Mommy Greenest Approved: Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil + Healthy Popsicle Recipe!
From the time I learned to cook—in Italy, the year I turned thirteen—I kept a giant bottle of olive oil next to the stove. I mixed it into salad dressing, tossed vegetables in it before roasting, and used it as a base—adding garlic first, of course—to pretty much everything I sautéed. But that might all be about to change: I recently learned that coconut oil may be a healthier choice for some methods of cooking.
Free of cholesterol and rich in lauric acid, coconut oil actually lowers cholesterol and fights aging. With its high “smoke point,” it’s great for cooking! Apparently, it’s all about the “smoke point,” which is the specific time at which a heated oil begins to smoke, breaking down into acrolein—a toxic chemical that makes burnt foods taste and smell bitter. The higher the smoke point, the safer for high-heat cooking: Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 320 degrees, while refined coconut oil can be heated to 400 degrees until it smokes.
Free of cholesterol and rich in lauric acid, coconut oil actually lowers cholesterol in the body. It’s non-hydrogenated and trans fat free, and also contains high levels of candida-fighting caprylic acid, as well as triglycerides, which help the body burn fat. And it creates an antioxidant effect in the body—helping to reduce aging.
Intrigued? I was, too!
Today, my cooking essentials include Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil, which is fair trade, non-GMO, kosher, gluten- and soy-free. It’sUSDA Certified Organic and refined to remove the coconut flavor and scent.
I first discovered Barlean’s through its Omega Swirl line of flax and fish oil supplements that are naturally flavored and taste like fruit smoothies. Known for its 26 year history in the natural supplements space, Barlean’s guarantees the highest quality in its coconut oils, cold-pressing organic coconuts that are harvested at the peak of flavor and nutritional value.
Want to try? Enter below to win a jar of Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil for your kitchen essentials!
Until recently, I had only used coconut oil in DIY beauty treatments, but as I quickly discovered, Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil opens up a whole host of culinary opportunities! Check out this healthy popsicle recipe–I can’t wait to try it with my kids!
Barlean’s Citrus Coconut Pops (serves 10)
1 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp. Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil
2 tbsp. Barlean’s MCT Coconut Swirl
2 cups pureed pineapple
½ cup diced pineapple
½ cup pureed orange
½ cup diced orange
pinch of salt
Mix diced orange and pineapple and divide into 10 servings.
Combine all other ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender until smooth.
Fill each popsicle mold about 1/3 full, leaving room at the top.
Fill the remainder with the diced fruit mixture.
Allow popsicles to freeze for an hour, and then insert popsicle sticks.
Freeze four-to-six hours until firm.
Once firm, let molds stand at room temperature for five minutes before removing popsicles.
Enjoy!
This post was sponsored by Barlean’s Organic Culinary Coconut Oil and meets the standards I’ve established to endorse a brand as “Mommy Greenest Approved.” Click here for more about Editorial Standards.

41 Comments
Debra Guillen
I like olive oil, but would love to try coconut oil.
Coline T.
Extra-virgin olive oil is my fav for cooking 🙂
Kelly O
Coconut Oil is my favorite cooking oil. I use it for most of my cooking/baking. Occasionally I use Olive OIl too.
Guppy
I love olive oil although I’ve been really interested in using more coconut products.
Nicky
coconut oil is definitely my favourite
Itzel Gutierrez
Olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil. I like to switch it up 🙂
Rachel Sarnoff
Nice!
Ericka Coello
My favorite cooking oil is the coconut one, actually. I’ve been using it for years and I love it. That’s why I want to win this giveaway
Alicia
We use Avocado oil and coconut oil. I save the olive oil to use raw.
jan
coconut oil is a fav of mine to use
Phoenix
Olive oil & coconut oil
M.Clark
My favorite cooking oil is Olive Oil.
Lisa Bromley
sounds great I’ll have to try it!
Richard Brandt
My favorite cooking oil = canola
Rachel Sarnoff
Hmm… I’ve read that as much as 90% of canola is GMO. Try coconut, it’s such a healthier option for planet and people!
Lori byrd
I just use crisco
Rachel Sarnoff
The USDA Certified Organic Crisco Coconut Oil? I haven’t tried it yet but hear good things!
Lisa Davis
olive oil
Elisabeth
I normally use extra virgin olive oil but have been wanting to try coconut oil!
Rita Sheppard
I usually cook with olive oil.
Sarah
Olive oil has been my go to cooking oil until recently. I have started using coconut oil more frequently due to the wonderful flavor it imparts – for both cooking & baking. I made some gluten-free biscuits with coconut oil (instead of lard or yucky Crisco) and my entire family loved them – they were not dry or hard & had great flavor.
Rachel Sarnoff
That’s great to hear! The wonderful thing about culinary coconut oil is that there’s no flavor of coconut, so you can really use it for pretty much anything. I do love the other for coconut flavor though! The description of those biscuits is making my mouth water!!
kathy downey
I use coconut oil for all my cooking and my smoothies
Heather Dawn
It is a toss up between olive oil and coconut oil!
Meagan
I love cooking with coconut oil. Sometimes I’ll use ghee and rarely olive oil. Coconut oil works for just about everything!
Rachel Sarnoff
I have never tried ghee. Somebody once told me that ghee was consider vegan, and I was really confused. It’s still butter, right?
sharon
olive oil. ( not sure what i can cook with coconut oil yet.
Rachel Sarnoff
It doesn’t taste like coconut, that’s the awesome part!
IzzyFrost
I LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! THE COCONUT COOKING OIL! IT TASTE WONDERFUL, IT’S LIGHT AND ADDED BONUS….IT’S MUCH MORE HEALTHIER THAN MOST OF THE COMPETITORS ON THE MARKET!!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yay!! And Barlean’s organic version is the best. Thanks for commenting!
Wendy Vor
My favorite cooking oil so far has been avocado oil, Im not sure what is about it but it just brings a light and fresh feeling when it comes to oil, not as saturated.
Rachel Sarnoff
You’re the third person to recommend it for cooking, Wendy. Obviously I have to try!!
CEDELIA
My Favorite Cooking Oil Is Coconut Oil!! I Just Started Using It A Few Months Ago And It’s Fabulous!! My Family Loves It As Well!!
Rachel Sarnoff
Yay! We are on the same page, Cedelia! 🙂
Melissa S
Extra virgin oil has always been my favorite cooking oil.
Rachel Sarnoff
Me too! But I’m branching out 🙂
Julie L
My favorite oil so far is Olive Oil, but I am definitely interested in trying coconut oil now!
Sarah E.
I usually use olive oil, but like you I’ve heard good things about coconut oil so I think I’m going to start incorporating it into my cooking.
HS
I like avocado oil
Maribel Figueroa
First is avocado second olive and third is coconutI use all 3
Rachel Sarnoff
I haven’t cooked with avocado oil yet although I LOVE avocados. Will have to try that!