how to handle this product.

Composition and properties

Before you learn how to store coconut oil, you should understand its composition and properties. The product is obtained from copra, that is, the dried pulp of nuts. The composition of the oil includes the following acids:

• lauric;
• nylon;
• myristic;
• oleic;
• capric;
• palmitic;
• stearic.

Everyone should definitely know how to store coconut oil at home, because it can come in handy in various situations and help solve even those problems that expensive pharmacy products cannot cope with.

The product is obtained by cold or hot pressing. With the first method, almost all useful substances are preserved, although it is worth noting that the product yield is not so great. The second method makes it possible to achieve complete extraction of fats, which significantly reduces the cost and, consequently, efficiency.

Oil selection

How to store coconut oil will be described in detail below, but before that, you need to understand the basic rules for choosing a product.

First of all, you should know that oil can be both refined and unrefined. Almost everyone knows how to store and use type 1 coconut oil, because it helps to cope with hair problems. The second option is more preferable as a skin care product.

Really high-quality refined oil is transparent and does not have a particularly pronounced aroma. If the product is unprocessed, then it will be distinguished by a golden hue and the smell of fresh coconut. And in the case when the product has a poisonous yellow tint, the oil is considered unsuitable for use.

How to store coconut oil

The advantage of the product is that it is not too capricious. But, despite this, you should still follow certain rules indicating how to store coconut oil at home. Follow the recommendations detailed below, and the product will perform its functions for a long time.

But it should be noted that even knowing how to properly store coconut oil, you should not buy it in large quantities. After all, the fresher the product, the more benefits it will bring. Following from this, it will be much more profitable to purchase a new portion of oil when it is needed, and not stock up immediately for several years in advance.

How temperature affects storage time

Now it's time to learn how to store oil (coconut), and the first thing to understand is the fact that the product should always be in a dark and dry place at room temperature. The consistency of the oil directly depends on it. So, at 24 degrees or more, it will become liquid, and in colder conditions it will acquire a jelly-like form or completely harden.

It is necessary to take into account all these nuances in order to make the oil more convenient to use. After all, with regular use, it is best to keep it in liquid form. In addition, you should also not forget that, having acquired a solid form, the oil will be unsuitable for use even for cosmetic purposes.

The temperature does not affect the shelf life of the product much, but you should not keep it in hot conditions either, because in this case it will deteriorate much faster. The best option would be a dark, cool and dry place.

It is recommended to store coconut oil at a constant temperature, so that it will keep in a normal state for a long time. Do not store the product in the bathroom, because there are temperature fluctuations, which will shorten the shelf life.

In the event that the oil is stored in the refrigerator, then it should not be kept outside for too long when used. If the oil is used often enough, then it is best to place it in a dark and cool place.

Direct sunlight significantly accelerates the process of spoilage of the product. Therefore, it must be kept exclusively in a dark place.

In what dishes and how to store coconut oil

Unfortunately, not all people understand even the elementary rules of storage. Keep coconut oil only in dry containers, which should be tightly closed with a lid. In addition, you also need to separate part of the oil for use from the total amount with a clean spoon, knife, fork, and so on.

If liquid gets into the product, you can soon expect mold to appear on its surface, after which there is no longer a desire to use it for medicinal purposes.

If the oil is purchased in large quantities, it should be melted immediately to obtain a uniform consistency. Then this mixture must be poured into several containers and stored at different temperatures.

Shelf life

Refined and unrefined oil is now produced by many industries, each of which guarantees its own shelf life. As a rule, for the first option, the period of use is set to two years, for the second - up to four. Although it is worth noting that, subject to the storage rules, you can even slightly increase this period.

spoiled butter

Obviously, if the product is already gone, then no storage recommendations will help restore it. First of all, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the oil. If it seems somehow discolored or there are traces of mold on its surface, then this means that the product is completely unsuitable for use.

Many people think that you can simply remove the mold and after that the product will be fresh, but in fact this is not the case. It will not be possible to determine how deeply the mold has penetrated into the oil without a special examination, so it is better not to risk it. Otherwise, instead of a healing effect, you can get yourself a bunch of other problems.

Coconut oil is one of the few natural remedies that impresses with its versatility. In recent years, his popularity has increased dramatically, and I am also among his fans - I always have it in my house.

I use it most often for cosmetic purposes - to moisturize the skin and nourish the hair. But a wide range of uses allows it to be used in medicine, cooking, and even household needs - for example, to polish wooden furniture.

Interesting? Then I will continue and tell you how to choose, how to properly use and how to store coconut oil so that it does not lose its beneficial properties.

