3 Best Ways to Melt Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a popular plant-based fat that is becoming more and more popular. It is a very healthy oil that has a ton of nutrients and delicious flavors. Not only that, but it is also an extremely versatile culinary ingredient.

Despite all this, many people still do not know exactly how to work with this ingredient. The most popular way to incorporate it into recipes is in its melted form, but there are correct ways to get it melted.

So what are the 3 best ways to melt coconut oil? First, we recommend using low heat methods. This can be melting the oil in direct sunlight or over a water bath or double boiler. Afterwards, you can melt it in a pan or in the microwave.

Today we will see what coconut oil is, how it is manufactured and all its characteristics, more specifically, its melting characteristics.

Below, we’ll look at the best ways to help melt coconut oil while preserving as many nutrients as possible.

What is coconut oil?

Coconut oil is a type of edible oil that is obtained from the fruit of the coconut tree. Very few people may know about it, but it is also known as coconut butter.

This is an oil that everyone may have heard of as it is an extremely versatile natural ingredient that is used in many different industries.

Obviously, being edible and all, it can be used in many savory and sweet recipes, and is also used to make many food products, such as chocolate and candies.

It is also a very popular ingredient in cosmetic products, lotions, and many other beauty-related products. You’ll also find tons of hair and skin care items that use coconut oil as is.

But today we will deal more specifically with coconut oil and its uses in food.

How coconut oil is produced

The oil itself can be obtained in a number of ways, but today we will discuss the most commercial method, which is called the “wet processing method.”

This method uses coconut milk extracted from raw coconut. This milk is completely dried in order to separate the oil and water. This is done by boiling the emulsion.

The main reason this method is used so often is because it can produce much more in volume and requires less time ; basically, it makes the producers more money!

The downside is that this method discolors the oil, has a much lower yield, and is often loaded with chemicals to increase yield, extend shelf life, and create other favorable characteristics.

Regardless of the method used to extract the oil, it can be packaged and used as is, or processed or refined.

forms of coconut oil

There are three main forms of food-grade coconut oil available on the market: unrefined, refined, or fractionated coconut oil.

Each one is processed differently and has different characteristics, possibly affecting how it melts.

Unrefined (virgin) coconut oil

Let’s start with unrefined coconut oil. This oil is the least processed form of coconut oil you will find.

“Unrefined” or “virgin coconut oil” is simply a term used to describe the lack of chemicals or high heat used to produce it.

Unrefined coconut oil is extracted from fresh, raw coconut meat (also known as meat).

There are several mechanical ways to do it; however, each of them leaves the oil with the maximum amount of nutrients and antioxidants, which makes it the most “healthy”.

This coconut oil also has the most authentic coconut smell and taste. It has a moderate smoke point of about 176°C (350°F).

refined coconut oil

This type of oil, as you can guess from its name, is a processed type that uses a lot of heat and other chemicals to help the extraction process. 

This coconut oil is made from dried coconut meat. The method of drying meat is not the most hygienic. This means that many companies use bleaches and deodorizing chemicals to obtain or create a more usable and attractive product.

You’ll see some packaging label their refined coconut oil as “RBD,” which stands for refined, bleached, and deodorized.

This oil has a very weak and subtle coconut flavor and in our opinion very few of these products even have a coconut odor. It does, however, have a higher smoking point of about 400°F (205°C).

Fractionated Coconut Oil

It sounds scarier than it is, we promise. This coconut oil has been altered through a process called fractionation to remain a liquid at lower temperatures.

This is done by removing the main fatty acid that helps the solidification process in other forms of coconut oil.

This oil is the most processed and has the least amount of nutrients, as well as coconut odors and flavors. It also has the lowest smoking point, averaging around 320°F (160°C).

Coconut oil melting temperatures

Before we talk about melting points, it’s important to note that temperatures are often generalized because there are too many variable factors at play.

The melting point of coconut oil (and other solid oils, for that matter) is determined by the number of fatty acids present, this is a given. Coconut oil has 10 different fatty acids, each with different melting points.

There’s a lot of scientific nonsense we can get into, but the bottom line is that coconut oil is made up mostly of medium-chain fatty acids that have a mean melting temperature of 24°C (76°F).

Again, this temperature can fluctuate slightly between different types of coconut oils.

Naturally, it’s safe to assume that unrefined and refined coconut oils have slightly different melting temperatures because one has been more processed (and stripped of nutrients) than the other.

Fractionated coconut oil definitely has a lower melting temperature due to the manufacturing process.

coconut oil and heat

As you may already know or have seen for yourself, coconut oil is sometimes in a liquid form and sometimes in a solid form.

As we have just discussed, coconut oil itself is made up of fatty acids with different melting points. Thus, if the temperature of the storage areas is below 24°C (76°F), the coconut oil will be in its solid state or form.

However, once coconut oil reaches temperatures above 24°C (76°F), which is the average melting temperature among all fatty acids, the oil will begin to liquefy.

That is why you will see that as soon as you hold or touch the coconut oil in your hand, it immediately starts to melt. The average body temperature is about 37°C (98.6°F), much higher than the melting point.

And, once the temperature drops again, the crystals inside the oil recrystallize and form a solid mass.

