Introduction: Virgin Coconut Oil Making

There are two types of edible coconut oil available in the commercial market: refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) coconut oil and virgin coconut oil (VCO). RBD and VCO coconut oil have the same physical and chemical characteristic but have different sensory attributes and prices.

VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) is the purest form of coconut oil. It is clear/colorless, contains natural Vitamin E and has not undergone atmospheric and hydrolytic oxidation as attested by its low peroxide value and low free fatty acid content. It has a mild to intense fresh coconut aroma.

Among vegetable, seed, and nut oils, VCO is considered unique in that it is the only oil that is multifunctional. It has more uses than RBD coconut oil. VCO is considered unique in the sense that it is the only oil with multi-functional uses: It is the only oil which one can eat as a food supplement or functional food, use for cooking, apply to the hair and skin as a moisturizer and conditioner, and use as a major ingredient in skincare products or as a carrier oil in aromatherapy and massage oils.

The outstanding characteristic of coconut oil compared to other fats and oils is its high content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with carbon chain lengths ranging from 8-12. Several studies on coconut oil have indicated that MCFAs have antibiotics and other beneficial properties for human health. In the digestive system, the MCFAs in coconut oil are rapidly absorbed, carried by the portal vein to the liver and then oxidized, thereby producing energy very rapidly.

Supplies

- 5 coconuts

- Water (1:1)

- Container

- Knife

- Filter paper

- Funnel

- Hand mixer

- Spoon

- Grinder

- Peeler

- Bottle

Step 1:

Remove the brown testa covering the white meat. Wash the white coconut kernel using clean water

Step 2:

The white coconut kernel is grinding using a grater or machine.

Step 3:

After grating or shredding the fresh kernels, add fresh water with a ratio of 1:1 and mix it. Squeeze out the coconut milk from the grated coconut meat and filter using filter paper. The milk is extracted by either the manual method or by using a machine. You can make a second milk extraction to increase the amount of coconut milk recovered from the grated kernel.

Step 4:

Put the coconut milk into a clean container.

Leave the coconut milk for 30 minutes. Gravity settling of coconut milk to separate cream and skim milk.