Coconut oil in Thai cooking

[Kanga Japan]

Coconut oil is popular for its health benefits, but I have never noticed it being used in Thai recipes.

Do Thais use it for cooking?

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Gatee, used in almost every curry.

Sold in boxes.

[Kanga Japan]

Thank you for your reply.

Aren't you talking about COCONUT MILK? I am sure that is what GATII (kathi) is.

I was asking about COCONUT OIL. Appreciate your help.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Gatee is made from pressing coconut flesh.

[Kanga Japan]

Thank you. I am aware of that, but what I am talking about is OIL, not coconut milk.

The oil is made from coconuts and used instead of vegetable oil.

It is sold in bottles, the same as normal cooking oil.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

There are also many popular brands of margarine made for 50-80% coconut oil.

You might like to try cooking using that.

Look on the back of the packets for the coconut oil content.

Sold in baking and cooking supply shops like YOK.

They sell bottles of coconut oil too

http://www.yokinter.com/product_by_category,6

Edited June 4, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[Kanga Japan]

Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it.

Actually, I would like to know whether or not coconut oil is ever used in Thai cooking. I have studied Thai cooking and we never used it. It also does not appear in any of the many Thai cooking books which I have.

I appreciate the link which you attached, however I live in Japan. Coconut oil is sold here, but not used in Japanese cooking.

I was just curious to know whether Thais used it very much. Just for research.

Thank you for your help anyway. Interesting to hear that they sell margarine made from coconut oil in Thailand.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I have tried coconut based margarine in cooking, very strong taste, so I switched to Palm oil which has a very mild taste.

In Thailand butter and dairy products are very expensive so I was looking for a cheaper alternative.

Also seen many reports that coconut oil increases cholesterol levels in your blood and bad for your heart.

Edited June 4, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[Kanga Japan]

Coconut oil used to have a bad reputation many years ago, however due to technological advances, the filtration method has been totally revised and now coconut oil is known to be excellent for health, improving conditions such as Alzheimers, diabetes, as well as reducing cholesterol and boosting the metabolism and helps in reducing weight. I am sure that if you look on the internet, you will see more data for coconut oil, rather than against it.

Palm oil, however is known to be bad for your health, as well as the environment.

I hope this helps.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Coconut oil used to have a bad reputation many years ago, however due to technological advances, the filtration method has been totally revised and now coconut oil is known to be excellent for health, improving conditions such as Alzheimers, diabetes, as well as reducing cholesterol and boosting the metabolism and helps in reducing weight. I am sure that if you look on the internet, you will see more data for coconut oil, rather than against it.

Palm oil, however is known to be bad for your health, as well as the environment.

I hope this helps.

+

Very similar oils, very similar industrial extraction process.

I seriously doubt there is much difference between the two.

But I agree a coconut oil fad has appeared.

More to do with a marketing agency hired by a manufacturer I suspect.

I'm of the opinion, if god wanted you to eat it, you wouldn't need a factory to make it.

Which removes Soy, palm, and coconut oil from my 'healthy' list.

And adds, milk, butter and cheese to my "healthy" list.

Hope this helps.

Edited June 4, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[balo]

Yes Cocunut oil is used in Thai cooking. I buy it myself in the supermarket here in Pattaya, But it's more expensive to buy than palm oil so most thai streetfood vendors use the cheapest oil. I use coconut oil every time I make a dish at home.

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[edwardandtubs]

Coconut oil used to have a bad reputation many years ago, however due to technological advances, the filtration method has been totally revised and now coconut oil is known to be excellent for health, improving conditions such as Alzheimers, diabetes, as well as reducing cholesterol and boosting the metabolism and helps in reducing weight. I am sure that if you look on the internet, you will see more data for coconut oil, rather than against it.

Palm oil, however is known to be bad for your health, as well as the environment.

I hope this helps.

If you look on the internet you'll see the usual quack sites peddling their 'wellness' myths. There's no credible evidence to support the health benefits of coconut oil.

[Kanga Japan]

AnotherOneAmerican and edwardandtubs,

Yes, coconut oil is quite a fad at the moment relating to coconut oil and there are a lot of quacks out there, however I have spoken to a few people in the health industry and they advocate it, however I have not yet used it, so I cannot give you a personal opinion.

Balo,

Good to hear that you are using it. Thanks for that.

[beammeup]

Coconut oil is very stable and less prone to oxidization than other vegeable oils. As Kanga said it increases the metabolism and fat burning. Very good for you.

[beammeup]

I use it all the time at home, but my wife who does all the Thai cooking never uses it. She prefers Olive oil.

[rhythmworx]

Coconut oil is not what you want to be cooking with, rub it on your skin yes, fry with it in a wok no.

[Kanga Japan]

Dear beammeup,

Thanks for your 2 posts. It seems that coconut oil, given its current production method, is good for you, despite being put off by all the ads and fads. Thanks for letting me know that your wife does not use it. It appears that it is not used much (if at all) in Thai cooking and I find that interesting, considering the fact that so many other coconut-related products are used in Thailand.

I think that the bad reputation that it had years ago has stuck in people's minds (as well as mine, a bit).

[Kanga Japan]

Dear rhythmworx

That seems to be a popular opinion.

I wish that a more reliable source would do some research on it and perhaps we may then find out that it is actually good for your health. Your comments are appreciated.

[rhythmworx]

I'll expand more in the morning I am just about to get in bed.

Here's an example though for now...ghee AKA clarified butter is rumoured to give health benefits, yes it may well do it is used to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy when rubbed on skin etc...but it is mainly all saturated fat like coconut oil is, it might also have other benefits inside the body after eating it, but it is virtually pure saturated fat, medium and long chain transfats.

Saturated fat makes you fat, fat around your midsection stays there and toxins develop within that fat which is a common cancer former, heart disease maker, makes you heavier so your heart has to work harder etc... where are the benefits in that?

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Thais are very traditional,

they use a product because it's cheap, or their mom used it.

Coconut oil is neither.

[balo]

Coconut oil is not what you want to be cooking with, rub it on your skin yes, fry with it in a wok no.

You're totally wrong , if you're talking about coconut virgin oil it's used in several health products but the other oil is for cooking. When you buy it the bottle is labelled coconut cooking oil. And its just as good as other cooking oils when frying meat or veggies.

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