Does Coconut Oil Freeze?
Coconut oil refers to the liquid derived from a fresh coconut’s meat (young coconut), also known as copra. When heated, the oil turns solid and white.
It consists primarily of saturated fats ranging from lauric acid to stearic acid and oleic acid.
Coconut oil freezes well and can go up to several years. Its freezing point is affected by temperature, pressure, and composition. It solidifies at 76-79 degrees Fahrenheit, but the shortening process changes the composition and causes it to solidify at a lower temperature.
The stability of the oil prevents it from becoming solid until the temperature reaches about 23 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warmer than a typical freezer.
The coconut oil in a room temperature environment will become liquid and solid when cooled below its melting point.
A few factors known to affect coconut oil’s freezing point are temperature, pressure, and composition.
The composition of the oil depends on the amount of saturated or unsaturated fats, which can affect the melting point and freezing point.
The production region also plays a role. The oil in colder climates will be more solid than in warm areas. Another factor that affects how coconut oil freezes are if they’re refined or unrefined.
Oil’s composition changes when refined, making it less fatty and more fluid than an unrefined type.
The melting point of coconut oil varies by its composition because it consists mainly of saturated fats.
Hydrogen bonds between the saturated fats cause the melting point to differ from one type to another. As previously mentioned, the production location also affects its freezing point.
Refined coconut oil will have a distinct melting point from an unrefined type.
At What Temp Does Coconut Oil Freeze?
For the most part, the temperature at which its consistency can determine coconut oil freezing point.
Medium-chain triglycerides like coconut oil are semi-solid or solid at room temperature (23°C) and partially or fully liquid when chilled below this temperature.
For example, paste-like coconut oil that has been microwaved until soft is usually liquid but will harden to a semi-solid block if left on the counter. As it cools, coconut oil will solidify.
| Coconut oil | Temperature |
| Freeing point | 23°C |
On the other hand, medium-chain triglycerides are more stable at room temperature than long-chain triglycerides like palm kernel oil.
For example, after being refrigerated overnight in a tightly sealed container, soft medium-chain triglycerides like coconut oil will still be soft and flexible, while sometimes the solid lumps on the surface of palm kernel oil will become crumbly.
In coconut oil, the temperature is a better-quality indicator than time.
Coconut oil that has been chilled can be solidified without using any chemicals. The solid mass will not melt at room temperature but slightly warm it up, and it should melt again at body temperature.
If the coconut oil is unrefrigerated and the ambient temperature rises above the freezing point, it will begin to freeze and may thicken as it freezes.
At room temperature, this solid mass will be semi-solid.
With the addition of heat, frozen coconut oil can melt again, but the impurity particles, such as those from storage in less-than-ideal conditions, won’t melt. This results in freezer burn.
How To Distinguish Virgin Coconut Oil?
| Features | Description |
| Scent | Virgin coconut oil boasts a tropical scent that most people find delightful, but if it smells musty or spoiled, you should discard it. |
| Appearance | Virgin coconut oil is a white to light yellow liquid with a consistency similar to honey. |
| Taste | Virgin coconut oil has a milder taste than many other oils, so most people enjoy the flavor, but it’s fantastic for frying eggs and vegetables because it has such a high heat tolerance. |
| Smell | Coconut oil has a sweet, faint aroma that doesn’t stick to the environment. |
| Consistency | Before refrigeration, virgin coconut oil is solid; after you remove the bottle from the fridge, it becomes liquid. It will melt on your countertop in hot climates. Refined coconut oils will always stay solid regardless of temperature or time. |
How Long Does It Take to Freeze Coconut Oil?
It only takes an hour or two for coconut oil to freeze. Coconut is a solid at temperatures below 76° F, which is 23°C.
In other words, your kitchen will get icy if your house hasn’t heated enough and the temperature drops below that magical number.
What’s more, coconut oil can’t mix with water (or anything else), so ice crystals don’t form in the mixture like they would have if the oil were wet, like olive or sesame seed oils.
