DIY: MAKE YOUR OWN COCONUT OIL AT HOME

Coconut oil is outstanding when it comes to usage and health benefits. It can be used for cooking as well as skin and hair care.Virgin coconut oil is believed to be of the highest quality as it is made naturally and free of harmful chemicals. Learn how to make virgin coconut oil at home using this simple method
1. Split a coconut with a sharp cleaver. Use only a mature, brown coconut and avoid a young underdeveloped green one.

 2. Scrape the meat of the coconut from the shell. Use a coconut scraper, sharp pairing knife or a sturdy metal spoon. *Removing the meat is tricky. A butter knife is much better than a sharp pairing knife. You can slide it in between the meat and the shell and 'pop' pieces off, rather than slip, and cut your hand.

3.Cut the coconut meat into small pieces or shred the coconut flesh with the scraper.

4.Place the pieces into a food processor/Blender.

5.Turn on the food processor to a medium speed and blend until well shredded. Add a little water to help it blend if necessary.6.Filter the coconut milk. Put a coffee filter or cheesecloth over a wide-mouth jar. Pour or spoon a small amount of the coconut mixture onto the cloth. Wrap the cloth around the coconut mixture and squeeze the milk into the jar.

• Squeeze hard, to make sure you get every last drop.
• Repeat this process until all of the coconut mixture has been used.        

7.Leave the jar unattended for at least 24 hours. As it sets, the coconut milk and oil will separate and a layer of curd will appear at the top of the jar.

• Refrigerate the jar so the curd hardens more quickly if you'd like.
• If you'd prefer not to refrigerate it, leave the jar in a cool room.

8.Scoop out the curd with a spoon and discard it. The pure virgin coconut oil is left in the jar.