Frequently asked questions
Q1. What is the Lauric Acid content of DME coconut oil?
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Q1. What is the Lauric Acid content of DME coconut oil? topThe DME coconut oil from the South Pacific that we have tested has had Lauric acid between 49 and 51%. The amount of Lauric acid is determined primarily by the variety of coconut palm, but may also be due to the specific growing conditions and the age of the coconut. Often companies will state their oil has 50% or more Lauric acid, when in fact it only occasionally reaches this level. So you can't always believe that the oil you purchase really has 50+% of Lauric acid. Q2. Is the coconut heated when producing DME Oil? topOur process does involve heat in the sense that we semi-dry the raw material before pressing out the oil. This heating process is gentle in that the material is constantly turned and tossed into the air to speed up the drying process. This stage takes about 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the humidity, temperature, breeze, etc). It it is not subjected to the high temperatures of most other oil extraction systems. The coconut is usually between 45°C (110°F) and 60°C (130°F) immediately before pressing. This is "cold" by oil standards. No heat is generated in the gentle hand-pressing of our single pressing Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. The oil is not heated at all after pressing. Q3. How much cholesterol does coconut oil have? topVegetable oils have insignificant amounts of cholesterol — Coconut Oil having the least, for example:
Q4. What is the shelf life of DME oil? topBecause coconut oil is a saturated fat and because of its antioxidant properties it is naturally very stable. Furthermore, because DME virgin coconut oil is produced so quickly, its free fatty acid (FFA) level is less than 0.1% at production. This oil has an almost indefinite shelf life when kept under preferred storage conditions. Store out of direct sunlight in a cool dry place. It is not necessary to refrigerate. If you do it becomes rock-hard. VCO solidifies naturally at 24°C. For some applications it is better liquid and for others solid. Melt the oil by standing the container in warm water. Do not microwave. Q5. What causes vegetable oil to go rancid? topVegetable oils that are not saturated oxidise very quickly and go rancid. Q6. At what temperature does coconut oil go solid? topIt goes solid at about 24°C (75°F). As it cools from the liquid state, (26°C and above) it forms small "pearls" which join together until the whole product is solid at 24°C. When cooling faster in a fridge the pearls are much larger and the oil can appear more translucent. Q7. How do I use coconut oil when it is solid? topPut the container in warm water for a few minutes or if the lid is large enough simply scoop it out with a spoon. Q8. What is coconut butter and “Copha”? topCoconut butter is simply the coconut oil in a solid state. However, the expression "coconut butter", while common in the United States, is rarely used in Australia. because the dairy industry has exclusive rights to the name "butter". The only exception is peanut butter. Copha is hydrogenated RBD coconut oil. As a commercial product, “Copha” is also sometimes called "coconut butter". Q9. What is the difference between virgin and extra virgin coconut oil?? topThe cheapest coconut oil is made from copra, the dried flesh of coconuts, and must be industrially Refined, Bleached and Deodorised (RBD) in order to make it edible. Virgin coconut oil is made directly from fresh coconuts and is normally not further refined. We call Niulife Coconut Oil ‘Extra Virgin’ because, like the best traditional cold pressed olive oil, it is made from the first and only pressing. The Direct Micro Expelling (DME) system is the quickest in the world, producing delicious hand-pressed oil less than one hour after opening a coconut. This process locks in all the natural flavour and goodness and produces top quality oil. No further processing is required and we believe ‘extra virgin’ is a legitimate description of this 100% pure and natural, cold pressed coconut oil. Q10. What happens when virgin coconut oil is heated? Will it become hydrogenated? topCoconut oil is not easily damaged by heat. (It has a smoking point of 177°C. No cooking oil should be heated above its smoking point.) VCO does not readily oxidise like unsaturated oils do when heated, leading to free-radical formation. It is the ideal oil for deep frying and is safe to use several times over. Hydrogenation is not caused by heating coconut oil during cooking. Hydrogenation is an industrial process where hydrogen is introduced into an oil to artificially saturate it so that it will be solid at room temperature. It alters the chemical structure of the oil and creates harmful trans-fatty acids. It is perfectly safe to heat coconut oil for cooking. Q11. What books do you recommend for further information on the properties of pure coconut oil? top
Q12. Where can I buy DME Virgin Coconut Oil? topThe best quality DME extra virgin Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is packaged by Kokonut Pacific under their Certified Organic and Fair Trade label, niulife. You can also buy online at our online shop. For bulk purchases contact Kokonut Pacific directly. Niulife is now distributed across Australia and New Zealand so check your local health food store and if they don't have it yet, ask them to get it in. Q13. Where is Kokonut Pacific located? topIn Canberra, the capital city of Australia. See our Contact Details
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