Coconut oil brands make a difference!

[Adipocyte]

So the other day I bought Tropical Traditions EVCO, and I have been liking it. I put it in tea and made chocolate coconut bark. Today I stopped to buy more EVCO for my tea at work, and all they had was Spectrum brand expeller expressed, and it said refined. I put this in my tea and it was lousy.

If I had purchased this one first, I would not have continued. I guess I will bring this one home for cooking and get another Tropical Traditions for work.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Totally agreed.

Not all CO is created equal.

I've tried 3 or 4 different brands.

Nutiva remains my favorite.

[dointhis4me]

Maybe I should try a different brand. I am usuing Emerald Laboratories EVCO, it says it's organic from GNC. I don't really care for it but I don't know if it's the brand or if I just don't like CO at all

[binga]

Natures Way Efa Gold
organic,pure extra virgin, with 62 %MCTs
is very good
Use the Spectrum on your skin,feet

[flaminghotsauce mama]

I buy the TT in the 5 gallon bucket now. I learned that we go through it quickly. It's nearly time to get more. It lasted us a year. It's our favorite.

[lisabinil]

Here's a quote from an article by Udo Erasmus on refined versus unrefined oils.

"Cooking oils are highly processed, using manufacturing methods that are destructive to oil molecules. These practices are utilized primarily to lengthen and stabilize the shelf life of oils. Because many people are unaware of the methods used to make these oils, I thought I would offer an explanation of the cooking oil industry's manufacturing secrets.

After oils are pressed or solvent extracted from seeds and nuts, they are degummed, refined, bleached, and deodorized. The result is known as an RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized oil) and these oils, as a result, become colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Sellers recommend these oils for salads, baking, and frying.

What many people don't know is that valuable 'minor ingredients' including antioxidants, phytosterols, chlorophyll, flavor molecules, color molecules, lecithin, and other oil-soluble beneficial molecules are removed too."

"In supermarkets, all oils except extra virgin olive oil have been processed by the same destructive methods. Extra virgin olive oil, while not damaged by processing, is a poor source of essential fats, and provides less that 1% n-3 and only 10% n-6. When extra virgin olive oil is fried, it is extensively damaged. It should not be used for frying, but should be added to foods after they come off the heat. The oils that are processed with a corrosive base, window washing acid, bleaching clays, and then heated to frying temperatures before they go in the bottles include corn, safflower, soybean, canola, and the other oils found on the shelf in supermarkets, convenience stores, and even health food stores in transparent glass or plastic bottles. If oil does not say 'unrefined' on its label, it has been processed by the methods described above.

Oils made with health (rather than shelf life) in mind are pressed from organically grown seeds and nuts, protected from destruction by light, air (oxygen), and heat during pressing, filtering, and filling into dark glass bottles."

[lwcrbldy]

I tried the GNC Emerald Labs Coconut Oil first and liked it enough to continue using it, however the next brand I bought (Nutiva) was much better I thought. So yes, I agree- different brands have different qualities.

[Charski]

Another fan of Tropical Traditions here! Love their organic expeller-pressed oil - it's flavorless/odorless and great for those times you don't WANT your food to taste/smell like coconuts! Like frying eggs for example....

Love their VCO too.

And their BabySilk skin cream is the BEST!

[pepperette]

Originally Posted by Charski

Another fan of Tropical Traditions here! Love their organic expeller-pressed oil - it's flavorless/odorless and great for those times you don't WANT your food to taste/smell like coconuts! Like frying eggs for example....

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]Because of the lack of coconut flavor, I'm going to try this. Thanks Charski for the comment. I have always hated coconut, and the oil I have still tastes and smells- even in my nuked egg sub![/COLOR]

[charmcitygirl]

I have used the rexall brand EVCO from walmart and i just purchased wild oats market's EVCO. I like them both...i really like the coconut scent & light flavor...

[Tecnokitty]

Originally Posted by Adipocyte

So the other day I bought Tropical Traditions EVCO, and I have been liking it. I put it in tea and made chocolate coconut bark. Today I stopped to buy more EVCO for my tea at work, and all they had was Spectrum brand expeller expressed, and it said refined. I put this in my tea and it was lousy.

If I had purchased this one first, I would not have continued. I guess I will bring this one home for cooking and get another Tropical Traditions for work.

