First, don’t be afraid of coconut oil! Yes, the experts warn against using an oil that’s a solid at room temperature the way coconut oil is, but keep in mind that it really is good for you and that the experts are going to change their minds the day after tomorrow. Indeed, it looks like they already have.
The fact is that people have been cooking with coconut oil for centuries. Since it is rather high in calories, with about 120 calories a tablespoon, you might not want to use it for cooking frequently. But it’s just the thing for special occasion baking and has its own health benefits besides. For example, coconut oil has lauric acid, a medium chain triglyceride which helps to raise the good or HDL cholesterol in the blood. It also supports the health of the thyroid and the digestive system. These health benefits are why it’s good to cook with.
Coconut oil turns out to be really superb in baking, especially if you’re making pies. Since pie crust dough needs to be to be kept cold, you might use the coconut oil while it’s still solid, the way you would use that other solid vegetable shortening. It gives not only pies but cookies and cakes an unbeatable mouth feel. You might also want to use it semi-melted when you make pancakes and waffles.
Another great thing to use coconut oil for is to stir-fry or saute vegetables. This also brings out their best flavor, and in the case of bitter greens like dandelion greens or kale it takes the edge off the bitterness. In this case, the coconut oil is best used if it’s liquified. Just warm a dab in a little saute pan or heat up the jar for a half a minute or so in the microwave. It just needs to reach a little under 80 degrees F to melt. Moreover, coconut oil can go from liquid to solid and back with no deterioration in its taste or nutritional value. Use it in the same proportion that you’d use other cooking oils.
It’s also one of those oils than can stand high heat in the pan without deteriorating, so that makes it great for stir frying where the pan needs to be screaming hot. Try to use extra-virgin organic oil, and avoid those oils which are hydrogenated. Those are the ones that gave coconut oil it’s bad reputation!