Because there are so many different cooking oils on the market today, it can be a daunting task to choose the one that is right for your dish. The tips given in this article will help you decide which cooking oil is right for you.
The long list of cooking oils available include (but are not limited to) Canola Oil, Coconut Oil, Corn Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Olive Oil, Peanut Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Soybean Oil, and Walnut Oil. When choosing your cooking oil there are a few things that you need to take into consideration such as health risks and benefits, flavor, and smoke point.
In today?s health conscious society, healthy foods are becoming more and more popular. Even though most oils are considered to be low in cholesterol and saturated fats they are still pure fat and therefore can be unhealthy. Keeping this is mind, there are times when it is necessary to use cooking oil and there are some that are healthier than others. If you need a healthier cooking oil you might want to consider using Canola Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Sesame Oil (for cold use only), Walnut Oil (for cold use only), or Soybean Oil.
One of the most popular uses of cooking oil is for frying food, whether it is pan- frying or deep-frying. Some foods require higher frying temperatures than others. This is where the smoke point is important. Overheating oil can cause it to smoke, which can ruin the flavor of your food as well as fill your home with smoke and a burnt oil smell. For frying temperatures above 350 degrees it is recommended that you use oils such as Canola Oil, Coconut Oil, or Corn Oil (up to 400 degrees). You should discard Coconut oil after each use. All three of these oils can also be used to fry at lower temperatures. Other Oils that work well at lower temperatures are Grapeseed Oil, Hazelnut Oil (up to 325 degrees), Olive Oil, Peanut Oil, Safflower Oil (up to 212 degrees), and Sunflower Oil (up to 212 degrees).
There are also times that you need cooking oil for cold dishes such as salads or dressings. There are cooking oils that are meant specifically for these dishes. Flax Seed Oil is perfect for salad dressings. If you are looking for an Oil that has a distinctive flavor there are several to choose from. Olive Oil is great for salad as well as Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Safflower Oil is good for salads and sauces. Sesame Oil is an excellent choice for marinades. Sunflower Oil is another good choice for salads and sauces. Walnut oil is good for salads and perfect for flavorful spreads.
Choosing the right cooking oil can mean the difference between the best tasting dish you ever made and the worst. If you have to use cooking oil, do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs. Don?t let the cost of your cooking oil decide for you. You might pay more for a better quality oil but in the end you will be glad you did.
Tina is a wife and a mother of two picky teenagers. She loves to cook, read, and write. She also loves to research all topics that have to do with food. This stems from a quest to make meals that everyone in her family will enjoy. This has also resulted in some surprising finds as well as many many new recipes. She loves to share her findings by writing articles about them. She has also set up several recipe websites in order to share some of her recipes. These include: http://www.allvegetablerecipes.com , http://www.freekidrecipes.com , and http://www.dessert-diner.com