Coconut oil is one of the popular beauty hacks that many have proven and tested. Although it’s not for everyone, there’s still a good amount of people who use Coconut oil not just for beauty but for cooking, as well. Since Coconut oil has a lot of uses–hair, body, skin, acne, etc.–it’s important to store it properly to use it for a long time. But how does one store Coconut oil, and how long until it goes bad?
Note that it is a fact that Coconut oil has a long shelf life. Keeping it in a tight container in a cool place (not too cold) will help preserve it longer. Using it when it’s spoiled will be bad for your skin, hair and everything else. It can potentially increase the problems on your skin, and cause cardiovascular diseases and inflammation.
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut Oil is a fruit extract from a tropical coconut palm tree. It yields about 35% meat oil in weight. Coconut oil is high in saturated and unsaturated fat, about 86%. The amount of saturated fat stabilizes the oil and helps it resist oxidation and rancidity. Note that the Coconut oil solidifies at room temperature–which helps in cooking no-bake desserts and chocolate truffles.
Signs the Coconut Oil is Spoiled
Please make sure to keep these signs of spoilage in mind.
- Expiration Date – The expiration date is the most obvious indicator that your Coconut Oil has gone bad. Don’t reuse the jar or whatever container the spoiled Coconut Oil is in.
- Discolouration – The product changing colours is also one of the many clear indicators that it has gone bad. For Coconut Oil, its natural colour is pale-white. When it starts to shift to green, yellow, shows dark spots, or signs of mold, then it’s clear that your Coconut Oil has gone bad and is now rancid.
- Odour – Coconut Oil naturally smells neutral and coconutty. If it smells sour or bitter, then please throw it away.
- Texture – Coconut Oil only has two forms: solid and liquid. These forms are dependent on the oil’s storage, whether it’s in the cupboard or the fridge. When it starts looking chunky, akin to a curdled cream and has varying texture, then you should throw it away asap.
- Flavour – Most of the time, you notice the smell first before the flavour. But there are times when we want to make sure our noses aren’t tricking us, so we tend to have a little taste of the product before concluding that it has indeed gone bad. In Coconut Oil’s case, when it tastes sour or bitter, like any other product that shouldn’t taste like that, then it has gone bad. The same goes for the texture and its discolouration.
How to Store Coconut Oil
Storing Coconut Oil properly can help for longer shelf life. See these tips on keeping Coconut Oil properly to avoid risking it going bad in a short time.
- Keep it chilled in the fridge. The fridge is the universal storage for everyone for almost everything. It’s always recommended to keep your food or any other ingredients stored in the refrigerator as a cool container can lengthen their shelf life. Coconut Oil’s main cause of spoilage is air exposure–which is why it’s recommended to keep it in the fridge where it’s cool enough to settle.
- In a secluded cupboard/cabinet. If the fridge is full or you don’t want to store it in the refrigerator, you can always opt for that dark spot in your cupboard or kitchen cabinet. As long as you keep the coconut oil away from sunlight, it should be safe. Don’t place it anywhere heated or warm, as that will also spoil the coconut oil.
- Airtight container. As previously mentioned, air and sunlight or anything warm are the main causes of Coconut Oil going bad. So to avoid this, you must store the oil in an airtight container. You can also opt not to transfer it from its original container. Unless it’s homemade coconut oil, then you have to look for a container that won’t let any air in to avoid spoilage.
Hopefully, our article has given you ideas on storing your Coconut oil properly without risking its chances of spoilage.