Humans have been using oil for thousands of years to cook with, and oil remains a staple of most restaurants and home kitchens around the world. There are a lot of different kinds of oils on the markets, each extracted and processed in unique ways of various plants.
The type of oil used in cooking can make a big difference to the dish at the end of the process, and for anyone with a passion for cooking, knowing the different types of oils used in the kitchen can often help them cook tastier dishes.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is among one of the most common oils in the world because it’s fairly cheap to buy in large quantities. It’s made from the refining of the seeds of the sunflower plant, and while there has been an up-tick in the overall cost of this oil in recent years, it remains a lot cheaper than a lot of other types of cooking oils, such as olive oil. Sunflower oil is great for making simple dishes like popcorn, and there is even some evidence to consuming sunflower oil offers some health benefits to the heart.
Canola Oil
While canola oil might be as healthy as olive oil, it’s still an excellent oil to use for all kinds of cooking. It has a high smoke point and a neutral flavour and has become a favourite for those that like to shallow fry, bake, and stir fry. On top of this, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, and is one of the best ways of getting these important fatty acids in the diet if seafood is not available. Along with this, the consumption of canola oil has been linked to lower chances of arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
Avocado Oil
Another extremely popular oil to use in cooking at the moment is avocado oil, extracted from the avocado fruit. Like canola, it has a high smoking point, which makes it a great oil for frying. It’s also a popular oil to use to make dips or to make salad dressings, and its unique flavour can enhance most dishes, perfect to throw a snack together before diving into the latest online NZ casino games. Avocado oil also packs a great selection of nutrients, including Vitamin E and potassium, as well as potent and beneficial antioxidants.
Olive Oil
By far the most popular and well-known cooking oil is olive oil. There are many different types and degrees of quality when it comes to olive oil, but cold extra, extra virgin olive oil is generally preferred, even though it’s among the most expensive types of oil on the market. It can tolerate high heats very well, and in general it’s recommended above most other oils when it comes to bringing out the flavours of the ingredients that it is cooking.
It’s important to do the right research on which oils to use for which kinds of foods to maximise flavour while also using the oil as efficiently as possible.
