Before going into the plethora of cooking oils on the market, let’s talk about what cooking oils even are. Oils are fats. Fats are a necessary macronutrient important in your health and keeping you satiated.
All oils aren’t treated equally. Some are of lesser quality, some are superior at higher temperatures, and some jus taste different than others.
Oils are used on the daily in cooking but they can be used in baking, as salad dressing, or even great to dip bread into.
Avocado Oil
There has been a trend of thinking avocado oil is the superior oil. Possibly because most know that avocados contain better fats or maybe it is just because it has a greater price point than others on the shelf.
The best use for it is when cooking at high temperatures (above 480 degrees Fahrenheit). For other oils, this high of heat causes the oil to become, well, I’ll spare you the organic chemistry, a new shape and worse for your health.
Olive Oil
Oils may have a unhealthy reputation but they’re actually loaded with antioxidants and in moderation, can provide nutritious benefits.
When purchasing, ensure the label only states that it has olive oil. Sometimes companies will add lower quality oils to make a larger profit for themselves. Now, while talking about what to buy getting the extra virgin variety is superior. Usually there is more nutrition maintained from the olive.
Olive oil has a very nice process compared to other oils. Simply, olives are pressed and the oils that come out are filtered then bottled. Hence, you will often see a bottle labeled as ‘cold-pressed’. This is referring to how the oil was extracted from the olives.
Most people continue to repurchase the same variety of olive oil each time; be adventurous and try a new kind next time. You can even find all sorts of different quality extra virgin olive oils right off of Amazon!
Coconut Oil
There are so many claims about coconut oil nowadays. Basically, some see it as everything from a weight-loss miracle to a everyday makeup remover.
having a fun name like coconut oil gives the idea that it is good for you too. Instead, it is high in saturated fats and LDL (bad) cholesterol. When picking an oil with your health in mind opt for a quality olive or avocado oil instead.
Some proven uses for coconut oil are as:
- Makeup remover
- Increase hair shine
- Vegan-friendly
- Adding a tropical flavor to recipes
Canola Oil
Avocado oil gets all the recognition for being the go-to as a high smoke point oil but canola oil can also be used at 400+ degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is a bit of an everyday oil. It tends to be a combination of many different oils that makes for a mundane taste. Each brand of vegetable oil will like have a different combination, making each have a different taste and nutrition value.
The process of attaining vegetable oil is a bit more crude compared to olive oil’s. A blend of veggies is crushed and the oil that comes out is heated. Next, the oil is to be refined. This involves the addition of different chemicals to eventually reach pure oil. Afterwards, this outcome is to be bleached. This means it is once again heated, additions are added to help remove additional impurities, then filtered. The last step is deodorizing. The product is heated until it bubbles up. At this point the vegetable oil is ready to be bottled and sold to the public.
What About Butter?
Butter and oils have a pretty similar nutrition and uses. On one hand butter is made from dairy and better for baking and on the other oil is from plants and more often used in cooking. More, as butter is ultimately derived from cows it contains cholesterol and a higher amount of saturated fat than their plant-based oil counterparts do.
Storing Your Cooking Oils
Most oils do best in a dark, cool spot. You want the darkness because light is usually able to degrade the oils. Their bottle is made to battle this as best as possible, but they can only do so much. A cool spot may be hard to find but just do your best. Ideally, a wine cellar is the proper temperature, if this isn’t available try a fridge or a cold basement!
Cooking Oil Uses
Of course there’s cooking and using it as a non-stick agent but there are so many other uses for it!
- I can’t make this list without mentioning my Olive Oil Cake with Orange Zest
- Infuse it with herbs for an oil rich in flavor. Keep it or give it as a gift in a cute glass bottle!
- Use it on popcorn to add additional spices without having to melt butter
- Make your own soap
- Add it to your dog’s food bowl to help their coat
- Moisten wooden cutting boards and cookware
- Properly clean your cast iron pan
References:
- Hendel R. What is Vegetable Oil? – Kosher Spirit. OK Kosher Certification. https://www.ok.org/article/what-is-vegetable-oil/. Published 2021. Accessed September 29, 2021.
Leave a Reply