Pure coconut oil vs. adulterated: 4 simple home tests to tell the difference

A few drops of coconut oil can instantly elevate the taste of any curry. Nothing matches the flavour of pure, locally made coconut oil, especially when it comes to frying fish.

These days, the price of coconut oil has surged, yet people still prefer it for their cooking. And with so many different varieties of coconut oil now flooding the market, one common question remains. How do we know which is pure and which is adulterated? To identify this, there are some simple tests you can do at home.

• Heat a pan and add a little coconut oil. If the oil is adulterated, you’ll notice a slightly burnt smell as soon as the pan heats up. Pure ones, on the other hand, will give off the aroma of fresh coconut oil.
• Pour some coconut oil into a vessel and place it in the refrigerator for about two hours. Adulterated oil will separate, with the impure content floating on top in liquid form. Pure coconut oil, however, solidifies quickly and evenly.
• Take a small amount of coconut oil in a bowl and mix in a spoonful of yellow butter. If the colour of the oil changes, it indicates adulteration. If there is no change to the oil, you can consider the oil pure.
• Regular users can often identify adulterated oil at a glance. Pure coconut oil is almost transparent, while adulterated oil tends to have a faint yellowish tint. Pour some coconut oil into a vessel and leave it for about ten minutes. If the oil looks clear and transparent, it is pure. Impure oil will appear slightly faded in colour.

With these simple checks, you can easily ensure the coconut oil you use is pure.