Whether used for frying, baking, roasting or spreading, coconut oil is a versatile kitchen staple. The Good Housekeeping Institute put 18 of the leading brands to the test, to see which delivered the most superior taste.
Best coconut oil 2021
- Best coconut oil: Sainsbury's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- Runner-up coconut oil: The Groovy Food Company Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- Best 1L jar of coconut oil: Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Best for smoothies: My Protein 100% Coconut Oil
- Best for making energy balls: Organic Kitchen Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Best for charity donation: Duchy Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil
- Joint best for all-round cooking: Naturya Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- Joint best for all-round cooking: Cocofina Organic Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil
- Most versatile coconut oil: KIKI Health Organic Coconut Oil
- Best texture: Coconut Merchant Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
What is coconut oil good for?
Coconut oil contains a similar number of calories to olive oil, making it a great alternative oil when you’re after a fruity, nutty taste. It may go from solid to liquid depending on the temperature when it’s stored, but this has no effect on the taste or nutritional value.
What kind of coconut oil is healthiest?
All of the coconut oils we tested are organic, meaning no unnecessary chemicals or pesticides were used to grow them, and they are also all suitable for a vegan diet.
Other key phrases to look out for include “cold-pressed”. This means no heat is used to extract the oil from the flesh, and is the most effective way of retaining the maximum nutritional value.
You’ll see some are labelled as “extra-virgin”, while others simply describe themselves as “virgin”. In reality, we couldn’t distinguish any difference. Ultimately, both describe an unrefined product, in its purest form.
It’s also worth seeking out brands that protect animal welfare to ensure no monkeys are used in harvesting the coconuts.
Aside from cooking, coconut oil is also versatile enough to use in your beauty routine, with many using it as a lip balm, hair mask or cleanser.
How we test
The Good Housekeeping Institute tried 18 jars from supermarkets and leading brands to see which was the tastiest coconut oil. Trying each neat, they were looking for a fresh-tasting, natural flavour, with a subtle nutty finish. These are the ones they recommend adding to your basket.
Score: 87/100
This certified-organic coconut oil is a total steal. Made in the Philippines, it smells and tastes like toasted coconut flakes, making it ideal for baking. One tester said they would buy this over everything else on the shelf.
Score: 86/100
The Groovy Food Company makes a range of plant-based products, including this cold-pressed coconut oil, made using organic hand-picked fruit. Our panel described this one as “thick and fluffy” when scooped straight from the jar, with a natural-tasting flavour.
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Best 1L jar of coconut oil
Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1L
Now 13% Off
Score: 85/100
If you’re looking for a large format jar that can be used across cooking, baking and beauty, this cold-pressed formula is ideal. Testers found it had a distinctive nutty flavour that doesn’t overpower.
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Score: 84/100
This smooth and indulgent unrefined coconut oil would make a great iced coffee or fruity smoothie —just add a scoop of the brand’s protein powder or nut butter to ice cold dairy-free milk.
Score: 84/100
With a fresh and light aroma, reminiscent of a young coconut, our testers thought this had a long-lasting toasted flavour, best suited to making energy balls or raw bakes.
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Best for charity donation
Duchy Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil 300ml
Score: 81/100
This was most like biting into a fresh coconut, with a very light sweetness that didn't overpower the palate. As such, the panel recommends this oil for the likes of vegetarian stir frys, which will further enhance the natural flavour. And better still, with every purchase a percentage goes to The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund that supports a range of good causes.
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Score: 80/100
Made with Sri Lankan coconuts, Naturya’s oil has a subtle aroma, with a flavour to match. With no bitterness, it’s a good choice for all-round cooking, where you don’t want tropical flavours at the fore. Give it a go in this sea bass coconut curry.
Score: 80/100
Not everyone wants a strong fruity flavour, which is where this subtle oil, sourced from Kerala comes in. The neutral spread has a whiff of young, green coconuts and a nutty finish, ideal for savoury cooking.
Score: 80/100
A favourite with beauty aficionados, as well as using on split ends and cuticles, it also boasts a mellow, fresh, natural-tasting flavour.
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Score: 79/100
Coconut Merchant buys direct from farmers to ensure its fruit is ethically sourced and promises no monkeys are ever used in the harvesting process. And although our testers enjoyed the well-balanced taste, they were most impressed with the texture, describing it as incredibly smooth with no graininess or bubbles.
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These also passed…
Lucy Bee Extra Virgin Organic Raw Coconut Oil 300ml, £7.55, 78/100
Biona Organic Raw Virgin Coconut Oil 400g, £8.23, 78/100
Tesco Virgin Organic Coconut Oil 300ml, £3, 76/100
Aldi Coco Loco Coconut Oil 276g, £1.65, 76/100
Vita Coco Coconut Oil 250ml, £3.49, 72/100
Eat Wholesome Food Co. Organic Raw Virgin Coconut Oil 500ml, £6.99, 72/100