Agreed, I think that Spectrum stuff is NASTY! I made the same mistake cause that was all they had when I went one time. Bleck! I actually won't even cook with that stuff. I use it on my skin as a moisturizer but once it is gone I will never buy it again.

[Charski]

Originally Posted by pepperette

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]Because of the lack of coconut flavor, I'm going to try this. Thanks Charski for the comment. I have always hated coconut, and the oil I have still tastes and smells- even in my nuked egg sub![/COLOR]

Glad to help, Pepperette! My DH can't tolerate coconut smell/taste either (unless it's an Almond Joy which of course I won't let him eat any more, or my LC German Chocolate cake!) and he really loves the EPCO from TT. Hope you like it too!

[pepperette]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"] I can't even do the Almond Joy, and I hate German Chocolate cake. Me! The Chocoholic! I will be interested in the new oil- if it is good, I might try it in the OMMs, which I love. Now, oil pulling~ that is another story [/COLOR]

[Whitney_Piers]

I have the Spectrum Expeller Pressed Organic Oil and I love it.

[metqa]

Originally Posted by Adipocyte

So the other day I bought Tropical Traditions EVCO, and I have been liking it. I put it in tea and made chocolate coconut bark. Today I stopped to buy more EVCO for my tea at work, and all they had was Spectrum brand expeller expressed, and it said refined. I put this in my tea and it was lousy.

If I had purchased this one first, I would not have continued. I guess I will bring this one home for cooking and get another Tropical Traditions for work.

Spectrum does make an unrefined CO, it's like $2 more. You picked the wrong one or your store didn't offer it. The refined one is bright white, has no taste, it's like crisco. The Spectrum Unrefined CO is silky greyish white, really easy to scoop out, and smells and tastes wonderfully sweet.

I bought the unrefined Spectrum brand first, and I'm sure that's why I can eat CO at all, since I've hated the taste of coconut all my life. I bought a jar of refined CO, and it is not the same creature. It is harder, and whiter, and has no smell or taste. If you want the good taste you have to buy the unrefined, regardless of brand.

Once my store closes I won't have a source for Spectrum unrefined, since all the other stores only carry the refined version. I was thinking about switching to the unrefined Nutiva. For those who've tried different brands, is unrefined Nutiva Brand really that much better tasting than Unrefined Spectrum Brand?

P.S. I'm using the refined one as a body oil, since my BF would have a hissy fit, it I came around smelling like Coconut!

[LeanLioness]

Originally Posted by dointhis4me

Maybe I should try a different brand. I am usuing Emerald Laboratories EVCO, it says it's organic from GNC. I don't really care for it but I don't know if it's the brand or if I just don't like CO at all

I used to use that one too and I then tried Nutiva from the Vitamin Shoppe and OMG, I love it, love it love it!!!

[metqa]

Originally Posted by LeanLioness

I used to use that one too and I then tried Nutiva from the Vitamin Shoppe and OMG, I love it, love it love it!!!

Is the Nutiva sweet smelling and light tasting? I'm nervous cause they sell it in 32oz containers and that is a lot of oil to try a new one. I can't see the color or consistency but it's labelled unrefined, so I'm interested. Is there a smaller size than 32oz?

[goodcelt]

The first unrefined kind I ever tried was the Nutiva. After that, I found a jar of Spectrum at Whole Foods. It was tons cheaper and tastes just as good, in my opinion.

[goodcelt]

Just wanted to add that the first time I ever bought coconut oil, I bought Lou Ana by mistake. But I ended up using it on my hands and legs sometimes, and also used it to grease the grill outside. It's all so weird, though, because I always thought that coconut oil was bad for you. Now I know that it isn't.

[metqa]

Originally Posted by goodcelt

Just wanted to add that the first time I ever bought coconut oil, I bought Lou Ana by mistake. But I ended up using it on my hands and legs sometimes, and also used it to grease the grill outside. It's all so weird, though, because I always thought that coconut oil was bad for you. Now I know that it isn't.

HAhAha! It IS wierd isn't it. I have this feeling that I would have no trouble using CO and OO and Butter in all of my cooking. I was told that Saturated fats are so Bad for you, but I never felt all that good about using the yellow liquid cooking oils. When I saw my mom cook bacon and then cook the eggs in the melted fat, even as a kid I thought that made sense. I'm very happy to have the choice of non-hydro Lard, and Tallow, and CO. It just feels right.

