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The short version
After researching the sourcing, processing, and certifications of the most popular organic coconut oils, our top pick is Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. It is USDA organic, cold-pressed and unrefined from non-GMO coconuts, fair-trade sourced, and it hits the sweet spot of quality, flavor, and value, which is why it earned our highest Organic Integrity Score of 91 out of 100. For the best everyday value, Viva Naturals Organic Coconut Oil is our pick, and for the freshest flavor from a tree-to-table process, Anthony’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is the best choice.
The most important choice with coconut oil is virgin (unrefined) versus refined. Virgin coconut oil is cold-pressed from fresh coconut and keeps its coconut aroma and flavor, which is what most people want for cooking, baking, and skin and hair care. We flag which oils are USDA organic, cold-pressed, and unrefined. Scores below run from our 91-point top pick to the 71-point budget option.
Key benefits of organic coconut oil
Coconut oil is one of the most versatile items in the pantry, used for cooking, baking, and natural skin and hair care. Choosing an organic, well-processed oil matters for both purity and flavor. Here is what people typically look for.
1. Virgin, unrefined quality
Virgin (unrefined) coconut oil is cold-pressed from fresh coconut, keeping its natural aroma, flavor, and more of its beneficial compounds than bleached and deodorized refined oil.
2. Clean, organic sourcing
USDA-organic certification confirms the coconuts were grown without synthetic pesticides, and the best brands are also non-GMO and often fair-trade.
3. Cold-pressed, hexane-free processing
Cold pressing without heat or chemical solvents like hexane preserves flavor and avoids leaving solvent residues in the oil.
4. Versatility
A good jar works for medium-heat cooking, baking, coffee, and as a natural moisturizer, hair mask, and makeup remover.
Virgin vs refined coconut oil: which should you buy?
Virgin coconut oil is cold-pressed from fresh coconut meat and keeps a distinct coconut aroma and flavor, along with more of the oil’s natural compounds. Refined coconut oil is made from dried coconut (copra) and is typically bleached and deodorized, which gives it a neutral taste and a slightly higher smoke point but strips the coconut flavor and some of the character. For most kitchen and beauty uses, and for anyone choosing organic for purity, virgin unrefined oil is the better pick, which is why every oil in this guide is virgin.
Because coconut oil is high in saturated fat, the healthiest approach is to use it as one fat in a varied diet rather than as a replacement for all other oils. Organic certification and cold-pressed, hexane-free processing are what separate a clean, flavorful virgin oil from a cheaper industrial one, and that is what our scoring rewards, alongside sourcing transparency and value.
How to choose an organic coconut oil
- Choose virgin (unrefined). It is cold-pressed from fresh coconut and keeps the flavor and compounds most people want.
- Look for USDA organic and non-GMO. It confirms the coconuts were grown without synthetic pesticides.
- Check for cold-pressed, hexane-free. This avoids heat damage and chemical solvent residues.
- Mind the packaging. Glass jars avoid any plastic contact; large tubs offer the best value if you use it often.
- Match it to your use. Any virgin organic oil works for cooking, baking, skin, and hair; buy the size you will realistically use.
Who this guide is for
The best jar depends on how you use it. If you want the best all-around organic virgin coconut oil, our top pick fits. If you want the best everyday value, the freshest flavor, a raw cold-pressed oil, or the best budget large tub for heavy users, we have a pick for each.
Our top organic coconut oils at a glance
| Best Choice | Best Value | ||||
| Product | Nutiva | Viva Naturals | Anthony’s | Garden of Life | Carrington Farms |
| Organic Integrity Score | 91/ 100 | 86/ 100 | 81/ 100 | 76/ 100 | 71/ 100 |
| Our rating | |||||
| Best for | Best overall | Everyday value | Freshest flavor | Raw cold-pressed | Budget large tub |
| Certification | USDA Organic, Fair Trade | USDA Organic, Non-GMO | USDA Organic | USDA Organic, Non-GMO | Organic, Non-GMO |
| Type | Virgin, unrefined | Virgin, unrefined | Virgin, tree-to-table | Raw, extra virgin | Virgin, unrefined |
| Price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Scores are ours, based on independent research of certification, sourcing, processing, and value, using the same 10-criteria method we apply to every product. See how we research and rate.
