How To Freeze Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a popular product which may be difficult to find at times. When it is found, buying more than you can use before it goes bad is typical. Freezing it sounds like a wonderful idea to preserve it longer which prompts the question, can you freeze coconut oil?
Coconut oil can be frozen for up to two years. The best way is to melt the oil and divide it into serving sizes. Place them into the freezer until frozen and then transfer the frozen servings into freezer safe, food storage bags. Date the bag, remove the excess air and store them in the freezer.
Freezing coconut oil is a great way to increase the shelf-life of the oil, prevent waste and save you some money. This article will explain each step in detail with helpful tips to make the freezing process as easy as possible.
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How To Freeze Coconut Oil
There’s a few more steps involved freezing coconut oil than most other foods because of it being solid or a liquid at different temperatures.
This Is How To Freeze Coconut Oil:
- Melt the coconut oil.
- Divide the coconut oil into desired portions.
- Pour the oil into portion size containers.
- Cover with plastic wrap.
- Place the containers into the freezer until frozen.
- Remove the frozen portions and transfer them to a freezer bag.
- Remove excess air and seal.
- Date the bag and store in the freezer up to two years.
There’s more to freezing coconut than just throwing it into the freezer. Let’s break down each step listed above and discuss them in detail, so you can freeze the coconut oil with ease.
1. Melt the coconut oil.
Before coconut oil can be frozen, it must be melted. Coconut oil is typically solid at temperatures below 76℉, therefore you will need a way to melt the coconut oil before freezing it.
Don’t melt it too fast, as coconut oil will begin to break down if heated too quickly.
In addition, try remembering it’s not being cooked. Heat it enough to liquefy it. One way to accomplish this is by running hot water over the container until it melts. This will melt the oil without cooking it.
2. Portion the Coconut Oil
Once the coconut oil has been completely melted in its container, divide the coconut into individual servings as close to one cup (or whichever size portion you need) as possible.
You can use ice cube trays or any freezer-safe container to portion the coconut oil for freezing. Creating smaller portions keeps the amount of coconut oil even, which will make it easier to use once it has been taken out of the freezer.
3. Cover the Oil To Prevent Air From Getting to It
After dividing the coconut oil, cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Secure tightly around all sides of each portioned serving. The coconut oil must be completely covered to prevent air from getting to it. This can cause the coconut oil to spoil more quickly once frozen or thawed again.
4. Freeze for Two Hours
Freeze for two hours or until completely frozen.
5. Remove The Oil From The Containers
Once the coconut has been in the freezer for several hours, remove it from its individual containers and store it in a freezer-safe bag or container.
6. Store in Freezer Safe Bags
Store coconut oil portions between sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper before placing them inside an airtight freezer bag or container. Remove as much excess air as possible.
7. Date The Container
Dating the container is a reminder of when the oil was frozen and stored. After two years the coconut oil should be used or discarded. Any longer and the oil loses its quality.
Why Should I Freeze Coconut Oil?
There are many reasons why coconut oil should be frozen.
Coconut oil should be frozen to prevent oxidation and spoilage. This occurs when coconut oil is left at room temperature for extended periods of time.
Other benefits of freezing oil include extending the shelf-life and making coconut oil more solid. This makes it easier to measure and use. Coconut oil can remain frozen for up to two years without going bad.
If the coconut oil goes past that point, it will start to lose quality and spoil 1.
How To Safely Thaw Coconut Oil
One of the most common questions asked by coconut oil users is, how to melt coconut oil into liquid.
Melt coconut oil into liquid by using one of the four methods:
- Microwave the frozen coconut oil in a microwave safe container. Stir the oil occasionally to prevent burning. Choose from the option to defrost and microwave the oil for 30 seconds at a time. Loosely cover the top to prevent splattering.
- Place the frozen coconut oil into a sauce pan and heat at low to medium heat. Stir while the oil is melting.
- If the frozen coconut oil is in a jar, place the jar into hot water until the oil melts.
- Let the coconut sit out on the counter. This method will take several hours before the oil reaches the desired consistency. This method only works if the room temperature is warmer than 76 degrees.
How To Use Frozen Coconut Oil
There are many ways coconut oil can be used when it has been frozen. Therefore, how do you use frozen coconut oil?
Use frozen coconut oil for:
- A butter substitute.
- A shortening substitute.
- A substitute for unhealthier oils.
One of the most popular uses for coconut oil is in recipes requiring butter 2. Use the coconut oil instead of the butter in baked goods and frostings for cakes or cupcakes.
Swap coconut oil for other oils or shortening because it has healthier nutrients 3.
Another popular use of frozen coconut oil is in dishes (like Thai curry or stir fry) requiring a high heat cooking method that might otherwise cause coconut oils to burn. These recipes don’t need any additional fats because they will have enough from the coconut oil itself.
The downside to this method is it only works with dishes cooked at a high temperature without stirring too often. If your dish needs frequent stirring, then add some avocado or other healthy fats before adding the frozen coconut oil.
Find out if olive oil or sesame oil provided the most benefits in my article, Sesame Oil vs Olive Oil: Which is Better? Let’s Compare.
FAQs
Why my coconut oil is not freezing in the winter? Coconut oil will not freeze in the winter if the room temperature remains higher than 76 degrees Fahrenheit. 76 degrees is the oil’s freezing point. Therefore, if the room gets colder, the coconut oil will then turn solid.
What is the freezing point of coconut oil in Fahrenheit? The freezing point of coconut in Fahrenheit is 76 degrees.
At what temperature does coconut oil become liquid? Coconut becomes liquid at temperatures higher than 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is it okay if coconut oil melts? It is okay if coconut oil melts. It has a shelf life of two years. Coconut oil will melt at temperatures higher than 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does freezing coconut oil damage it? Freezing coconut oil doesn’t damage it if frozen properly. Coconut oil should be frozen in freezer bags or containers without any excess air to prevent quality loss.
Wrapping Up The Frozen Coconut Oil
Coconut oil 4 is an excellent substitute for butter, margarine and other cooking oils.
Freezing coconut oil can be a very common way to keep it fresh for long periods of time without going bad. It’s important to remember if the coconut oil goes past two years in frozen form, it can get frosty or it might go bad.
Read Next – More Oil & Food Storage Articles!
Olive Oil vs Coconut Oil: Which is Better? Let’s Compare
Can I Replace Olive Oil With Coconut Oil?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil vs Olive Oil: A Complete Comparison
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- Harvard Health T.H. Chan: Coconut Oil[↩]
- Cleveland Clinic: How to Choose and Use Healthy Cooking Oils[↩]
- USDA: Coconut Oil[↩]
- MedlinePlus: Coconut Oil[↩]
