Virgin coconut oil is prepared from the coconut saving it from heat exposure. Today, the demand for virgin coconut oil is growing more compared to regular coconut oil noted for its vital nutritional advantages.
Refined coconut oil is purified and processed through heat exposure. It has a small quantity of coconut flavor as it is made from dried coconut or copra. The refined coconut oil is also known as RBD – refined, bleached and deodorized. During this process of RBD, the oil gets sweetened under excessive heat, gets filtered through clays to bleach the oil and remove impurities. Sodium hydroxide gets added to the final product to ensure a longer shelf life.