Best overall: Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
| Organic Integrity Score | 91 / 100 |
| Certification | USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Non-GMO |
| Type | Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed |
| Best for | An all-around trusted organic coconut oil |
Nutiva is our top pick because it combines clean organic sourcing, careful processing, and real value. The oil is USDA organic, cold-pressed and never refined, bleached, or deodorized, made from non-GMO coconuts that are sustainably and fair-trade sourced from Southeast Asia, giving it a fresh, creamy coconut aroma and flavor.
The trade-off is that a fresh unrefined oil carries a real coconut taste, so if you want a completely neutral flavor for savory cooking, a refined oil would be milder. For a trustworthy, flavorful, genuinely organic virgin coconut oil at a fair price, it is our first choice.
What we liked: USDA organic, fair-trade, cold-pressed and unrefined, non-GMO, with fresh coconut flavor and strong value across sizes.
Keep in mind: As a virgin oil it has a genuine coconut taste, so it is not the pick if you want a flavor-neutral cooking oil.
What buyers say: Long-time buyers praise the fresh flavor, consistent quality, and value. A few prefer refined oil when they want no coconut taste in savory dishes.
Best everyday value: Viva Naturals Organic Coconut Oil
| Organic Integrity Score | 86 / 100 |
| Certification | USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified |
| Type | Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed |
| Best for | Great quality at an everyday price |
Viva Naturals is our value pick. It is a USDA-organic, Non-GMO Project Verified virgin coconut oil, cold-pressed without hexane from hand-picked coconuts grown in the Philippines, and it consistently sells at a friendly price per ounce in the large size, which makes it an easy everyday jar for cooking and beauty use.
It scores just below our top pick mainly on the depth of its fair-trade and sourcing story rather than on quality, which is excellent. For clean organic virgin oil at a great price, it is hard to beat.
What we liked: USDA organic and Non-GMO Verified, cold-pressed and hexane-free, with strong quality at a friendly per-ounce price.
Keep in mind: Its published sourcing and fair-trade story is a little less detailed than our top pick, though the oil itself is excellent.
What buyers say: Buyers repeatedly call it a great value with fresh flavor. Some note the large tub is best if you use coconut oil often, so it does not sit too long.
Best flavor: Anthony’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
| Organic Integrity Score | 81 / 100 |
| Certification | USDA Organic |
| Type | Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed |
| Best for | The freshest, mildest coconut flavor |
Anthony’s is our pick for flavor. Its Tree-to-Table process cold-presses organic coconuts within days of harvest and jars the oil at the source within an hour, sealing the jars until they reach you, which avoids the reheating and oxidation that can dull mass-market oils and produces an unusually mild, smooth, fresh coconut taste.
It scores in the middle only because it carries less of the fair-trade and third-party certification stack of the leaders, not on quality. For the freshest possible flavor, it is a standout.
What we liked: USDA organic, a genuinely fresh tree-to-table process, and an unusually mild, smooth coconut flavor.
Keep in mind: It carries fewer additional certifications than the top picks, and it is sold mainly in the large tub.
What buyers say: Buyers repeatedly single out the fresh, clean flavor and aroma. Some wish it came in smaller jars as well as the large size.
Best raw: Garden of Life Raw Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil
| Organic Integrity Score | 76 / 100 |
| Certification | USDA Organic, Non-GMO |
| Type | Raw, extra virgin, cold-pressed |
| Best for | A raw, unrefined oil from a trusted brand |
Garden of Life is our pick for a raw oil. It is a USDA-organic, raw extra-virgin coconut oil, pure, unrefined, and cold-pressed to keep more of its natural compounds, from a well-known clean-supplement brand many shoppers already trust for cooking and body care.
