There are some things you need to consider before buying coconut oil.
Money can buy almost anything, but money cannot guarantee that what you are buying is genuine; neither can money decide where to buy from, how much to buy, at what cost to buy and when to buy. All these have to be decided by the buyer himself and this makes him confused. Same rules apply when you want to buy coconut oil. Won’t it be nice if there was a guide which could tell you all these and help you make the right choice and get the value for your money. If you do not find such as guide, here is one (although not that elaborate) which could be quite a helping hand. So, here we go.
- Why to buy? First of all, you need to decide why you need to buy coconut oil, i.e. where you are going to use it. There are many to choose from, such as Pure Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil and Organic Coconut Oil. Your choice should be based on your need, i.e. whether you want it for edible purposes or as a carrier oil to be used in aromatherapy or for massaging or for weight loss or for medicinal purposes etc. etc.
- What to buy? There are different varieties for different purposes. Given below is a list of such purposes and the type of coconut oil to buy.
Purpose-----------Preferable Type to Buy
Cooking--------------Refined Coconut Oil
Weight Loss----------Virgin Coconut Oil
As a Carrier Oil------Virgin Coconut Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil
Good Health----------Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Oil
Massaging------------Pure Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil
Hair-------------------Pure Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil
Medicinal uses-------Virgin Coconut Oil, Virgin Organic Coconut Oil
Further, before you buy coconut oil, it should be kept in mind that for edible and therapeutic uses, the Refined Coconut Oil is the fittest since it is hygienic and clean. The Unrefined Coconut Oil is good for external applications to hair and skin only.
- Where to buy from? Except some of the special varieties, such as Virgin Coconut Oil and the Organic Coconut Oil, the others like the Pure Coconut Oil and the Refined Coconut Oil are easy available with most of the grocers now a days, at least in India. For special ones, you need to search the big departmental stores or sometimes a drug store too. Things may be a little different in countries which do not produce coconut oil or where it is not easily available. Obviously, to buy coconut oil there, you need to visit big grocers. But wherever you are, buy it from a reputed and permanent shop. There are many websites over the internet from where you can order and buy coconut oil, but be careful not to pay them unless they deliver the right thing at your doorstep. You may try e_Bay or Amazon (if they are selling it). They are trusted ones.
- Which brand to buy? No problem if somebody in your village extracts coconut oil (quite normal in Philippines, Thailand, Burma, India, Sri Lanka etc.) and you know him well or see him expelling. But when you are to buy coconut oil in packs, go for the reliable and the reputed brand. Read the contents carefully. Watch the manufacturing date (although Coconut Oil has a very long shelf life, still, the fresher the better).
- How much to pay? Now, this is really a difficult question to answer. The price of coconut oil depends on many factors such as its availability (cheaper where it is produced and dearer otherwise, further dearer if ordered via phone, internet etc.), demand, variety (the Refined one costs least, followed by the Fractionated, the Virgin, the Organic and the Organic Virgin Coconut oils etc.), brand, quantity (buying in bulk costs a little less), packaging etc.
- How much to buy? Buy only that much what you can consume in short time (if is easily available there and if you don’t need a lot at a time), because despite the fact that coconut oil does not go rancid for a long, it is not wise to store it unnecessarily. Better go for fresh lot each time.
- Storage: After you buy coconut oil, the next question comes to your mind is that of storage. So, if you have opened the pack, always use containers with tight lid and broader mouth (it is going to be difficult getting it out of the plastic bottles in winters) so that you can scoop it out with a spoon. Keeping it sealed or lidded is necessary because there are other admirers of coconut oil (ants, cockroaches, other insects and rodents just love it!). You can also keep it in refrigerator as Coconut Butter, no harm. Try to avoid plastic containers (more so in hot climate). That’s all.
Hope that will of some help to you. Got any better suggestions? Just contribute. Thanks!
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This article is contributed by Aparup Mukherjee.
Sources of Information:
• Reports of Coconut Development Board of India,
• Reports of KERAFED.
• Text books of various courses of agriculture.
• Various other reports on internet.
