In my quest to find a virtually tasteless and odorless cooking oil, I remembered the words of our darling Editor in Chief, Jess.
"Recently, I have been experimenting with coconut oil. It's great for making popcorn and for roasting vegetables. It is very solid so it might be a good substitute for recipes that call for shortening".
I went shopping for coconut oil. I don't think I found a small jar under $7.00. Kinda steep for my purse, especially if I don't like it and can't use it. Anyway, I don't want my vegetables and popcorn reeking with the scent and taste of coconut.
While shopping at Dollar Tree I saw a 7 oz. jar of coconut oil. I figured, for a buck, what have I got to lose. While I haven't cooked with it yet, I have smelled and tasted the oil. Well, not really. That's because it has virtually no smell or taste. Yea!
I will have my new stove tomorrow. Now how can I use that coconut oil? A white layer coconut cake. Egg yolk and coconut just don't get it. Gotta be white layers. Light white layers. They're made light by beating the egg whites into a stiff meringue and folding it into the batter.
Soggy? Sorta. I drizzle coconut milk with a pinch of sugar over the layers before putting on the icing. Beyond delicious.
Today while grocery shopping, I saw a package of gouda cheese marked down as a closeout. $1.49. I had never tasted gouda cheese. I thought now would be a good time to find out just how it tasted. I love it!
This stuff has a very rich buttery flavor, totally different from any other cheese I've tasted. While I like cheddar, this has it beat by a country mile. My next baked mac and cheese will have this as the main cheese along with American. I'll reserve the cheddar to mix with panko for a baked topping.
And to think, had it not been marked down, I would have never known just what a delicious cheese it is.
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I bought the exact same jar of coconut oil. I figured that it did not say food quality - so probably isn't. How do you know it is OK to eat and cook with?
Janet,
Your question caused me to realize just how much we take things for granted. You are right, this oil is not labeled 'food grade'. And too, coconut oil is used in many non edible products.
I'm taking for granted that this particular oil is food grade. It was shelved in the food section of the store. Also, it's label lists it's nutrition facts (a government requirement). To date, I have never see nutrition facts listed on non edible products.
I can't advise about cooking with your purchase but I have been using coconut oil for years to remove makeup, especially eyeliner and mascara. Lasts forever and works great.
12/21/2019
I am still using this product as a cooking oil and I am still satisfied with it. I don't think it was ever fully established (in this post) that it wa an edible product.
Here, I go a bit farther.
Amazon sells this product from its Grocery and Gourmet Food page.
The label lists the nutritive values 'per serving', indicating it will be consumed.
The product is said to be 100% pure. Coconut is edible. If a 100% pure oil is derived from edible coconut, that oil should be edible as well.
Lastly, I can walk down the cooking oil isle from which I get this oil and see many other cooking oils, corn, canola (rape), safflower, peanut, walnut and others. Not one states that the oil is an edible form. I'm sure the manufacturers aren't required to do so as it is obvious, they are.
As many edible products have cosmetic, medicinal and industrial applications and are processed differently according to how the end product is to be used, it is not unreasonable to question the intended use of such products when they are known to be used in edible as well as non edible forms.
What with all the rules and regulations imposed by the FDA and the laws pertaining to truth in labeling, we still might have to employ a bit of trust (and common sense) when making our purchases. If I take a bunch of bananas from the produce stand, I don't expect it to be labeled 'Edible', but I do expect it to be.
Great tips .. I have to see what I can find when I go to the store. Thanks for the tips & Happy New Year to you.
This is the kind we buy in bulk at our local Amish bulk store. We put a heaping spoonful on our dogs food and it keeps her coat soft and shiny and stops her skin from drying out.
I always try new products when on the mark down shelf. I have been doing this for years. Ones I personal don't need or use I make baskets for my family . I made a Xmas basket for my son's cat and he was delighted with the choices ( his cost would have been $14.00 my cost was $3.40) I do grocery shopping like going on a treasure hunt.
I use coconut oil for oil pulling. If you put about a tablespoon in your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 minutes, then spit it out (not down the drain!) into a papertowel or outside, it draws toxins out of your mouth and throat, and it helps whiten your teeth.
I pour the liquid oil in a small plastic ice cube tray, let it harden in the fridge, and then store the cubes in a plastic bag in the fridge.
It can be used on your skin as a moisturizer.
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