This article describes COPRA AS THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF CRUDE COCONUT OIL. Please read, hope it helps, Presented by Indonesia Crude Coconut Factory :
CV SUKATANI PERKASA
Contact : (62) 8117810991 | (+62)811 787 100
Address : Karya Baru 484, Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia/
Email : halo@sukatani.co.id
Coconut oil is a versatile product, used in both cooking and cosmetics, that is extracted from dried coconut meat, otherwise known as copra. This type of oil is extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts, harvested from the Coconut palm tree. Copra is the essential ingredient of crude coconut oil; and defined as the dry coconut fruit that has been split open, after it has been husked, shelled and peeled.
COPRA AS THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF CRUDE COCONUT OIL
Following the extraction of copra from the coconut, it is sun-dried until the moisture content is reduced to less than 10%. This drying process can either be done naturally, by allowing the copra to sit under the sun, or it can be done mechanically. During the drying process, the copra is exposed to open air, allowing the unsaturated fats to oxidize and initiate a chemical reaction that creates heat and acidic components, which, in turn, causes the pH levels to drop, resulting in the breakdown of the oils. This is a crucial step in the extraction process, as the dried copra is the essential ingredient of crude coconut oil.
Copra is then cold-pressed, or expeller-pressed, to extract the crude oil from the dried copra. This method involves grinding the copra, until it becomes a very fine powder. Pressure is then applied, either through mechanical pressing or hydraulic pressing, to extract the oil from the powder. This oil, although derived from the same source, is not considered to be edible, as it still contains traces of free fatty acids, proteins, and other contaminants that need to be removed before it is suitable for consumption.
Coconut oil derived through mechanized pressing also goes through a chemical extraction process, using solvents such as hexane. This process involves liquifying the solid copra, before subjecting it to a centrifuge to separate the soluble fats from the insoluble proteins and other contaminants.
Finally, before the extracted coconut oil is ready for consumption, it must be refined, deodorized, and bleached. Natural oils, such as coconut oil, contain natural waxes that must be removed to meet safety standards before the oil is approved for consumption. The refining and bleaching processes are used to remove these waxes. The deodorization process strips away any odors and flavors residue, as well as colaures, that makes the oil more appealing.
In conclusion, copra is the key ingredient of crude coconut oil and is an essential ingredient in both the extraction and refining stages. The drying process is the first of several steps that are required in order to obtain a good-quality crude coconut oil. This is then followed by cold pressing or chemical extraction and finally refining, deodorization and bleaching. Once these processes have been completed, the result is a pure, edible oil that is suitable for cooking, cosmetics, and even medicine.