It scores in the value range mainly on price per ounce rather than quality, which is high. For a raw, unrefined organic oil from a recognizable brand, it is a solid choice.
What we liked: USDA organic, raw and cold-pressed, non-GMO, from a trusted clean-label brand, good for both kitchen and body use.
Keep in mind: It usually costs a bit more per ounce than the bulk value tubs.
What buyers say: Buyers like the brand trust and the fresh raw quality. Value shoppers sometimes pick a larger tub for the price.
Best budget large tub: Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Oil
| Organic Integrity Score | 71 / 100 |
| Certification | Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified |
| Type | Virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed |
| Best for | Heavy users who want the lowest cost per ounce |
Carrington Farms is our budget pick. It is an organic, Non-GMO Project Verified virgin coconut oil, cold-pressed, hexane-free, and packed in a BPA-free tub, sold in a large size that gives one of the lowest costs per ounce, which makes it ideal if you cook or do body care with coconut oil often.
It scores at the value end because its sourcing and certification story is more basic than the leaders, but for a large, affordable, clean organic tub, it does the job well.
What we liked: Organic and Non-GMO Verified, cold-pressed and hexane-free, BPA-free packaging, and one of the lowest costs per ounce.
Keep in mind: Its sourcing detail is more basic than the premium brands, and the large tub is best only if you use coconut oil regularly.
What buyers say: Buyers like the size and price for frequent use. Those wanting the very freshest flavor sometimes choose a premium virgin oil.
How to use coconut oil well
Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and melts around 76°F, with a medium smoke point near 350°F, which makes it good for baking, sautéing, and medium-heat cooking but not for high-heat frying. In the kitchen it works as a butter alternative in baking, in coffee, and on popcorn. For body care, it melts on contact with skin as a moisturizer, hair mask, or makeup remover. Because it is high in saturated fat, use it as one fat among others such as olive oil rather than as your only cooking oil, and store it sealed in a cool, dry place.
How we researched this guide
We are a research-based review site. We compared each coconut oil against its certification, sourcing and fair-trade transparency, processing (cold-pressed, unrefined, hexane-free), packaging, and the weight of aggregated customer feedback, then scored each with our 10-criteria Organic Integrity Score. No brand paid to be included or ranked. Read the full method on our How We Research and Rate page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best organic coconut oil?
Our overall pick is Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, because it is USDA organic, fair-trade, cold-pressed and unrefined from non-GMO coconuts, with fresh flavor and strong value. For the best everyday value, Viva Naturals is our pick, and for the freshest flavor, Anthony’s.
Is virgin or refined coconut oil better?
Virgin (unrefined) coconut oil is cold-pressed from fresh coconut and keeps its aroma, flavor, and more natural compounds, which is what most people want. Refined oil is bleached and deodorized for a neutral taste and slightly higher smoke point but loses the coconut character. For organic buyers, virgin is usually the better choice.
Is coconut oil healthy?
Coconut oil is about 90% saturated fat, higher than butter, and health bodies including the American Heart Association advise limiting saturated fat. It can be part of a healthy diet used in moderation as one fat among others, rather than as a replacement for all cooking oils.
What can I use coconut oil for?
It works for baking, sautéing, and medium-heat cooking, in coffee, and on popcorn, and as a natural skin moisturizer, deep-conditioning hair mask, and makeup remover. Its medium smoke point makes it less suited to high-heat frying.
How should I store coconut oil?
Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place. It is solid below about 76°F and turns liquid above that, which is normal and does not affect quality. It has a long shelf life thanks to its saturated fat content.
Related reading
- Organic Food and Pantry hub
- Best Organic Olive Oil
- Best Organic Peanut Butter
- How we research and rate products
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