How coconut natural product is produced

The oil is made from fresh, dried coconut meat, which can then be subjected to two types of processing in a special press(mechanical or manual):

• hot pressing(or by a chemical method using acids and alkalis) - a refined, completely purified oil is obtained, including most of its useful nutritional components. The product is practically colorless and odorless, suitable for use in the confectionery industry or soap making.

• cold pressing(cold pressed) - the most useful and high-quality product is obtained. It is processed in a more delicate and gentle way, with the preservation of all useful properties. But the price is also very different. This product is suitable for both food and cosmetic purposes. It is he who is most often searched for on store shelves by inscriptions. "Virgin", "Extra Virgin" or "Cold Pressed Oil".

This product can be found in specialized stores and regular supermarkets, but tourists often bring their own coconut oil from Thailand or other warm countries, it is cheaper. If we compare the products of different manufacturers in terms of quality, they differ little, but the price, for example, for Vietnamese coconut oil is lower than the rest, so it is more in demand.

What does natural coconut oil look like?

What does coconut oil look like? There are two types.

Natural refined product:

• the consistency is white or slightly yellowish;
• It has a rich sweet nutty aroma.

Natural unrefined product (hot processed):

• translucent consistency with small patches of white;
• practically odorless.

If you purchased this product and don't know why the coconut oil has thickened, it's likely that the temperature in the room where it was kept was below 25°C.

To melt coconut oil, you can:

• put a jar with the product on a hot battery;
• lower the container with the product in a glass of warm water or substitute it under a hot stream from the tap;
• warm up in a water bath;
• warm up the vial with your own hands, holding or rubbing it between your palms for 5-10 minutes.

In any case, even when using the oil in solid form, it immediately begins to melt on contact with your skin. Regardless of whether the oil is liquid or solid in consistency, it has the same properties that are lost due to improper storage and expiration date.

In no case should you use a microwave oven to melt a thick white mass, as it destroys the molecular bonds of the oil. Subsequently, this product loses all its useful properties and becomes "empty".

properties of coconut oil

High quality cold pressed coconut oil enriched with useful ingredients:

• vitamins;
• amino acids;
• minerals.

Due to this, when used externally, the oil improves the appearance of the skin, and when used internally, the general condition of the body.

coconut oil refers to the main base oils, which allows you to use it in its pure form, and in combination with various essential oils.

Application for cosmetic purposes effective as:

• massage tools;
• facilitating the course of fungal and other skin diseases;
• moisturizing and nourishing the skin and hair, increasing their firmness and elasticity;
• even tanning products;
• burn protection;
• additional funds in the fight against stretch marks and cellulite;
• anti-aging agent in the fight against mimic and age wrinkles.

Liquid coconut oil can be added during frying, baking and stewing foods.

When eating oil:

• contributes to the improvement work of the cardiovascular system;
• reduces the risk occurrence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• supports and strengthens immune system;
• restores water balance in the body;
• has antimicrobial, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties;
• speeds up metabolic processes in the body, reduces the risk of obesity;
• reduces the risk of disease musculoskeletal system and teeth;
• increases calcium absorption.

Always pay attention to the shelf life of coconut oil - from Thailand and other countries it is about the same: for food - up to six months, for use in cosmetology - up to a year. The presence of a preservative in the composition of a natural product is undesirable, but it allows you to extend the suitability of the product up to two years.

5 rules for storing coconut oil

In order for all the described properties to fully manifest themselves, it is important to monitor the freshness of the products. How to properly store coconut oil:

1. If the factory packaging is not tightly closed, it is worth pouring the product into a more suitable container, preferably made of glass or thick plastic.
2. Hold capacity with coconut oil away from direct sunlight, you can even give it a separate place in the cabinet.
3. Optimum temperature for natural product storage - from +5 to +25 °C. Try not to freeze the oil and keep it in rooms with excessively high humidity and temperature.
4. No need to renew oil shelf life. If you place it in a freezer - during long-term storage at low temperatures, the product may lose some of its properties.
5. To avoid oxidation and rancidity natural remedy, always tightly close the lid of the container in which it is stored.

It is very important to locate, where to store coconut oil after opening would be safest:

• tight-closing cabinet in the bathroom;
• dressing table away from the window;
• shelf in the refrigerator;
• shelf in kitchen cabinet.

Try not to buy natural products in large quantities, otherwise you risk not having time to use it before the expiration date. It is better to purchase each time a similar natural product in a small amount, but fresh and safe.

Conclusion

I have long appreciated the natural qualities of coconut oil. But you also need to be aware of possible allergic reactions. Therefore, before starting external use, be sure to apply the product first on a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin to avoid possible itching, irritation or rash.

The video in this article will help you visually study the properties and use of coconut oil. I will be happy to read about your experience with oils in the comments and answer all questions there.