How cold the oil gets depends on how much heat there is in the room. If your kitchen is heated, it will probably be at room temperature or lower when you turn it over to freeze.
If the temperature falls below 76°F during or after you’ve turned over the bottle, it won’t be as cold as expected.
Still, once frozen, coconut oil feels about as cold as a frosty beverage would feel in a drink Can after sitting around outside for a few hours.
In case you’re wondering, 100% pure coconut oil can be frozen and thawed without any bad consequences. Coconut oil is very stable in the freezer.
It will get hard and solid, but it will melt quickly once you start using it.
You can leave it out on the countertop to melt (or quickly spoon some into a bowl if that works better for you).
Is Melted Coconut Oil the Same as Liquid Coconut Oil?
Yes! Melted coconut oil is the same as liquid coconut oil. The only difference is that liquid coconut oil comes in a jar or a bottle, while melted coconut oil comes in a can.
People have used coconut oil for centuries, but more recently, it’s reportedly one of the healthiest oils on earth. Made of medium-chain fatty acids and antioxidants, consuming this food boosts metabolism and helps prevent aging.
When you buy coconut oil, it might come in different forms. For example, you might melt some coconut oil, and others are in a solid state.
You should place the Can of melted coconut oil in the refrigerator for a few minutes, and it will turn into a solid state again.
I suggest experimenting with both types of coconut oil and deciding which one works best for you. It all depends on the specific recipe you want to use or if your favorite recipe requires one type.
It’s generally good to use melted coconut oil and solid coconut oil for other recipes. For instance, melted coconut oil is a better option for making soup or a smoothie. However, you can use solid coconut in baking recipes.
Why Does Coconut Oil Solidify in Winter?
Coconut oil boasts a lot of saturated fats that subject it to solidification at room temperature. Coconut oil comprises 87% saturated fat, butter contains 54% saturated fats, and olive oil is just 14%.
This means coconut oil is much more likely to solidify in the cooler months than other oils, like olive and butter. The number of fatty acids that compose coconut oil also contributes to its solidification characteristics.
Coconut oil contains three different types of fatty acid: lauric acid, myristic acid, and oleic acid.
Lauric acid is responsible for the majority of the solidification properties of coconut oil, followed by myristic acid. Oleic acid is responsible for increasing its melting point.
Although coconut oil is solid at room temperature, its melting point is higher than other oils solidified at room temperature.
Unrefined virgin coconut oil remains liquid below 27 degrees Celsius and does not solidify until it reaches about 37 degrees Celsius.
Coconut oil also has a high melting point compared to butter, which has a melting point of only 28 degrees Celsius.
The smell is not always a good indicator of whether coconut oil hardens. Coconut oil can have an unpleasant odor, but as long as it’s pure and unrefined, it will remain liquid at lower temperatures.
If you use coconut oil during winter, consider storing it in the fridge. This will keep it solid at room temperature and make it easy to scoop out when needed.
What Can I Add to Coconut Oil So It Does Not Freeze in Winter?
You can add Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT), so the oil will not freeze.
Medium-Chain Triglycerides are a form of saturated fat that is more heat-stable than other oil types.
In this way, you can add them to coconut oil to help it become more heat stable and thus resist freezing in winter. To do this, you would mix MCTs into the coconut oil.
You can find MCTs in many health food stores and supermarkets, such as Whole Foods and most health food stores.
Medium-Chain Triglycerides are a form of saturated fat that is more heat-stable than other oil types.
You can mix MCTs into the coconut oil in any way you want to. For example, you could use a fork and mix it in vigorously. You could also buy an MCT oil form and use that.
This is a form of coconut oil with MCTs already mixed into it, and it’s already at the correct consistency for topical use (it is not liquid but rather has the consistency of lard).
Just add what would be considered enough for topical use. You can find these at many health food stores and small supermarkets.
