Traditional vs. Modern Coconut Oil Extraction: A Systematic Review of Practices and Outcomes

Abstract

There are diverse methods of extracting oil from coconut with their level of operations, oil extraction yield, oil quality attributes, and the level of sustainability. Conventional procedures of home processing, including boiling, fermentation, and sun drying, are applied in rural areas where they are considered simple, that is, in line with local culture and economy, but have led to low yield and poor oxidative stability. This study undertook a comprehensive review of 17 peer-reviewed articles curated from scholarly databases spanning the years 2010 to 2025. The examination concentrated on juxtaposing traditional and contemporary extraction techniques in relation to oil yield, physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant efficacy, and implications for sustainability. The traditional methods demonstrated oil recovery rates between 6.3% and 61.3%, typically accompanied by elevated moisture levels and free fatty acid concentrations. In comparison, current techniques such as the enzymatic extraction technique, cold pressing, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) achieved yields as high as 77.7% and had improved retention of bioactive and greater oil stability. However, these sophisticated technologies usually require a large financial cost, energy cost, and the limited ability of technicians, so their applications are mostly limited to areas without sufficient resources. Although modern techniques offer improved yield and quality, their accessibility presents an ongoing challenge. The study highlights the necessity for hybrid models that amalgamate the straightforwardness of traditional methods with the effectiveness of modern technologies. Such innovations have the potential to advance sustainable, high-quality coconut oil production, aligned with the socioeconomic conditions of small-scale producers.