Natural home cosmetics for many years in a row is very popular among women and men. Today, there are many recipes for preparing products for the skin and hair, but not everyone knows how to extend their validity. In modern times, more and more people use exotic products, so this article will tell you how to store coconut oil and how to use it correctly. Thanks to the observance of elementary rules, you can forever forget about the problems with expensive ingredients and products that are necessary for the care of both women and men.
In fact, you can quickly figure out how to store and use coconut oil, because there is nothing complicated about it. This oil is actively used to preserve beauty and maintain health. It is used not only for external, but also for internal use. But in order to get the maximum effect, you need to know how to handle this product.
Composition and properties
Before you learn how to store coconut oil, you should understand its composition and properties. The product is obtained from copra, that is, dried pulp of nuts. The composition of the oil includes the following acids:
- lauric;
- kapron;
- myristic;
- oleic;
- capric;
- palmitic;
- stearic.
Everyone must know how to store coconut oil at home, because it can come in handy in various situations and help solve even those problems that expensive pharmacy products cannot cope with.
The product is obtained by cold or hot pressing. In the first method, practically all useful substances are preserved, although it is worth noting that the yield of the product is not so great. The second method makes it possible to achieve complete extraction of fats, which significantly reduces the cost, and therefore, the effectiveness.
Oil selection
How to store coconut oil will be described in detail below, but before that you need to understand for yourself the basic rules for choosing a product.
First of all, you should know that oil can be both refined and unrefined. Almost everyone knows how to store and use coconut oil of the first type, because it helps to cope with hair problems. The second option is more preferable as a skin care product.
Really high-quality refined oil is transparent and does not have a particularly pronounced aroma. If the product is unprocessed, then it will differ in a golden hue and the smell of fresh coconut. And in the case when the product has a poisonous yellow tint, the oil is recognized unsuitable for use.
How to store coconut oil
The advantage of the product is that it is not too moody. But, despite this, you should still follow certain rules that indicate how to store coconut oil at home. Follow the recommendations below in detail, and the product will perform its functions for a long time.
But it should be noted that even knowing how to properly store coconut oil, you should not purchase it in large quantities. After all, the fresher the product, the more benefit it will bring. Following from this, it will be much more profitable to purchase a new portion of oil when it is needed, and not to stock up immediately for several years in advance.
How temperature affects storage duration
Now it's time to learn how to store oil (coconut), and the first thing to understand is the fact that the product should always be in a dark and dry place with room temperature. The oil consistency directly depends on the storage temperature . So, at 24 degrees or more, it will become liquid, and in colder conditions it will become jelly-like or even harden.
It is necessary to take into account all these nuances in order to make the oil more convenient to apply. After all, with regular use, it is best to keep it in liquid form. In addition, also do not forget that, having acquired a solid form, the oil will be unsuitable for use even for cosmetic purposes.
The temperature does not particularly affect the shelf life of the product, but it should not be kept in hot conditions, because in this case it will deteriorate much faster. The best option would be a dark, cool and dry place.
It is recommended to store coconut oil at a constant temperature, so that it will remain in normal condition for a long time. Do not store the product in the bathroom because temperature fluctuations occur there, which shortens the shelf life.
In the event that the oil is stored in the refrigerator, it should not be kept outside for too long during use. If the oil is used often enough, then it will be most advantageous to place it in a dark and cool place.
Direct sunlight significantly accelerates the spoilage of the product. Therefore, it must be kept exclusively in a dark place.
In which dishes and how to store coconut oil
Unfortunately, not all people understand even basic storage rules. Keep coconut oil only in dry containers, which should be tightly closed with a lid. In addition, to separate part of the oil for use from the total amount, you also need a clean spoon, knife, fork and so on.
If liquid enters the product, mold can soon be expected to appear on its surface, after which there is no longer any desire to use it for medicinal purposes.
If the oil is purchased in a large volume, it should immediately be melted to get a homogeneous consistency. Then this mixture must be poured into several containers and stored at different temperatures.
Shelf life
Refined and unrefined oil is now produced by many industries, each of which guarantees its expiration date. As a rule, for the first option, the term of use is set to two years, for the second - up to four. Although it is worth noting that, subject to storage rules, you can even slightly increase this period.
Spoiled butter
Obviously, if the product has already disappeared, then no storage recommendations will help to restore it. First of all, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the oil. If it seems to be somehow discolored or if mold traces are present on its surface, then this means that the product is completely unsuitable for use.
Many people think that you can just remove the mold and after that the product will be fresh, but in fact it is not. It will not be possible to determine how deep the mold penetrated the oil without special examination, so it is better not to risk it. Otherwise, instead of a healing effect, you can gain yourself a bunch of other problems.