The 3 Best Ways to Melt Coconut Oil

Finally! We come to the fusion methods! We have listed the three best melting methods for coconut oil. These methods are the best to use if you want to use coconut oil in your food.

Although melting coconut oil naturally is the best method, it is not always possible when using the oil for food.

Melting coconut oil naturally means it melts at room temperature, in your hands, or on your body.

While melting it at room temperature is quite possible, even for large quantities, it’s not always hot enough for that to happen.

You can’t even necessarily rely on the sun to help the process, because it’s not always sunny.

Also, melting coconut oil (to be used in food) in your hands is not hygienic at all. If you want to use the oil as a body lotion, hair moisturizer, or something similar, then you can use it as is, but definitely not in food.

For this reason, the methods we have chosen are the best in terms of food use; all are safe to use, easy to follow methods, and extremely effective without altering the structure of the oil too much.

Water bath

This is an ancient method of adding heat to things very smoothly and slowly. What we like best about this method is that you can melt any amount of oil at the same time and it melts quickly and efficiently.

There are two ways to apply this method.

Method 1: Water bath in the sink

All you have to do is fill a pot, bowl, or sink with hot water. It doesn’t have to be hot, but definitely not lukewarm.

Next, place the desired amount of coconut oil into a jar, zip-lock bag, or airtight container. Place the container into the hot water and simply wait for the solid oil to melt completely.

Once melted, remove the container from the water and dry the exterior before opening.

When you’ve scooped out the desired amount, any remaining blended coconut oil will re-solidify.

Method 2: Stovetop Water Bath

For this method (also known as the double boiler method) fill a pot with a little water and bring it to a simmer.

Add the desired amount of coconut oil to a heatproof bowl and place it on top of the pot. The bowl should fit snugly and be all the way to the top.

You must turn off the heat once the bowl of coconut oil is placed on top ; however, if you’re in a hurry you can turn the heat to low to help heat the oil more quickly.

In this way, the steam heats the bowl (and the oil inside) and allows it to slowly heat up and melt. This method is great if you want to melt very specific amounts of oil, and it requires less cleanup.

Frying pan

This is a much faster method of melting coconut oil and has many advantages.

First of all, this method is great if you need the oil already in a pan, for example, if you are going to fry something or saute food. It means you don’t have to use any additional equipment and makes cleanup much easier.

You should also be able to melt any amount of coconut oil , but some skillets can affect this; it all depends on how much you need and what you want to use it for.

It is also an extremely fast, almost instant way to melt coconut oil. By having a much larger surface area, you can melt large quantities in seconds.

The biggest drawback to this method is precisely what makes it so effective: the high heat it uses. The higher the heat you use to melt the coconut oil, the more nutrients it will lose. 

So, all in all, it’s an extremely effective method, but if you want to use coconut oil for its nutrients, don’t use this method.

Microwave oven

This is our least favorite method, although it’s more convenient than the skillet.

However, this method is great if you want to melt the coconut oil for baking (not for frying or sautéing like the skillet method above). Be sure to use a microwave-safe bowl or container.

You can easily melt any amount of coconut oil in a matter of seconds. But, just like the skillet method, this one also destroys a ton of nutrients.

For sweet and savory baking, these nutrients may not be as important; however, the taste probably is. Microwaving also tends to remove some of the product’s flavor and even odors.

If you use a microwave, put it on the lowest setting (usually defrost) and heat slowly. You should also use unrefined coconut oil if you want to maintain the flavor.

How to get a thick consistency

The above methods are used to fully liquefy coconut oil. Blended coconut oil has a wide range of uses.

However, sometimes you may want something in between solidified coconut oil and completely melted oil. This could be because it’s easier to incorporate or because it will help add volume and texture to your recipe.

By whisking coconut oil, you get the perfect balance between the two . It comes out soft and fluffy, without being runny or rock solid. Think smoothie-like consistency – that’s what we’re aiming for here.

To make the beaten coconut oil, simply place the coconut oil in a bowl and beat it with an electric hand or stand mixer. This will take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much you use.

We recommend using the beaten coconut oil immediately, as it may continue to melt at temperatures that are too high.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over our favorite ways to melt coconut oil, let’s take a look at some related questions!

How can you naturally melt coconut oil for food?

If you have a hot sunny day, the best way to naturally melt coconut oil is to place it on a counter at room temperature.

If it’s not hot but it’s still sunny, place it in direct sunlight to warm up the container and help melt the oil more quickly.

Why is resolidified coconut oil grainy?

Sometimes the structure of coconut oil changes when it is repeatedly melted and solidified. This also happens if you use too high a heat to melt the oil.

The structure of the oil changes and some of the fatty acids create a grainy texture.

But fear not, because once you re-melt the oil, these grains will melt with it, leaving you with a completely smooth liquid.

Is coconut oil healthy?

Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils or fats you can find, which is precisely why we don’t recommend melting it with a ton of heat—heat strips away the nutrients.

We also recommend using organic, unrefined coconut oil for the most nutrients and the most authentic taste and smell.

Coconut oil helps maintain cholesterol, helps protect skin and coat, and has other benefits such as maintaining a healthy heart and immune system.