How to Freeze Coconut Oil
| Procedure | Description |
| Melt | First, melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat. |
| Pour Into a Container | Pour the melted coconut oil into a suitable container and wait for it to cool (at this point, you can put the lid on). |
| Freeze | Put the cool, liquid coconut oil container in your freezer for about an hour or so until it is completely frozen. |
| Brake/ Crack | When the coconut oil has frozen, break or crack it into smaller pieces. |
| Store In the Freezer | Place the broken-up coconut oil into a freezer bag and back in your freezer to keep it fresh. |
Do You Need to Refrigerate Coconut Oil?
No! You don’t need to refrigerate coconut oil because it has a high-lauric acid content of over 50%. That’s why coconut oil has a long shelf life (around two years) and doesn’t spoil like other oils.
You can store coconut oil in a cool, dark place for up to two years or about one year at room temperature.
Refrigeration will only extend it’s time if you have opened the jar of oil or if it’s opened and then re-closed without storing it properly.
Also, if you have olive oil and open a small jar of coconut oil and seal it back up, the oil might never go bad at room temperature.
Another thing to note is that coconut oil is solid at room temperature.
So, if you have left the coconut oil in your car in summer on an unbearably hot day, it will become a slurry, which some people may find gross.
It is also a little harder to spread if you leave it out in the summer, so maybe buy a small jar of oil and keep it in your fridge if you don’t plan on using it immediately.
Coconut oil has a high smoke point, 375 F (190 C). You can use coconut oil for cooking at high temperatures, and the taste won’t have any effect.
Always use healthy fat like coconut or olive oil instead of cheap oils when cooking because they are more stable and less likely to oxidize.
Do I Need to Refrigerate Louana Coconut Oil After Opening It?
There’s no need to refrigerate Coconut Oil if it’s refined, like LouAna 100% Pure Coconut Oil.
You can store refined oils at room temperature. Unrefined oils need refrigeration because they are high in antioxidants and are unstable to heat.
However, storing anything with a high-fat content (like oil and butter) in the fridge is always a good idea.
And here’s the best part: Coconut Oil, especially 100% extra virgin coconut oil, is stable enough to use even after it’s open for months.
The only reason you might need to be fresh is the build-up in the cap seal. If coconut oil has thickened up in the jar, scoop out what you’ll use immediately and put it in a smaller container.
But don’t worry if some of it separates and becomes liquid over time. Remember to give the jar a good shake when ready to use it.
Coconut oil has a high melting point, about 90 degrees F. So, it will stay solid for quite a while, even if you leave it out in your pantry.
It’s best to keep it at room temperature and in your fridge. It will stay fresher longer that way.
How To Properly Thaw Frozen Coconut Oil?
If you have frozen coconut oil, don’t despair. Here’s how to get it out of the freezer and ready for use again.
First, allow your coconut oil to thaw at room temperature for about an hour or two. This would take considerably more time if it were solid from freezing in a block.
Once the oil is soft and liquid, transfer it back into a glass jar that has a lid and lid tightly before placing it in the fridge.
Remember, never pour a hot liquid into a glass container with no lid. If you cannot get a lid for the container, put another glass jar with a sealable lid in the fridge until you can get one for your coconut oil.
Now that it’s refrigerated, your coconut oil will thaw at room temperature over time. So don’t panic and be patient, as this process takes time. You will be able to use it again in a couple of weeks.
Once your used coconut oil has thawed, you should always strain it. This helps remove any debris that has formed since you last used it.
This is important because even a small piece of junk can get lodged in the hair and cause severe damage.
If you don’t want to wait weeks for your coconut oil to thaw, you can put the entire container in hot water until the frozen part melts.
However, this method is not recommended for a glass jar because it may crack from sudden temperature changes.
Conclusion
Coconut is one of the best oils for healthy, delicious cooking. It’s unlike other oils, as it doesn’t go rancid quickly. Its shelf life is long and easily available in the market.
Coconut oil has several health benefits, which is why it is popular among people who want to promote a healthy lifestyle.
