The oil, extracted from coconut, is very helpful vegetables oil, and is utilized for many purposes. It is used not only for cooking food but also for cosmetic purpose. It is extensively applied in many tropical nations as the source for fat. The regular users of coconut oil often ask: Can coconut oil become rancid over time?
There are 2 kinds of coconut oil- one is refined that is expeller pressed (machine takes out the oil and uses steam for distillation) or RBD (utilizes chemical solvents for the extraction of the oil. Another one is unrefined (that is also known as virgin- contains highest nutrition). Virgin form of coconut oil, made through wet-milling procedure, consists of more antioxidants, which assist avoid the spoilage. Such kind of the coconut oil will perhaps remain fresh for a number of years without becoming rancid.
There is one way of finding the answer of the question- How long does last coconut oil? Every coconut oil bottle must include a label, where you can see- Best By or Use By date. This date denotes the time period for which the oil may remain in its best condition. When you like to know about coconut oil, the date of expiration is quite tricky. Generally, the manufacturers mention various dates on the goods. It may be twelve months, twenty four months or also four years. Due to this reason, the only safe assumption, which you can make, is that coconut oil may remain fresh for minimum one year. The general rule is that as long as there is no wrong sign, the oil is well. But, an exception of the rule is that when the oil remains stored in cabinet for over eight years, you may discard it.
Signs that warn you about rancid oil
It may not be always simple to make out if your coconut oil has become stale, particularly, when you’re one of the first time users of this oil and do not know any difference between good and spoiled oil.
If the oil is not in the best condition, and if you have applied it on your skin, then you may suffer from fungal disease or bumps. This is surely rancid oil. When this rancid oil can affect the outer parts of your body, it may also impact your internal body parts, if you consume the oil. Thus, it is always necessary to ensure that your coconut oil is pure and of high quality.
Some of the signs that are found in bad coconut oil are:
- Yellowish color in the liquid substance
- Discolored or a non-smooth stability
- Bad smell and taste- bitter or stale
- Marks of some bits at the base of the container indicate the development of the molds
While buying the coconut oil, you should check its quality, and keep the jar of oil properly sealed because it may prevent the access of the moisture that is one of the causes of making your oil rancid.
The coconut oil, which is pure and fresh, is completely translucent while melted. When it is solid, the color is white. At the phase between these two conditions, the substances will seem to be cloudy.
You have to find the primary reaction of your body from coconut-extracted oil. You may feel some problems in stomach or acne. But, it does not always signify that you oil is rotten. Sometimes, good oil may lead to such reactions since your own body is entering the detox stage because of the efficient ant-bacterial properties, present in your coconut oil. All these reactions for detox will be reduced after its continuous use for some days. However, individual cases may differ and this information must be accepted only as some views.
Storing coconut oil in suitable way
Most of the vegetables oils, including coconut oil, must be stocked in the fridge or storeroom. Coconut oil offers you some more options. You may place it in your refrigerator or also in room temperature. However, the scientific truth, which you must remember, is that the melting point of the oil is about 75 °F. When the room is extremely hot, the oil may remain in the liquid form. When the temperature is quite low, the substance may remain in jelly form. Again, while it is extreme chilly temperature, the oil may get solidified. Remember that if you store the product in your fridge, it may turn out to be as tough as rock. You can store the coconut oil either in solid or liquid state. If the oil already becomes hard and cannot be taken out from the bottle, you may try to heat it for few minutes.
There is another thing about scraping the solid oil from jar. You may do this with the use of fingers or a spoon. However, always keep in mind that the tool, which you are applying, should be absolutely dirt-free. If you have utilized that spoon for some other works, you must wash it prior to scraping the oil. It will prevent the moldy condition of the oil.
Just like other oil, coconut oil may also suffer due to the presence of oxygen, light, or heat. Thus, keep the jar firmly sealed and away from sunlight. If you want to know about the storage temperature, you must remember that coconut oil may quickly go bad under an extremely hot temperature. Thus, when you reside in any tropical region or very hot areas, it is better to keep the oil in some cool room. Moreover, do not store your oil in such a place, where the temperature alters very often.
Now, you have found out the answer of your query- Can the oil extracted from coconut go bad? Of course, the oil may lose its quality and original condition. If this is stored inappropriately, or becomes contaminated, it may be spoiled very fast. For instance, coconut oil, if left out, will surely become expired and you may discard it. As coconut oil consists of a little amount of the fats (unsaturated), the product is not utterly defiant to spoilage. The bottle, if opened, should be kept in dark place. You can raise the shelf life of your oil by freezing or refrigerating it. But, if your oil has become stale, there is no need to get frustrated. You may utilize it for some other purposes, for example, to polish furniture, oil any machine, stop noisy door pivots and to make candles. Thus, coconut oil that is rancid is not useless to you because it has some different applications in your household.
