imeverywoman Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Anyone with a concise explanation about these oils? Specifically, I'm using Skippy Natural Peanut Butter with palm oil in it, and I've begun to buy the Lou Ann brand coconut oil for baking, etc. Am I okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'm highly allergic to palm oil and it breaks me out terribly, so watch out for that. It's a much cheaper oil and lots of products have changed over to using it since prices went up last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imeverywoman Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thank you, Regena. :) Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thank you, Regena. :) Anyone else? I really don't know much about palm oil but coconut oil has a number of benefits, i.e, it's anti-parasitic and anti-viral. Unless palm oil has the same benefits, I'd stick with the coconut oil. I have substituted coconut oil in all recipes calling for shortening and I use it for popping corn and anything that needs sauteeing on a low flame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I use coconut oil for baking instead of shortening. I like that the final product is much moister and softer as a result. It's also easier to measure since it's liquid at room temperature. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I use coconut oil for baking instead of shortening. I like that the final product is much moister and softer as a result. It's also easier to measure since it's liquid at room temperature. ;) So how warm is your house? Because my coconut oil is solid at room temperature. And so is all of the stuff in the grocery stores around here. Unless there is different kinds of coconut oil that I'm not aware of. I use the stuff in my hair and it would be much easier to use if it was a liquid. Right now I have to "melt" it in my hands before spreading it on my hair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in FL Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 So how warm is your house? Because my coconut oil is solid at room temperature. And so is all of the stuff in the grocery stores around here. Unless there is different kinds of coconut oil that I'm not aware of. I use the stuff in my hair and it would be much easier to use if it was a liquid. Right now I have to "melt" it in my hands before spreading it on my hair. I think the coconut oil becomes liquid at about 75*. Mine is solid in the winter, but right now my house is 78* and it's in the liquid state. On the peanut butter: from my understanding, peanut oil is much better for you than the palm oil. We use smuckers natural Pb. It's just smooshed peanuts and salt. I figure why replace a healthy pb with one that might not be as good. HTH Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thanks! I'm going to get some coconut oil now. Can you use it in muffins and such as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Anyone with a concise explanation about these oils? Specifically, I'm using Skippy Natural Peanut Butter with palm oil in it, and I've begun to buy the Lou Ann brand coconut oil for baking, etc. Am I okay? My understanding of it - it's all in the way it is processed. Cold pressed versus using chemicals and heat. It's like the DHA thing - now they're telling us how bad DHA is in the infant formula - but they source it from fungi (ewwww) and algae (which is ok) but they use hexane and other chemicals to process it. Other companies use quality sources and and process it correctly. Scroll down and you will see a link about DHA. http://www.naturesone.com/index.php As far as oils go - http://www.mercola.com is a decent place to start. He seems well educated and informed. You could search his site for info and trust it. I've been reading him for years and he's right on the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Palm oil tastes like an old straw hat, and as far as I know, really only belongs in African and African derived cooking. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 So how warm is your house? Because my coconut oil is solid at room temperature. And so is all of the stuff in the grocery stores around here. Unless there is different kinds of coconut oil that I'm not aware of. I use the stuff in my hair and it would be much easier to use if it was a liquid. Right now I have to "melt" it in my hands before spreading it on my hair. Warm. :lol: LOL We pay Dominion out the wazoo in the winter, but our summertime bill is really tiny. I cannot stand to be cold (it literally makes my joints hurt), so our house stays about 75*-78* in the winter, and I don't turn on the AC in the summer until the interior of the house hits 82*-85*. Although to be honest, the way I handle the AC has as much to do with my belief that it's rather silly to have the inside temperature so low that if I were outside I'd be wearing long sleeves and a sweater, which I do until it hits 70*-75*. lol:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imeverywoman Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 As far as oils go - www.mercola.com is a decent place to start. He seems well educated and informed. You could search his site for info and trust it. I've been reading him for years and he's right on the money. All this over peanut butter. *sigh* :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewday Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Palm oil has more saturated fat than animal fat. We try to avoid it in most things....but I have to have my chocolate caramel creamer! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewday Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I can't yet recommend this book one way or the other since I'm only about 1/4 of the way through, but Fat Land (which was recommended here on the Hive) has been pretty interesting reading especially on the different fats (partially hydrogenated oils, palm oil etc) and how they came to be used in so many of our foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 The nutritional benefits from most oils, particularly these, are significantly decreased if the oil has been highly refined. I'm pretty sure the Lou Ann CO is a refined product, and I'm certain that the palm oil in your Skippy is a refined palm oil. Do some reading on health benefits of red palm oil (unrefined) and likewise for unrefined coconut oil to see if the answers to your questions become any clearer. If you are using refined versions of these oils, you would probably be better off to seek out another brand or product. Do you happen to have a Trader Joes near you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2GirlsTX Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thanks! I'm going to get some coconut oil now. Can you use it in muffins and such as well? Yes you can. I make muffins all the time, but I usually just use applesauce for the oil needed and sometimes I add a tablespoon of the coconut oil. I use coconut oil or olive oil for just about everything but for my baking of sweet items (cakes, muffins) I usually substitute the applesauce for the oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I usually use extra virgin olive oil in cakes/muffins that call for vegetable oil. I only use coconut oil if it's a recipe that calls for vegetable shortening or lard (ICK!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Palm oil is not the same thing as palm kernel oil. Red palm oil is wonderful stuff - maybe Rosie's has turned rancid? And I have palm oil that is barely a peachy color that I buy in bulk for high heat applications - popping popcorn, frying, stir fry. But in peanut butter? I try to avoid any that the ingredients list isn't just "peanuts." I buy either "REAL" peanut butter which is an ADM brand or Smucker's organic, but I also buy other nut butters to mix it up a little - cashew, almond, macadamia. I think eating a variety of different veggie fats is as good of an idea as eating a variety of veggies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Palm oil tastes like an old straw hat, and as far as I know, really only belongs in African and African derived cooking. With a tip of the hat to those who like old straw hats, be they "African or African derived," that sort of red palm kernel oil is, as far as I know, used extensively in West African cooking. (West African cooking is totally different from North, East, and South African cooking.) Palm oil is used in the US for margarine and other foods -- I'm sure I've seen it listed as an ingredient, and in other food and non-food applications (per the American Palm Oil Council). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 You're probably right about it being West African cooking. The Brazilians of African descent are from West Africa, yes? They use palm oil. The stuff in my pantry is "Palm Fruit Oil," is that the wrong one? I don't know if it's rancid, but it tasted like old straw hat when I bought it. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imeverywoman Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Do you happen to have a Trader Joes near you? and wish and wish and wish some more. No such luck. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.