{30} Uses for Coconut Oil

by Mandi on April 2, 2012

Ginger-Coconut-Oil-Sugar-Body-Scrub-bath

source: Food for My Family

I am counting down the days to my 30th birthday, and I couldn’t be more excited! Truly! As I was brainstorming ways to celebrate here on the blog, I couldn’t help but think that 30 lists of {30} items would be just about perfect for my type-A, list-making self. Join me for the next month as I share the things I’ve learned in the past 30 years and my hopes for the future! See all 30 Days of {30} posts here.

Coconut oil is one of my very favorite all-purpose products. It can be used in baked goods and fried foods (although virgin coconut oil will give recipes a slight coconut flavor, which my husband doesn’t like at all — although I love it!) as well as in the bathroom for skincare and more!

I typically buy these 54-ounce containers of Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil from Amazon. Although we go through it pretty fast in the kitchen, it lasts a long time in the bathroom even though we use it for pretty much everything!

30-days-of-30

Here are 30 ways you can use coconut oil from the kitchen to the bathroom!

When cooking…

1. As a substitute for other oils or butter in baking.

2. For frying chicken, shrimp, veggies or pretty much anything else.

3. To pop popcorn on the stove.

4. As a spread on toast or muffins.

As a daily supplement…

5. To improve digestion.

6. To increase milk production for nursing mothers.

7. To boost overall immunity.

8. To promote weight loss and prevent cravings.

In the bathroom…

9. To condition your hair.

10. As a personal lubricant.

11. In homemade deodorant.

12. To make sugar body scrub.

13.  As a diaper rash cream (especially good for yeast-based rashes).

14. As massage oil.

15. In place of shaving cream.

16. As a topical treatment for fungal or yeast infections.

17. To soothe eczema.

18. For oil pulling.

19. To make a homemade vapor rub.

20. To make homemade toothpaste.

21. In place of pomade.

22. As body lotion.

23. For wind-chapped cheeks.

24. As a lip balm.

25. In place of aftershave (I’m prone to razor burn, and this is so soothing!).

26. To soothe bug bites and stings.

27. To make homemade soap.

Around the house…

28. To condition butcher block countertops.

29. As a furniture polish.

30. To season cast iron cookware.

Do you use coconut oil? What other uses would you add to this list?

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy on the way, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

  • http://profiles.google.com/kdfgreene Kristina Greene

    Great list!  I love coconut oil.  I use it as a moisturizer, eye makeup remover, and in lip balm recipes.  Plus for cooking.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Makeup remover — that’s a great one!

  • Lori

    Yay! Thanks! I bought a tub last weekend! Now to get to use with it.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Yes!

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Ugh, and I meant to come back and respond to your question with the link to this post once I put it together — glad you found it!!

  • http://joyceandnorm.wordpress.com Joyce and Norm

    When you use it for cooking/baking, do you substitute the exact amount?

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    I use it for cooking, oil, pulling, lotion, homemade toothpaste and deodorant.

    Just have a 5gallon tub of it.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Nice!

  • Nclark

    I use 2T in my coffee which seems to stimulate my memory and speech. I hear it is one molecule difference from the medication for Alzheimers.(don’t know if that is true)

    Also, I use it at room temperature to rub on saggy skin-helps it return after serious weight loss and on rub on celulite.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Great additions to the list — I’ll have to try it in coffee!

  • Lisa

    I add 1/2 tsp melted coconut oil to about a cup of dry cat food.  This not only helps with hairballs, but it also makes my cat’s coat really shiny.

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