At some point, nearly everyone has used some kind of oil in their kitchen, whether it is a generic vegetable oil, olive oil or high-end grapeseed oil. However, not everyone is aware of the facts behind the food. There are a number of cooking oils on the market, all with varying health benefits, storage recommendations and potential environmental impacts. Peanut oil, for example, can last indefinitely but should be stored in a cool dark place, while canola oil can last for up to nine months but should be stored in the refrigerator. There are also flavor factors that sometimes overpower the health benefits of other oils. However, when used properly, most oils can be safe and effective!
Firstly, in today’s fitness-focused world, many people are concerned with the health effects from what they cook with and eat. There are a number of healthy cooking oil options available. Grapeseed oil, for example, has been proven to lower cholesterol and provide heart health benefits. Vegetable oil, on the other hand, one of the most commonly used cooking oils due to its cheap price, is loaded with saturated fats which are linked to health defects. On the other hand, Canola, Sunflower and Almond oils are considered healthy for you and are locally grown oils.
Another consideration when choosing what oils to cook with is the oxidation susceptibility. Oxidation is the reaction of oil molecules with oxygen molecules. It occurs as a result of exposure to air and light, which can lead to an increase in the viscosity of the oil, meaning an increase in the thickness thus causing less ability to flow. Oxidation can also cause the formation of sludge and sediment, decreasing the quality of the oil. Additionally, once oil starts to oxidize, you may see an increase in the acidity.
Certain oils are more susceptible to oxidation than others. Unsaturated oils like Sunflower and Olive, oxidize more easily meaning they need to be stored in cool dark places or better yet, refrigerated, thus prolonging their use. Saturated oils like peanut oil can be stored in room temperature and can withstand light exposure.
Below is a link to a webpage listing the smoke points of many common cooking oils. We hope that you will keep these tips in mind when the next time you reach for cooking oil. Moreover, after you are finished cooking with the oil, be sure and safely bring it to your local recycling center. Then, we will be able to collect and process that oil to be repurposed as clean biodiesel fuel and create local jobs! Below is also a link to the local recycling centers we work with. Thanks for reading!
https://jonbarron.org/diet-and-nutrition/healthiest-cooking-oil-chart-smoke-points