How is Wilderness Family Naturals virgin coconut oil different from the other virgin coconut oils?
Our virgin coconut oils experience very little heat during processing. The centrifuged virgin coconut oil is exposed to maximum temperatures of 25 degrees C (about 78.8 degrees F) and the cold-pressed coconut oil is processed at about 98.6° F or 37° C. Neither oil is exposed to extremely "low" or high temperatures.
Most coconut oils sold by other companies are made using processes that require heat. For example, other traditional fermentation coconut oil, claim they use "low heat", when in reality they heat their coconut oil to 200° for 2 hours during their final processing step. Since a finger stuck in 200° water would suffer first degree burns, many people do not consider this low heat. Other coconut oils are made by drying coconut to create a standard desiccated coconut. Standard drying of coconut exposes the flakes to temperatures of 180° Fahrenheit for at least 20 minutes. Then the desiccated coconut is pressed with an expeller press. The pressure increases the temperature of the oil once again to levels over 200°. Unlike the above oils, all Wilderness Family Naturals' virgin coconut oils are raw, and never heated.
Heated virgin coconut oil tend to have a stronger almost toasted coconut taste. That is why many chefs select roasted oils. When oils are heated it enhances their flavor. Because our coconut oils are completely raw, the coconut flavor is very mild, smooth and subtle.
The free fatty acid content and moisture content are very low in our virgin coconut oils. Wilderness Family Naturals has evaluated over 50 different Virgin Coconut Oils and carry what they feel are the two best Virgin Coconut Oils available. This evaluation is based on the fatty acid content, the moisture content, the temperatures used during processing, the laboratory analysis, organic certification, and the flavor.
How is Virgin Coconut Oil different than regular coconut oil found in many stores?
Virgin coconut oils are made from the first pressing of fresh coconut without the addition of any chemicals.
Expeller pressed coconut oils that are found in most health food stores are much less expensive. They are produced on a large scale and made from copra. Copra is naturally dried coconut meat that becomes slightly rancid as it is air dried or smoke dried. Flies may land on it and mold spores may start to grow on the copra as it drys. If copra is quickly dried then an outside smoking pit is used which covers the copra with soot.
The oil pressed from the copra could have solvent used during the extraction process. The original oil made from the copra is called crude coconut oil and is labeled "not fit for human consumption."
Once the oil is pressed from the dried flesh it must be refined with lye, bleached with acid and alkaline clays, and then deodorized at high heat with a vacuum (steam distilled). This RBD process not only removes the bad taste and smell from the original rancid oil, but it also removes much of the nutrients and nutritional components. This RBD oil is mass produced and the oil is cheap to buy. It is a bland, odorless, colorless oil that retains most of the triglycerides of the original coconut, but it is missing the flavors and quality that is intact in Wilderness Family Natural's Virgin Coconut Oils.
How should I store my Virgin Coconut Oil? Does it need to be refrigerated?
Because Wilderness Family Naturals' coconut oil has such low moisture content, no break down products or contaminants, it is very stable. Therefore, it is not necessary to refrigerate this oil.
If you do refrigerate coconut oil it will become "hard as a rock" and you will need to warm the oil in order to scoop any out of the jar. The most important thing to consider when deciding how you will store your coconut oil is to keep it out of direct sunlight or high heat. I would not recommend a damp place such as moist basements. Over time, with repeated exposure to mold spores, you may get some growth in the oil. The best place to store coconut oil is a cupboard or closet that does not become overly hot in the summer.
A pantry, closet or shelf in your kitchen will work fine. At room temperature, your virgin coconut oil will easily last 2 years in your pantry. The manufacturers say it has a 3 year shelf life.
How much coconut oil should a person ingest?
The research done by Dr. Mary Enig and Dr. John Kabara in the US and Dr. Dayrit in the Philippines used 3 1/2 tablespoons per day. Some people have eaten as much as 8 tablespoons a day for extended lengths of time. Others use only a few teaspoons a day. Coconut oil is a food not a supplement or a drug so there is no real "dosage".
Is your coconut oil organic?
Yes, our coconut oil is organic.
At this time, all of Wilderness Family Naturals' coconut oils are organically certified by Internation Certification Services.
How do I use this coconut oil?
You may substitute this coconut oil for any of the other oils you currently use. This coconut oil greatly enhances the flavor of baked goods, making them mouth wateringly good.
If you store this oil on top of your hot water heater it will always be a liquid for you. If you keep it where it is cooler, it will always be a solid. Some people use solid coconut oil as a butter substitute and the liquid oil as a cooking oil. Some, who do not like the strong coconut taste, mix the coconut oil with olive, natural palm oil or butter for cooking. Sometimes they mix it with a nut-butter (like peanut, almond, or cashew butter) for a spread.
Some people who want to make sure they get several tablespoons of coconut oil each day add the coconut oil to their smoothies or green food drinks. Others just eat it off the spoon.
Is it safe to fry foods with virgin coconut oil?
Yes, coconut oil is the most stable of all the oils. It has the longest shelf life and can withstand the highest temperatures of all available oils. This oil will not form trans-fatty acids, oxidize, nor breakdown at high temperature.
Do I still need to worry about essential fatty acids?
The uniqueness of coconut oil is found in its medium chain fatty acids. Though coconut oil supplies a healthy body with a large amount of medium chain fatty acids there are no essential fatty acids in coconut oil.
Essential fatty acids are needed by the body in small amounts and they must come through the diet. These fatty acids will need to be found in other foods.
Does your coconut oil see any heat?
Both of Wilderness Family Naturals virgin coconut oils are raw oils and never exposed to heat above 40 degrees C. Both virgin coconut oils can be considered raw.
Only our certified organic expeller pressed coconut oil is exposed to heat. It is a semi-refined oil, so there is no coconut taste.
Is this oil partially hydrogenated or can it become partially hydrogenated?
Coconut oil is a very stable oil, and it is not readily attacked or hydrogenated. It contains mostly saturated medium length fatty acids (64-74%) that will not and cannot form trans-fatty acids or oxidize.
To partially hydrogenate coconut oil would take a powered nickel catalyst like the hydrogenation processors use and high heat along with hydrogen gas. This will not happen in your kitchen. When you see partially hydrogenated coconut or palm oil listed as an ingredient on a label, it is usually the palm oil that is hydrogenated and not the coconut oil. However, the 0-2% of fatty acids in coconut oil that are poly-unsaturated can theoretically be partially hydrogenated in a hydrogenation laboratory. This would then yield a small amount of transfats. But this cannot happen in your kitchen.
Can I order this virgin coconut oil delivered faster than regular ground delivery?
Yes, when you are ordering from Wilderness Family Naturals online just select the type of shipping you would like. If you would prefer to send in a money order or check give US a call and we will look up shipping charges for you.
Toll free order line is 1-800-945-3801
Question line is 1-800-945-3801.
Certified Organic, Virgin,
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