The Best Emulsified MCT Oil – And How To Make It
MCT oil is a healthy source of saturated fat made from either coconuts or palm kernels. It has become really popular over the past few years because it provides an almost instant source of energy without the drawbacks of sugar or caffeine, among many other reasons.
Many people emulsify MCT oil to make it easier to mix into beverages without leaving an oily residue on the surface. It’s a popular coffee additive that’s much more appealing when it’s well mixed into the drink.
So what is the best emulsified MCT oil? The best emulsified MCT oil on the market is from Sports Research, but in this quick guide, you’ll find all the info you need to add MCT oil to your daily routine, including discovering the best emulsified MCT oils on the market and how to make your own emulsified MCT oil.
What Is MCT Oil and the Health Benefits
MCT is short for medium-chain triglycerides, a healthy fat usually derived from palm kernel or coconut oil. MCT oil is the supplement or oil that is made from this particular type of fat.
MCT is easily absorbed into the bloodstream making it a quick and efficient form of energy. It’s often marketed as an effective weight loss solution, which is part of the reason for its rise in fame. It’s a very concentrated fat, which leaves you feeling fuller for longer, decreasing the need to snack or eat huge meals.
The human body processes MCT differently than other healthy fats, which is a major reason why MCT oil is shown to not only prevent obesity, but it may also help with an obvious shrinkage in waist size.
It’s thought to contribute to fat burning and helps to control blood sugars, which is quite beneficial to those prone to weight gain or diabetes.
MCT oils feature prominently in the high-fat, low-carb Keto diet as a way to help improve memory and brain function, especially for people who suffer from seizures, Alzheimer’s disease and autism.
They also have antifungal and antimicrobial properties that help control the growth of yeast, helping to prevent yeast infections, thrush and a variety of skin conditions. MCT has even been used to ease digestive issues and troubles with certain diets.
In general, MCTs are found in coconuts and palm kernels, which makes them completely plant-based and a welcome source of healthy fats for a vegan or vegetarian who doesn’t get as much fat in their diet, thanks to a lack of animal products.
Despite being a processed product, like all oils are, it’s commonly used in Paleo eating plans as well, and even Mark Sisson, the founder of the Primal Diet, has agreed that there’s nothing wrong with getting a fix of MCT oil into your day.
Why MCT Oil Should Be Emulsified
There are no health benefits to be gained from emulsifying your MCT oil, but it can make a big difference to your enthusiasm to drink it. MCT oil on its own is, as you might guess, oily. It doesn’t mix well in other liquids.
For example, mixing plain MCT oil into your hot tea or coffee will leave you with a film of oil on the surface of your beverage which, I can promise you, is not a great look, feel or taste for your favorite morning brew.
An emulsion is a way of mixing 2 liquids together that would not normally mix, oil and water for example. In most edible cases, the result is often a much creamier liquid.
When MCT is emulsified, it will easily blend with any of your liquids, hot or cold, and leave them rich and creamy and completely without a surface oil slick.
Best Emulsified MCT Oils
The vast majority of emulsified MCT oils on the market are designed to be used as a coffee creamer. Many of them are flavored, and all of them are delicious and creamy.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sports Research Emulsified MCT Oil | Thick, creamy, convenient |
| 2. | Onnit Emulsified MCT OIl | 5 flavors, sugar-free, organic and non-GMO |
| 3. | Natural Force Keto Coffee Creamer with MCT Oil | Several flavors, sugar-free, organic, non-GMO |
1. Sports Research Emulsified MCT Oil
Any item that becomes a crowd-pleaser as a superfood or super supplement can trigger an explosion of cheap products that end up being destructive to our health and our world.
That’s one of the reasons I appreciate the Sports Research brand of MCT oil. It’s not organic, but the manufacturer does source from non-GMO sustainable coconuts, which is always great to see.
Key features:
- Thick, creamy and delicious, perfect for your coffee, protein shakes, cereals and even to make creamy salad dressings or pasta sauces with
- An incredibly quick and convenient source of almost instant energy
- Comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee, which is nearly unheard of in the food industry
Biggest drawbacks:
This blend uses both cane sugar and monk fruit as sweetening agents. For flavor, it’s a winning combination, but for people looking to eliminate sugar from their diet or those on a Keto diet, it’s a big miss.
2. Onnit Emulsified MCT Oil
If you’ve been researching supplements in any capacity over the past few years, you’ll know Onnit leads the pack in quality and deliverability and their MCT oils are no exception. If you have any doubts
Key features:
- There are 5 flavors to choose from: Almond Milk Latte, Cinnamon Swirl, Creamy Strawberry, Mocha, and Vanilla
- Has NO palm oil, which is a benefit for our health and the environment
- Even though it’s a coffee creamer, there is no dairy and no sugar
- Use it for your coffee or add it to smoothies, cereal, or even as a topping for your ice cream
- The coconuts used in this oil are all sustainably sourced, organic and non-GMO
Biggest drawbacks: Not everyone loves the flavors, possibly because the sweeteners used are from Stevia and Monk fruit which, although both are all-natural and sugar-free, are known to leave a bitter aftertaste.
3. Natural Force Keto Coffee Creamer with MCT Oil
Key features:
- Comes in a variety of flavors, including vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate and caramel
- Unsweetened and sugar-free, this creamer lets you choose if you want to add sugar to your beverage or not, and also gives you the power to decide how much and of what kind
- It’s made from organic, non-GMO coconuts and packaged in sustainable, non-toxic bottles
Biggest drawbacks:
The flavor seems to be hit or big miss with customers. The majority of reviewers love it, but those who don’t like it, really hate the taste. Unfortunately, this is one of those instances where you’ll have to test it for yourself to find out which camp you’re in.