Funny how [COLOR="Red"]they[/COLOR] adulterated it, then [COLOR="Red"]they[/COLOR] told us it was bad for us, when it was [COLOR="Red"]they[/COLOR] who made it bad in the first place, and now [COLOR="blue"]we[/COLOR] are finding out that it is so much better than [COLOR="Red"]they[/COLOR] ever would have admitted.

[pepperette]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]Charski was RIGHT!!! The organic expeller-pressed CO from TT has no flavor, or smell--YEAH!! Had it last night on a small steak~ OMG, it was like a creamy yet flavorless sauce. We always use sea salt and garlic on our meats, and it was yum!
This noon I put some in my cottage cheese and tomatoes- ok, it was hard then, but I broke it up and it was not a bad thing. No taste, and I didn't gag.
The jury is still out as to whether I will try the oil pulling as gargling makes me gag, and even swishing for 30 seconds does, too. [/COLOR]

[kathys52]

I just ordered Nutiva from Netrition. Can't wait until it arrives! Still not real sure what I am going to do with it though. ????

[pepperette]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]I left mine sitting on the kitchen table (TT's kind), so it is slightly less hard, prolly from the warmth in there. Had it in my 1/2 lc pita with PB and mayo. Did not even know it was there!

PS: I mayo'd cause I began to notice that except for the days I eat beef hot dogs, I was actually getting very little fat in my meals. Also I like mayo with pb [/COLOR]

[LeanLioness]

Originally Posted by metqa

Is the Nutiva sweet smelling and light tasting? I'm nervous cause they sell it in 32oz containers and that is a lot of oil to try a new one. I can't see the color or consistency but it's labelled unrefined, so I'm interested. Is there a smaller size than 32oz?

Yes, it smells like coconut and mildly coconutty tasting.........my DH doesn't like coconut, but the Nutiva coconut oil......I saute meats, veggies in it, stir fry veggies in it, cook eggs in it, put it in my tea and coffee, etc.........

Yes, they have different size containers............I buy the biggest at 64 oz for about $29.99.........

It is GREAT, you will love it!!

[ginabw]

I originally bout the EVCO from Netrition, think it was Nutiva, and I HATED it, it ruined the flavor of everything. But then I saw another one at Wal-Mart, Lou Ann, and it is tasteless, and therefore fine! So if you don't like the tast of coconut, Lou Ann is the way to go.

[CindyCRNA]

Do you still get the thermogenic effect from any type or brand you use? I just bought the Lou Ann brand from Walmart yesterday and made bark with it. It is tasteless but it was fine. I LOVE coconut so I just ordered 1 gal of Nutiva EVCO from Netrition to use on a daily basis and will use Lou Ann to cook with.

[metqa]

Hey Cindy, I think I may have answered this in another thread, but so long as you get pure coconut oil (not mixed or hydrogenated) you'll be getting what coconut oil is, which is a medium Chain trygliceride. It is the nature of MCT's that they are digested faster than LCT Long chain tryglicerides such as animal fat, and seed oils. So you'll get the energy effect with whichever brand you buy. But different brands may have different tastes or strengths, and different methods of processing. for example most refined coconut oil does use a gas solvent to remove the smell, but there is an online company that does not so they can use the organically processed label. Some companies use copra for their refined, another uses fresh meat for theirs but it costs more.

all in all coconut oil is MCT and that's where the energy effect comes from.

[micatee]

First time I bought it was that Lou Ana..........YUCK (couldn't find the EVCO) but now I use it to cook with.....can't eat that out of the jar! (using it just to get rid of it)
Then I tried Emerald.......not bad
Then I started ordering Nutiva..............whick I love, I ran out of Nutiva and was DESPERATE so I found the Rexall at Walmart...........can't compare to Nutiva.

Last night I was on Tropical Traditions and they had a sale........buy 1 get 2 free so I am hoping this Gold Labled stuff is as good as it has been touted.

The Nutiva was the best and I am looking forward to trying TT.

[metqa]

Wow! Thanks MicaTee!!!!!

[pocahontas]

Originally Posted by Charski

Another fan of Tropical Traditions here! Love their organic expeller-pressed oil - it's flavorless/odorless and great for those times you don't WANT your food to taste/smell like coconuts! Like frying eggs for example....

Love their VCO too.

And their BabySilk skin cream is the BEST!

I havent tried the TT but I use Jarrow Organic Expeller Pressed EVCO and it is the same. I love it and I hate coconut flavor.