Shutter butter is a regular oil extracted from the seeds of the shea tree, so without a doubt, it is edible just like cocoa butter or coconut butter! However, it should be pure and completely unrefined.
All of us know about the moisturizing quality of shea butter; and how it leaves your asking feeling all soft, supple, and hydrated. You might be used to seeing it in your favorite care products. But do you know that shea butter may be used in a variety of ways beyond your daily beauty routine?
Did you know that shea butter can be used as a multipurpose healthy cooking oil? Food-grade shea butter is widely used in cooking by the locals of Western Africa; a teaspoon of it gives many dishes a nuttiness and a nutritional boost.
Know more about how it is made, what the health benefits of this oil are, what it tastes like, and more in this article!
Is Shea Butter Edible?
Yes, shea butter is edible. However, the processed and refined shea butter is not that suitable for consumption. Raw shea butter that has not been refined yet preserves its natural qualities and is the ideal choice for cooking. If you are going to consume shea butter make sure it is from a reputable source and you are using the 100% raw and unrefined one.
Grade A unrefined shea butter is frequently used as a type of cooking oil and is absolutely safe to consume. In fact, for centuries, shea butter has been a staple in the preparation of African cuisine.
How Is Shea Butter Made?
Shea butter is produced from nuts of the karité tree or shea tree, a tree native to Western Africa, especially Northern Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
During the harvesting season from June to September, ripe shea fruits that have fallen from the trees are gathered. Then the pulp is removed from the fruit to separate the nuts, which is done either by hand or through fermentation.
After the nuts are gathered, they are boiled in water to separate the shell from the seed easily. They are sun-dried and then cracked, which easily removes the shell from the kernels.
The kernels are then roasted or smoked in ovens so that they can dry completely. The dried kernels are crushed to create a paste, which is then boiled in water to extract the fat or shea butter from the kernel cake.
The shea butter is scooped up from the surface, filtered through a filter cloth, and kept appropriately for cooling, which forms the unrefined shea butter.
High-quality shea butter used in cosmetics and food goods like chocolate is created by further processing the extracted shea butter through refining, which is the refined shea butter.
Refined vs. Unrefined: Which Shea Butter To Choose?
Shea butter that is extracted without the use of chemicals, is referred to as raw or unrefined shea butter. It’s typically beige or yellow in color and includes all of the important fatty acids, vitamins A, E, and F, plus other natural nutrients and healing qualities.
You may purchase unrefined shea butter for use in both cooking and skincare. The unrefined grade A butter that is thermally processed is safer for children to eat as well. Grade B and Grade C shea butter should only be used for skincare use.
The refined shea butter, on the other hand, is processed to remove impurities and to improve texture, it’s typically white or off-white in color. Such butter loses many bioactive nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin E during processing. It still moisturizes, but it lacks the same curative and beautifying qualities as shea butter in its natural state.
Refined shea butter is suitable for external application in babies since it has no impurities.
What Does Shea Butter Taste Like?
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Some say shea butter has a strong, earthy taste which is somewhat nutty with a sweet undertone. While others say that it doesn’t have that much of a taste. It not only has nutritional benefits but also imparts a nutty flavor to food without using whole nuts.
Shea butter that has not been processed has a beige, creamy appearance and is never white. Shea butter that has been prepared with chemicals and preservatives, on the other hand, will appear white in color and cannot be used in cooking.
What Are The Nutritional Facts Of Shea Butter?
The USDA provides the following nutritional data for one tablespoon of shea butter:
Amount Per 13.6g
Calories 120
Fat 14g
Sodium 0mg
Carbohydrates 0mg
Fiber 0mg
Sugars 0mg
Protein 0mg
Depending on the degree of processing and incorporation of any additional aromatic or chemical components for beauty products, the nutritional value of shea butter may vary.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Shea Butter?
Here are some health benefits of shea butter
- Shea butter is relatively low in calories, it’s not associated with obesity or weight gain
- Shea butter is rich in healthy fats. Both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are known to promote heart health and reduce cholesterol levels, can be found in moderate amounts in shea butter
- Shea butter has a considerable amount of antioxidants present and has strong anti-inflammatory properties to treat skin conditions
- Shea butter is a great source of Vitamin A and E which helps to maintain healthy skin and eyes. It also has other vitamins and nutrients that act as a defense against infection or other illnesses.
- Edible shea butter is sodium-free, sugar-free, and cholesterol-free as well!
Final Thought
Whether used in cosmetics or consumed as food, the healthy fatty acid of shea butter is undoubtedly good for your body. It has numerous healthy nutrients and vitamins that can actually protect you from the inside out, despite the fact that it appears to be a little unhealthy when you first see it.
Now that you know that shea butter is edible, we hope you’ll try replacing fat and oils in your cooking recipe with shea butter at least once. Be it stir-fried recipes, vegan recipes, stews or soups, or butter itself, make sure to give it a try!
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