Cooking oils, please advise.

[rufusgti]

I'd like some opinions on cooking oils. I currently and for the last 10 years use extra virgin olive oil for everything. Salads, fry ups, basting, roasting, everything. I'm starting to hear whispered that olive oil isn't very healthy when used at high temps. I'm wondering what the food gurus here like to use. I've noticed on cooking programmes lately chefs using perfectly clear oils in there pans but olive oil on the salads or dressings. Which oils are they?

Any tips appreciated.

[craigjm]

Extra virgin olive oil for cooking is a waste of time. For cooking use standard olive oil and a good virgin oil for dressing.

When cooking with an oil it's the flash point that is important and to know what oils break down at high temperatures. Olive oil is not great for high temperatures use a sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil instead.

[21TonyK]

I have two oils for cooking and one for eating. For cooking, cheap vegetable oil (more trendily known as rapeseed oil) and a blended olive oil. For eating, a really good Greek extra virgin olive oil.

I am yet to be convinced of the need for so many grades of cooking oil when the last thing I want to do is actually eat or taste it. The only real exception being in a fryer where you don;t use fresh oil every time.

[grumbledoak]

The TV chefs are probably using a nut oil for high temps; they are supposed to take the heat best. I just use a rapeseed oil (Crisp'n'Dry at the moment, but I mostly go on price) and a good virgin olive oil for dressings.

[Hoover.]

vegetable oil for normal cooking, groundnut oil for stir frys as it likes high temps..... cheapo olive oil for roast tatties and expensive extra virgin oil for dressings (love it's peppery taste)

[reggie82]

rufusgti said:

I'm starting to hear whispered that olive oil isn't very healthy when used at high temps.

That's true. Use coconut oil for cooking if you want something healthier.

[craigjm]

21TonyK said:

cheap vegetable oil (more trendily known as rapeseed oil) .

Rapeseed oil is one type of vegetable derived oil. Not all vegetable oil is rapeseed oil.

[21TonyK]

craigjm said:

Rapeseed oil is one type of vegetable derived oil. Not all vegetable oil is rapeseed oil.

True, but almost all generic supermarket "vegetable oils" are 100% rapeseed, others are sold as corn, sunflower etc at a premium. Of course you then get premium "Rapeseed" oil sold in little bottles at prices that make decent olive oil look cheap!

[Mobile Chicane]

I use cold-pressed UK rapeseed oil, since I'd rather support local business than throw money at PIGS.

Sorry for the link to The Wail, but fakery of 'extra virgin' olive oil has to be a concern:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2080079/...

I also cook a lot of curry, to which rapeseed oil adds a certain 'mustardiness', which works very well.

[craigjm]

reggie82 said:

That's true. Use coconut oil for cooking if you want something healthier.

Coconut oil healthier than olive oil? Hmm not sure about that. The saturated fat content of coconut oil is massive

[zygalski]

Try hazelnut oil in place of olive oil for salad dressing. You can get it in any supermarket.
That's one reason why restaurant salads often mysteriously taste better than ones people make at home...

I'm strictly a ghee man when it comes to curry.
Doesn't have to be unhealthy - a little goes a long way.

[dxbtiger]

Mobile Chicane said:

I use cold-pressed UK rapeseed oil, since I'd rather support local business than throw money at PIGS.

From Wharfe Valley Farm by any chance?

[Cheese Mechanic]

I use rapeseed oil for cooking. Unsure without checking, but I'm pretty sure as cooking oils go, Rapeseed has the lowest, or close to lowest saturated fats content.

As for dressings, Olive oil of one kind or the other. I sometimes mess around with infusions, you know, pop some olive oil into a jar and drop a garlic clove in,that kind of thing, saves buying overly priced oils that have had similar treatments.

I've not tried the oils here: http://www.cobnutoil.co.uk/

A good friend has tried both the Cobnut and Walnut oils and reckons they are absolutely lovely. Not cheap, but , there again, exceptional produce never is.

[Davey S2]

Groundnut oil for steaks and very hot frying.

[Mobile Chicane]

dxbtiger said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I use cold-pressed UK rapeseed oil, since I'd rather support local business than throw money at PIGS.

From Wharfe Valley Farm by any chance?

Farrington's 'Mellow Yellow' - from Waitrose.

[toasty]

Mazola for frying, with a splash of Sesame for stir frys.
Extra Virgin Olive for salads and bread dips.