There are certain types of coconut oil that can flavor food, but the results can depend on various factors.

My clients do love coconut oil, but they don’t know a great deal about it. This is why they want to know does coconut oil flavor food before they cook with. As I have plenty of experience with this ingredient, I have much to offer.

In this post, you can discover the precise flavor of coconut oil and whether or not it will have any impact on the flavor of your food. Let’s get started!

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Is Coconut Oil Tasteless?

The exact flavor of the coconut oil will depend on the type of coconut oil that you are using.

If you are using refined coconut oil, it will have a rather neutral taste. This means that it is will not have much of a coconut flavor. This is because this type of oil has gone under numerous processes which have eventually stripped it of most notes of coconut.

Unrefined coconut oil, on the other hand, is minimally processed or not processed at all. Due to this, it will retain a more significant coconut flavor. Of course, this will depend on how the coconut oil was produced so you can expect the exact taste to vary from one brand to another.

Tempering Green Veggies

Can Coconut Oil Flavor Your Food?

OK, so unrefined coconut oil has some flavor – is this passed down into your dish? Well, this does come down to the strength of the flavor of the oil. If your oil does have a strong coconut flavor, then this may lend itself to the rest of the ingredients as well.

Now, you also have to consider how much coconut oil you are using. If you are only using a tablespoon or so and adding lots of other herbs and spices, then it is unlikely that you will notice the flavor all that much.

On the other hand, if you are sautéing vegetables or deep frying foods in coconut oil, then the flavor may linger. In some instances, it may overpower the rest of the flavors in the food.

Which Coconut Oil Has No Flavor?

There is some coconut oil that has no flavor at all. This is referred to as fractionated coconut oil. Now, this kind of oil is mostly used for hair and skincare. Nevertheless, it is sometimes used for cooking as well.

Fractionated coconut oil is even more processed than regular refined coconut oil. Here, the long chain fatty acids are extracted. This allows the coconut oil to remain liquid at room temperature. At the same time, it also makes the oil completely flavorless.

If you aren’t too fond of the coconut flavor, then you can find coconut cooking oil that has been specifically stripped of these flavors. As such, it will not add any flavor of its own to your dishes.

There are some brands that will advertise their coconut cooking oil as having no aroma or flavor. These are the ones to get.

Keep in mind that this kind of coconut oil may not behave in the same way as traditional coconut oil. Thus, it is a good idea to check the smoke point and other characteristics before you cook with it.

Person pouring oil to temper vegetables

Can You Flavor Coconut Oil?

It doesn’t matter if your coconut oil is neutral flavored or not, it is possible for you to add other flavors to it. You can infuse the oil with garlic, rosemary, and a variety of other herbs and spices. In fact, there are now numerous companies that offer you infused coconut oil.

However, if you want to try your hand at this at home, then you will discover that it is quite simple for you to manage as well.

Pour a significant amount of coconut oil into a deep, small pan and the herbs or spices. You can use fresh or dried, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be. Allow the ingredients to simmer, but never burn. Turn the heat off just before the ingredients begin to brown.

Pour the coconut oil and ingredients into a glass jar and allow the herbs and spices to steep for several hours. Then, strain the ingredients and use the coconut oil as needed. Make sure to store the coconut oil in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Remember that infused coconut oil will not stay fresh for as long as regular coconut oil. It is best to use the oil up within a few days’ time.

Does Coconut Oil Add Flavor to Smoothies and Coffee?

There are a lot of people who add coconut oil to their beverages as well. If you were to do this, would the coconut oil flavor your drinks too?

Now, if you take coffee with no milk, then the coconut taste – particularly if you are using unrefined coconut oil – may be noticeable. If there are other ingredients added, then it may not be as obvious.

If you add coconut milk to your coffee, then the coconut oil may actually complement the flavors of coconut milk. You may have a more cohesive flavor and the overall beverage may taste more coconut-y.

With smoothies, you tend to add a lot more ingredients and flavors. Due to this, coconut oil may not always be tasted. If you are making your smoothie with coconut milk, though, there is once again a chance that the flavor will be heightened.

It is clear that only some coconut oils impart flavor. Unrefined coconut oil will often have the most flavor. And, even then, there is no guarantee that the taste will actually be noticeable in the dish that you are cooking. However, if you are deep frying foods in the oil, then the taste will be more obvious.

Did you enjoy this post? Then make sure to check out our Pinterest page. We have plenty of other posts on coconut oil and how it can be used when cooking. Find the top tips and tricks there!