Coconut oil is a staple in many kitchens around the world, but sometimes, your storage conditions will not be ideal, and the oil will melt from a solid into a liquid. If this happens, you might be wondering if it’s still okay for you to use, or if you should throw it away.
As long as it still smells fresh, coconut oil is fine to use even if it has melted. Coconut oil is a solid at room temperature, but if the kitchen gets hot, you leave the coconut oil near the stove, or something else increases the temperature, you’ll see your coconut oil quickly melt into a liquid. This isn’t a problem in most cases.
This article is going to explore whether coconut oil is safe to use even after it has been melted, and what you can do to check that your coconut oil is still okay.
Is Melted Coconut Oil Still Safe?
Melted coconut oil should be perfectly safe to use as long as it smells okay. If your coconut oil has liquefied, take the lid off and inspect it carefully. How does it smell? If it still smells sweet and strongly of coconut, it’s perfectly safe.
However, if your oil has taken on a rancid aroma, this indicates that it’s no longer good to eat. If you are still unsure, taste a tiny bit of the oil. If the flavor is bad or bitter, the coconut oil has gone off and you will need to throw it away, as it could make you sick if you consume it. Off oil will also taste disgusting.
Coconut oil tends to turn to a liquid at around 75 degrees F, so in most cases, it won’t melt if you keep it in your pantry. However, in hot weather, it may do so. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be a problem, and you can easily get the oil to solidify again.
It is worth noting that coconut oil that’s consistently stored at warm temperatures will probably not last as long. It’s best to keep your coconut oil in a cool, dark place to maximize its shelf-life and prevent it from turning rancid. Repeatedly getting heated can cause the oil to go off.
How Do You Make Coconut Oil Solidify?
The easiest way to turn coconut oil back into a solid is to place it in the fridge for a few hours. The cold temperature there will quickly chill the oil so that it thickens once more. A large amount of oil may take several hours, but small amounts can be cooled in half an hour.
You can place the coconut oil in the freezer if you want to chill it more quickly, but this isn’t usually necessary, and it could affect the consistency of the oil if you leave it for too long. If you’re going to do this, just leave it for a few minutes; this will generally be sufficient to make it resolidify.
If you don’t need the oil to harden quickly, consider just putting it in a cooler cupboard and leaving it there. As long as the cupboard is under 75 degrees F, it should gradually return to its solid state.
How Can You Tell If Coconut Oil Has Gone Off?
Coconut oil has a long shelf-life, so it generally won’t go off before you have had time to use it up – but it’s still worth checking whether it’s okay before you use it, especially if you think it has been heated and cooled repeatedly.
As well as checking its smell, you should inspect the surface of the oil. If you can see any signs of mold forming there, you’ll need to throw it away. If the coconut oil is solid, some people do just scrape this part off and use the rest, but this isn’t generally recommended.
If the oil is a liquid and has signs of mold in it, you will definitely need to throw it away, as the mold spores are likely to have spread throughout the liquid and could make you very sick if you eat it.
If your oil has a yellow tint to it, there’s a high chance that it has begun to turn rancid. You can smell and taste it to confirm this, but coconut oil should be white (when it’s solid) or clear (when it’s liquid), so any change in the color should be treated with suspicion.
The best place to store coconut oil to keep it stable and maximize its shelf-life is a cool pantry.
Conclusion
Coconut oil doesn’t go off when it melts, although frequent temperature fluctuations can affect its shelf-life. Melted coconut oil should be perfectly safe to eat, but do take the time to smell it and visually check for mold before you eat it, especially if the jar is getting old.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
