Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil–The Healthy Alternative to Butter and Cooking Oils (Product Review)

 

 

Add excitement to your favorite dishes—and promote a healthy lifestyle—with our Kelapo™ Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Harvested from exclusive coconut palms in Sri Lanka, this 100% organic, trans fat free oil can be used as an all-natural, flavorful, and energy packed, butter alternative.

Description

• Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
• Vegetarian Certified
• Fair Trade Approved

Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be used as a replacement for butter and other oils. The unique flavors of our extra virgin coconut oil turn any ordinary meal into a truly indulgent experience.

We harvest our coconuts from the lush, tropical island of Sri Lanka. Our fair trade farmers collect the fruit at its peak ripeness, and extract the extra virgin coconut oil through a cold expeller press. Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is 100% natural, unrefined, and certified organic. Plus, it is the only Fair Trade approved coconut oil on the market.

Suggested Use

Use extra virgin coconut oil as a 1 to 1 replacement for butter and oils in cooking and baking. For best results, do not refrigerate.

Coconut Oil Versus The Alternative:

Coconut oil is new to many people but it is much like olive oil. Extra virgin coconut oil is extracted from the meat on the insides of the coconut through a cold-expeller press. The coconut oil is a stark, bright white color and has a fresh coconut smell. The taste profile of coconut oil is light and sweet, with subtle hints of actual coconut. The flavor is wonderfully versatile in both savory and sweet dishes. What surprises most people is that coconut oil can change between a liquid and solid state very easily. Whenever the temperature is above 76 degrees Fahrenheit, coconut oil will be liquid. Below 76, coconut oil is a solid. Coconut oil differs from olive oil, in that most of the fats in coconut oil are saturated fats, such as lauric acid, but coconut oil benefits from not having trans fat or cholesterol.

The question must be answered, which is healthier for me: olive oil or coconut oil cooking? Well the answer isn’t clear cut. Both coconut oil and olive oil contain 120 calories per tablespoon. All of the calories in both oils come from fats. Again, neither of the oils contain trans fat or cholesterol. The one glaring difference is the saturated vs unsaturated fat contents. Saturated fat was once considered bad for you but research is now being conducted to suggest that plant-based saturated fats, like coconut oil, may not have the same negative effects of animal based saturated fats, like butter. Another smaller known difference between coconut oil and olive oil is the smoke point. Unrefined olive oil has a lower smoke point than unrefined coconut oil and thus isn’t the ideal oil for higher temperatures. Oils can break down beyond their smoke points which starts to change the molecular structure and integrity of the oil.

Overall, coconut and olive oil are very similar yet still very different. Don’t give up your olive oil but don’t ignore coconut oil either. Looking at the people who have been using coconut oil for generations can lead us to believe that there may be some link between eating natural unrefined oils and your health, ie the South Pacific and Mediterranean diets. While olive oil is good for cold dishes, like salads, coconut oil is great for stir fry and also for baking. How will you use coconut oil recipes in your kitchen?

Below are 10 of our favorite ideas for using coconut oil in the kitchen:

1. Toss it into a blender with your other favorite fruits—strawberries, mangoes, oranges, bananas, etc.—to make a refreshing and healthy smoothie.
2. Add it to your stir fry recipe to infuse veggies with a tropical flavor.
3. Spread creamy coconut oil on bread, toast, or crackers, and prepare to say bye-bye to butter.
4. Spoon a little into a bowl of oatmeal.
5. When making popcorn for movie night, add coconut oil instead of greasy butter.
6. Enhance the flavor of chicken or fish by adding coconut oil before baking or frying.
7. Boil rice and pasta in a combination of water and coconut oil. Finish off with a bit of coconut oil before serving.
8. Mix coconut oil with your favorite herbal tea, cider, or coffee for a wonderfully soothing beverage.
9. Roast red potatoes with coconut oil or use coconut oil to mash potatoes.
10. Impress friends with delicious coconut cakes, coconut brownies, or coconut muffins.

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My Thoughts:

This past Thanksgiving I used Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil baking sticks I was sent to review, along with a recipe taken from its package for Grandma’s Banana Bread.  Boy, was this bread moist.  My guests who have tried by other banana bread recipes asked what I had done differently to achieve such a great taste.  They said it felt lighter, was extremely moist and packed a lot of flavor.  When I told them I substituted the oil with the Kelapo EV Coconut Oil baking sticks, they were surprised.  Many had never heard of coconut oil for cooking/baking before.  So, I showed them the package and share health benefits of substituting this product with butter and oils in baking and cooking.  A few guests jotted down the product name and were planning on buying a few packages for their upcoming Christmas cookie baking. 

And, then the other night, I had some of this product left over and ended up adding it to a hot bowl of popcorn, and enjoyed!  What a healthy alternative to greasy and fattening butter.  I can’t wait to buy more of these baking sticks and try a few other recipes I found on the Kelapo blog.

---BUY NOW---

Click here to order a package of Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Baking Sticks (2 Pack)for only $8.99.

Disclosure:  I was sent a sample from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.