How To Emulsify MCT Oil Yourself
The easiest way to emulsify any oil, but specifically MCT oil in this case, is to add an emulsifying agent. The most common for use in edibles is lecithin, which is easily available in either soy or sunflower varieties.
Interestingly enough, lecithin is also found in egg yolk so if you’re not vegan and not overly bothered about consuming raw eggs, that’s an option to use as well.
It’s relatively easy to find lecithin as a powder or liquid and you’ll want to follow the instructions on the package, but in general, you’ll simply use about ¼ of a teaspoon to about 8 ounces of your MCT oil.
All you have to do to create the emulsion is to blend it until its smooth. Once your oil is emulsified, it’ll stay that way as long as you have it stored in an airtight container kept in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.
Best MCT Oils to Emulsify
1. Left Coast Performance MCT Oil
Check current price on Amazon.
Left Coast Performance is one of the few companies that provides instructions for new users, which goes a long way to ensure they’ll have repeat long-term customers. MCT oil can take time to adapt to, and this company helps you every step of the way.
Key features:
- This manufacturer goes to great lengths to provide the freshest possible MCT oil, buying direct from the coconut supplier so that their ingredients are stored in a warehouse for months before being converted into a high-quality oil
- Eliminates the C12 from the oil, which is ideal because C12 is closer to an LCT and takes slightly longer to absorb
Biggest drawbacks:
The packaging is less than the best. Some buyers noticed that their bottles leaked during shipping, which is primarily caused by an imperfect seal.
Oils can be difficult to contain in plastic bottles, so this is a common drawback across brands.
2. Nature’s Way Organic MCT Oil
Check current price on Amazon.
Nature’s Way is dedicated to offering completely natural health solutions and they have a history of learning from the original, indigenous cultivators of each plant they harvest.
The quality of their products can’t be questioned, and their MCT oil is certainly one you can count on.
Key features:
- Completely organic, non-GMO and purely coconut-based, with no fillers
- Goes the extra mile to actually get certified vegan, paleo and BPA free, which means that it’s not just the ingredients, but also the facility that you can trust
- Each serving provides 14g of the 2 most desirable MCTs, caprylic and capric acids
Biggest drawbacks:
When first adding any brand of MCT oil to your diet, it’s a good idea to start slow and work your way up to the recommended daily intake.
Most negative reviews for this brand and others have to do with the stomach upset that can happen when your body isn’t yet used to the high concentration of saturated fats.
3. Nutiva Organic MCT Oil
Check current price on Amazon.
Nutiva is a highly respected and easily available brand overall, and their commitment to quality and the environment both is commendable.
When it comes to their MCT oil specifically, one of the most interesting and best features is their patented extraction process they use that does not require any chemicals or extremely high temperatures, protecting the nutritional value of the oil nicely.
Key features:
- Guaranteed to have the highest possible and purest concentration of MCT, which is a very bold claim
- The manufacturer not only sources organic, non-GMO coconuts but works with the farmers to ensure quality and sustainability, for their customers and the planet
- Is completely hexane and chemical-free and is made entirely from coconuts, with no palm or filler oils used at all
Biggest drawbacks:
Most MCT oils are packaged in plastic bottles and this one is no exception. While they do state that their packaging is BPA free, it would be nice to have all oils packaged in glass containers.
The “spout” in this design can be tricky. A good workaround is to have your own dark glass containers and transfer the oil yourself.
Alternative Ways To Use MCT Oil
You can use MCT oil without emulsifying it first, in many the same ways you would use any other oil. If you plan on cooking with it, however, it’s important to note that it has a low smoke point and should only be used with a small amount of heat.
It’s almost completely flavorless though, so it’s a great way to add healthy oils to your foods without challenging the flavors you want to shine through.
Here are a few ways you can use MCT oil in your daily cooking:
- As an ingredient in your home-made salad dressings
- In any baked goods that will be cooked at 350F or lower
- To coat cooked pasta to keep it from sticking together
- As the oil in a stir-fry or other medium heat sauté
- In no-cook protein bars or bliss balls
- Mixed in with a bowl of hot breakfast cereal, after it’s cooked
- Coating roasted veggies, as long as they’ll be cooked at temperatures below 350F
If you have MCT oil and your determined to use it in your coffee without emulsifying it first, having a small milk frother will come in very handy.
My best recommendation is to add MCT oil when your coffee is at the perfect temperature for you to drink. Use your frother to blend the oil as much as possible and drink up before the froth dissipates back into oil.
Related Questions
Does emulsified MCT oil go bad?
Almost all edible products will go bad eventually, but being an oil, as long as your MCT is kept in a well-sealed in a cool, dark environment, it has the potential to stay fresh for months if not years after it’s best before date.
If you’re using it regularly, there’s very little chance of having it go bad before you finish it, unless you leave it open and exposed to air and sunlight.
Is olive oil an MCT?
No, olive oil is not an MCT. MCTs have between 6 – 12 carbon chains in their chemical structure and are all saturated fats like you would find in coconut oil.
Any oil that has 14 or more carbon chains are considered long-chain triglycerides, or LCTs, a class of fats that olive oil fits into.
Regardless, olive oil has a lot of great health benefits, so it shouldn’t be written off completely just because it doesn’t fit the MCT trend.
What are the side effects of MCT oil?
When used responsibly, MCT oil appears to be completely safe for all users and there aren’t any known counter-indications of using MCT when on medications or any serious side effects.
If you suddenly start drinking copious amounts of any oil, let alone MCT oil, you’re likely going to experience some nausea and digestive disagreement, leading you to spend some uncomfortable length of time in your bathroom.
It’s also a fat, so eating large amounts of it will contribute to high caloric intake, so if your overall eating habits aren’t monitored.
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