The 7 Best Coconut Oil Brands for Cooking, Baking, Beauty, and More - The Nutrition Insider (2024)

Not many foods can be used in both the kitchen and the bathroom—but coconut oil fits the bill, with its versatility in baking, cooking, and hair and skincare.

Coconut oil has previously had a bad reputation due to its high saturated fat content.

However, we know now that, unlike the saturated fat found in animal products, coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are digested quickly and may benefit metabolism, body composition, and fat burning.

While coconut oil isn’t as healthy as olive oil or avocado oil, it definitely has its place in your pantry—but with the abundance of uses for it, how do you choose which type is best for which situation?

Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of coconut oil, dissecting the differences between raw, unrefined, and refined coconut oil, as well as the best types for cooking, baking, hair and skin care, and even the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling.

	Best Overall	Runner-Up	Bulk
Product	Artisana Organics	Dr. Bronner’s	Garden of Life
Best Used For	Cooking, Baking, Beauty	Cooking, Baking, Beauty	Cooking, Baking, Beauty
Cost	$23.95 for 28oz ($0.86/oz) Shop Now	$11.99 for 14oz ($0.86/oz) Shop Now	$23.93 for 56oz ($0.43/oz) Shop Now

Best for: Cooking, baking, or personal care use (hair and skin care) with a high-quality, raw, unrefined, organic coconut oil.

Artisana Organics Raw Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the best coconut oils on the market, with its abundance of certifications and commitment to maintaining nutrient levels.

This coconut oil is USDA Organic, Certified R.A.W., Non-GMO Project Verified, and made in a temperature-controlled environment, meaning it has not lost any valuable antioxidants, fatty acids, enzymes, or nutrients due to heat processing.

Unrefined coconut oil (often labeled as virgin coconut oil) is minimally processed, made using fresh coconut meat, and can be expeller-pressed or cold-pressed.

Using fresh coconut meat and avoiding high levels of processing means that the oil retains both nutritional value and that quintessential coconut aroma and flavor.

Despite its focus on high-quality processing methods and sourcing (the coconuts are from organic family farms), Artisana Organics Raw Virgin Coconut Oil is not overly expensive, at $0.86 per ounce, and can be used in both the kitchen and for beauty purposes.

Best for: Anyone looking for high-quality coconut oil for cooking, baking, or personal care that’s fair trade, organic, virgin, and regeneratively farmed.

Dr. Bronner’s Whole Kernel Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is our runner-up choice for the best coconut oil for every use you can think of, from cooking and baking to skincare and hair conditioning.

As with all Dr. Bronner’s products, their list of certifications is extensive, including being Regenerative Organic Certified, USDA Organic, fair trade, and virgin (another term for unrefined).

Virgin or unrefined coconut oils have a strong coconut taste compared to refined coconut oils, which can be a good thing if you want that flavor in your dish—but if you’re looking for a more neutral flavor, you’ll want to choose a refined coconut oil (see La Tourangelle Organic Refined Coconut Oil below).

However, Dr. Bronner’s coconut oil is expeller-pressed, meaning it uses pressure and friction (which creates heat) to extract the oil, possibly leading to minor nutrient loss.

While expeller-pressed coconut oil is not necessarily bad, it’s thought that cold-pressed coconut oil is advantageous because it uses pressure in a temperature-controlled environment, therefore not exposing the coconut to heat.

Lastly, this coconut oil is “whole kernel,” meaning that the coconut’s brown inner skins were left on, leading to a nuttier flavor and more nutritious oil.

Conversely, white kernel coconut oil is made from coconuts with the brown inner skins removed, leading to a milder coconut oil. (Dr. Bronner’s has both—see their white kernel coconut oil here.)

Best for: People who use a lot of coconut oil for a variety of uses and want a high-quality, organic, raw, virgin option.

With a jar containing over 1.5 liters, Garden of Life Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is the best choice for bulk coconut oil—if you love coconut oil and use it voraciously, this is the product for you.

This coconut oil is made from cold-pressed organic coconuts, maintaining both its raw status and nutritional value.

It can also be used in both the bathroom and the kitchen, making it a versatile product.

However, the large size means that you’ll have to use it often—although most coconut oils boast a shelf life of about three years, coconut oil can go bad quickly if it’s exposed to heat, light, and moisture.

Therefore, even if you only use coconut oil for haircare or skin moisturizing, don’t keep it in your bathroom, as the hot and steamy environment will make it spoil faster.

Another thing to note is that, unlike olive oil, the term “extra virgin coconut oil” doesn’t mean anything—the only phrase that matters when it comes to coconut oil is “virgin,” which means the oil is unrefined.

Best for: People who want to use coconut oil for baking or high-heat cooking without overpowering the other flavors.

La Tourangelle Organic Refined Coconut Oil is a good choice for baking because it has a neutral and subtle coconut flavor and minimal aroma.

Refined coconut oil will undergo additional processing, which may include bleaching, deodorizing, or neutralizing to remove impurities—but this also leads to the loss of some nutrients and the traditional coconut flavor and scent.

However, this is beneficial for baking, as most recipes won’t want an overpowering coconut aroma (unless, of course, it’s a coconut cake or something similar).

Coconut oil, in general, is good for baking—as it’s solid at room temperature, it makes an excellent vegan or non-dairy alternative to butter or shortening.

La Tourangelle coconut oil is also great for high-heat cooking, as refined coconut oils have a higher smoke point than unrefined versions.

Best for: Anyone who wants a liquid form of coconut oil for cooking, baking, salad dressings, smoothies, or any recipe that needs coconut oil that can be easily measured.

Nutiva Organic Liquid Coconut Oil is a unique coconut oil, as it is not solid at room temperature like most others.

This coconut oil is slightly more processed than unrefined oils; however, it does not use heat, harmful chemicals, or hexane to produce this neutral-tasting oil that remains liquid at room temperature.

Nutiva sources its coconuts from small organic farms in the Philippines, and the coconut oil is USDA Certified and cold-pressed.

As this coconut oil is liquid, it is easy to use in recipes because you can measure it without melting it first, making it great for use in salad dressings, medium-heat cooking, and baking.

Best for: Anyone wanting to use coconut oil on their hair or body that doesn’t leave a greasy residue.

NOW Solutions Liquid Coconut Oil is the perfect coconut oil for people who like to use it in their skincare or haircare routines.

This coconut oil is liquid, making it easier to apply than thick chunks of solidified coconut oil that don’t absorb well and leave a greasy residue.

It’s also affordable and can be used as a carrier oil for essential oils that you can’t use directly on your skin.

However, keep in mind that coconut oil is highly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores and cause acne breakouts.

Best for: People who want to start oil pulling as a holistic alternative to mouthwash; anyone searching for a simpler way to oil pull than using solid coconut oil.

Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice for cleaning and whitening teeth, reducing plaque buildup, supporting gum health, and freshening breath—and coconut oil is one of the most common oils to use due to its antimicrobial properties.

To oil pull, you would swish around coconut oil in your mouth for 5 to 20 minutes before spitting it out and removing any oral toxins or harmful microbes with it.

However, many people understandably struggle with the texture or placing a huge spoonful of somewhat-chunky coconut oil in their mouth—so liquid and mint-flavored oils like GuruNanda Coconut and Mint Pulling Oil are the simpler solution.

This pulling oil uses ethically sourced 100% pure fractionated coconut oil and 100% pure peppermint essential oil, emulating an ancient Ayurvedic recipe for creating fresh breath and healthier gums.

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