Coconut butter isn’t as familiar as coconut oil. However, both of these ingredients are healthy, smell similar, and are rich in saturated fats and calories.
So, is coconut butter the same as coconut oil? Do these ingredients have any differences?
Coconut butter and coconut oil aren’t the same and have significant differences in the making process, nutrients, usage, and health effects.
Read on to learn the difference between peanut butter and coconut oil.
Is Coconut Butter the Same As Coconut Oil?
No, coconut butter and coconut oil are two different ingredients that are used for different intentions. Coconut oil is usually extracted from coconut meat.
Coconut oil is also hard at normal temperature, becoming liquid after heating.
The ingredients produce an oily, mild-to-medium odor and flavor. Conversely, coconut butter is prepared from coconut flesh.
It also remains hard at normal temperature and becomes softened after heating. Finally, it produces a strong coconut odor and flavor.
Difference between Coconut Oil and Coconut Butter
The following are some obvious differences between coconut oil and coconut butter:
Nutrition
Coconut oil is mostly saturated and made entirely of fat. Conversely, coconut butter is made of coconut and contains fiber.
While one tablespoon of coconut oil has 14 grams, coconut butter contains 10 grams.
Health Effect
The high saturated fat of these two ingredients is controversial.
According to the American Heart Association, a diet with rich saturated fats can cause high cholesterol and increase the possibility of stroke and heart attack.
However, some coconut oil consumers believe that most saturated fat is lauric acid and that it increases good cholesterol, reducing the risk of disease.
Beauty uses
A container of coconut butter or coconut oil is handy for people who are concerned about chemicals in beauty care products.
The fatty acids from these ingredients can reduce age spots and wrinkles and help recover from dry skin.
The following are some beauty regimens where you can use coconut oil and coconut butter:
- Bath oil
- Lip balm
- Skin moisturizers
- Shaving cream
- Personal lubricant
- Eye makeup remover
- Rash or burn soother
- Massage oil
However, you should do a skin patch test to determine the sensitivity and allergic reaction before using these ingredients on your skin.
Cooking
Coconut oil is broadly used as cooking oil as its high smoke point can endure high-heat cooking. Despite this, coconut oil is perfect for sautéing and frying. You can also spread coconut oil on toast, shortening, and use it as a vegetable oil in baking.
Conversely, you can spread coconut butter on almost anything and use it as a tasty butter substitute on a bagel or toast. However, coconut butter burns efficiently.
So it won’t be a good option for stovetop cooking over moderate heat.
Coconut butter is ideal for candies and fudge and can be an alternative to oil or butter. This ingredient will give the recipes a sweet, strong, and coconut flavor.
Final Words
Hope you understand is coconut butter the same as coconut oil or not. You should have found a significant difference between coconut butter and coconut oil after reading the post.
Apart from that, these ingredients have a slight price difference as well. Fortunately, coconut butter and coconut oil are interchangeable and can be substituted on a 1:1 basis.