I just about finished my first jar of organic cooking oil. I have used it on my skin and it is fabulous but you don't want to use it to much. I have eaten it raw by the spoon because I wanted to see what it tasted like and if it had any benefit straight up health wise. I do not know what I expected, all I can say is that I did not have constipation and my nails look better, the ridges are going away. I also added some to my dogs food and her coat looks very shiny, she seems happier.
Now in actual cooking I have only used it like an oil for mostly sauté and frying. I am very happy with the results. I did not notice any over powering taste, I guess the kind I have has no flavor? Didn't know there was an option for flavor or not. Anyway I cooked vegetables last night. Fresh green beans, collards, onions, julienne carrots and sunflower seed. I lightly cook the green beans to soften, boil in salt water about 5 minutes or less. Then I add the rest in a large pot with melted coconut oil and cook at a medium heat till slightly browned. I don't salt because the sunflower kernel's are salted. I love it with rice
Come to think of it I also cooked haddock in the coconut oil a few nights back and it came out very nice, not heavy at all. I like that it seemed the coconut oil did not cook off like olive oil does. Sometimes I find that I am adding olive oil while cooking because it burns off, but the coconut oil seems to stay better at the higher temps. I agree though for Italian cooking I would prefer olive oil.