# The miracles of coconut oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350 "2014-05-13T14:18:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/21 "2014-05-19T23:03:33Z")
Coconut everything seems to be popular right now - coconut oil, coconut water, etc. Hey, I like coconut, always have, but do we really need it in _everything?_ ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/22 "2014-05-19T23:11:45Z")
Don’t forget coconut flour. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/23 "2014-05-20T00:45:35Z")
It makes freakin’ _great_ popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/24 "2014-05-20T01:07:33Z")
A miraculous 5 gallon tub of it was in the lobby at my office today. No idea why. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/25 "2014-05-20T01:45:03Z")
I seasoned a cast-iron pan with it. I’ve managed to successfully make breakfast with that pan all week. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/26 "2014-05-20T01:54:31Z")
It’s a really good moisturizer, for skin and dry hair (ends only). ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/27 "2014-05-20T05:05:53Z")
For the Dairy intolerant the Costco Tub is the Shyte. I use it for tons of stuff that would normally take butter or margarine (I also have the good fortune of being soy intolerant…Ug) and it does indeed make a damn fine batch of popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/28 "2017-05-02T17:20:09Z")
I, too, had (still?) placed coconut oil with the other e-e-e-evil saturated fat tropical oils like palm oil until all those tubs of the stuff started appearing about a year ago. Skeptical, I still avoided any C.O. products until a few weeks ago when my favorite [local brand](http://www.bouldercanyonfoods.com/) of potato chips offered at Costco in the snack-size in a case switched to [coconut oil](http://www.bouldercanyonfoods.com/products/coconut-oil-kettle-chips). I reluctantly bought a case and am doggedly working through it but can’t say I’m enthusiastic about the taste, especially the after taste, and will not repeat the purchase. Coconut _water_ OTOH is da bomb. When I’m on shift at Burning Man, I carry a 250-ml box in case someone needs rehydration stat (the potassium). Back home I drink the leftovers before they expire. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/29 "2017-05-02T19:29:02Z")
Coconut oil is gross, and even grosser when it’s 3 years old. I know someone (who fits the definition of [orthorexia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa) insisting that coconut oil be used to cook a savory dish. Hurk. > [@DesertDog](#): > > Coconut _water_ OTOH is da bomb. When I’m on shift at Burning Man, I carry a 250-ml box in case someone needs rehydration stat (the potassium). Back home I drink the leftovers before they expire. Discerning binge festival drug users I know recommend Pedialyte. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/30 "2017-05-02T20:36:10Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Abstract: Coconut oil has MCTs, which some people think is good and others think perform miracles, but research results are mixed. > > Next? [This is a good site](http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/snake-oil-supplements/) to help you decide what works and doesn’t work, depending on present research. The chart changes as new information comes to light. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/31 "2017-05-03T06:17:40Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It’s wonderful in the bedroom, if not the kitchen. It’s solid in the jar, but liquefies the instant you rub it between your hands. Marvelously slippery, and if it’s a wonder food…so much the better. 'Tis. 😉 But, more broadly, it’s a nice moisturizer. Any greasy feeling miraculously disappears after half a minute (and it really wasn’t obtrusive in the first place). I don’t know where it goes, but it’s a really versatile and user-friendly option. Haven’t tried it in the kitchen yet, because we’ve been using it elsewhere and I wouldn’t want any stray germs to cross-contaminate. I can say that the scent is pleasant if detectable at all (depends on brand). ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350/32 "2017-05-03T11:44:30Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Discerning binge festival drug users I know recommend Pedialyte. The smallest it comes (not counting the 69-ml freezer pops) is a liter which is awkward to carry in your pocket. The boxes I carry squish better (and it looks like they are 330-ml, not 250 like I estimated). It is meant for first aid, to reduce the muscle cramps while we wait for the ambulance to arrive and take them to the clinic (named Rampart) where they likely get an IV liter of Ringers. I’m not there for that part. If they’re just thirsty they get plain water out of my largish canteen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-miracles-of-coconut-oil/688350.md?page=1)