Choose The Right Cooking Oil

Choosing the Right Cooking Oils – Making the Healthy Decision

There is one item in the kitchen that plays a very important part in almost every dish we cook. This cooking ingredient is normally tasteless but is essential to various cooking techniques. There are various types of cooking oil and its properties vary accordingly. It is important to know the different types of cooking oils since this knowledge allows you to determine what’s best for your family’s health.

Not all oils are created equal and some cooking oils are healthier than others. Cooking oils may appear the same on the outside. However, upon closer inspection, you may notice that some are thicker than others. There are those which are solid in room temperature like palm and coconut oils. Some cooking oils contain high fat levels because these are derived from animals and considered less healthy compared to vegetable oils. Healthy oils include those derived from fish which are rich in Omega-3.
 

Types of Cooking Oils

 
To understand cooking oils better we must know understand its basic components. Oils are made of amino acids which gives the oil its slippery nature. Amino acids in oils form long chains and are classified into three kinds; polysaturated, monosaturated and saturated oils. This classification plays a big role in determining which type of cooking oil is healthier than others.

Most cooking oils come from animal fat. Animal fat, palm and coconut oils contain large amounts of saturated fats. This is very undesirable since they are increase the risk for cardio vascular disease. On the other hand, there are cooking oils that contain high amounts of monosaturated oils. Examples of this type are canola and olive oils. As for polysaturated oils, fish oils and vegetable oils contain a large quantity of it.

Taste versus Health

The addition of cooking oils in our dishes is essential in bringing an added level of flavor to it. It ensures that all harmful toxins and bacteria are destroyed. Cooking oils become unhealthy when used excessively. Animal based cooking oils are popular because some consider them to be more flavorful compare to others. These are easier to produce making them a lot cheaper compared to healthy oils. The combination of a much richer taste and cheaper price makes saturated oils makes it hard for people to resist its temptation.

Frying food will not be the same without cooking oils. Cooking oils provides a medium for equally distributing heat and adding extra flavor. Without cooking oils, cooking will be uneven and results to food that is cooked on the outside and raw on the inside.

Smoke Points

Another thing to consider in choosing cooking oil is its smoke point. This is the temperature that causes the formation of smoke when heated. When choosing a cooking oil look for varieties with high smoke points. This prevents food from being burned easily.

Some examples of these oils are peanut oils but it does not have that much flavor. Extra virgin oils are also a good choice with a smoke point of 468 degrees. Whichever oil you choose, always avoid those with high trans- fat since those are found to cause an increase risk of corollary heart disease.

Guest Author: James Vanderhoek is a parent blogger who writes for Baby Baron. To read more about his personal experiences about parenting or one of his baby product reviews, please visit him at http://www.baby-baron.com/britax-e9lj91a-review/