How to choose the proper cooking oil?

Apr 7
02:00

2022

Nancy Whitman

Nancy Whitman

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Hardly will you be able to prepare any meal without using cooking oil. Cooking oil comes in handy when making stew, rice, salad, and frying. While cooking oil is an essential part of meal preparation, it is important to note that it has different types, each having its unique content and properties.

mediaimage

Hardly will you be able to prepare any meal without using cooking oil. Cooking oil comes in handy when making stew,How to choose the proper cooking oil? Articles rice, salad, and frying. While cooking oil is an essential part of meal preparation, it is important to note that it has different types, each having its unique content and properties. 

In this piece, we will be looking at different types of cooking oil and the suitable ones that are good for your overall health. We will also consider the various situations where you can use each oil type. 

Cooking oil based on level of cholesterol level:

Saturated fatty acids

Do you know that animal products have saturated fats? Although most people are not aware that consuming animal products increases fat levels in the body. The saturated fats will be converted into cholesterol whenever you consume animal products, thanks to the liver. Aside from animals, some of the products that contain saturated fats include dairy products, butter, and margarine—the implication of consuming products with a high level of saturated fat increases cholesterol in your body system. If your cholesterol gets to a tipping point, it increases the chance of heart-related disease and stroke. 

Unsaturated Fatty acids

The opposite of saturated fatty acid is unsaturated fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acids are of two types, namely monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The significant difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is their impact on the body. While saturated fatty acids increase blood cholesterol levels, unsaturated fats do not. Canola and olive oil are cooking oil that is highly rich in monounsaturated fats. While safflower and coil oil also has a high polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage. 

Other types of cooking oil best for cooking:

Olive oil 

Olive oil is one of the oldest cooking oil known to humans and is extracted from tree-ripened olives. Based on stability, olive oil is classified as monounsaturated oil, which means it has a low cholesterol level. Some of the properties of olive oil include vitamin E and F. An unrefined olive oil has a smoke level of 320 degrees, and this oil is suitable for wok cooking, baking, and stir-frying. 

Corn

The primary source of corn oil is corn kernel. Compared to other types of oil, corn oil is tasteless and has a high level of polyunsaturated fat of 62%. Corn oil can be used for different purposes like mayonnaise, margarine, and salad dressing. With a smoke level of 450 degrees, corn oil is perfect for deep frying and pan frying because it can easily withstand temperature without smoking.

Safflower 

This oil is called Safflower because it is made from safflower seeds. You can quickly identify safflower oil from its pale yellow color and flavorless taste. Also, it is grouped under polyunsaturated oil because of its low cholesterol level. However, it is low on vitamin E. But overall, Safflower is a general-purpose oil as it can be used for various purposes. It would be best to consider using safflower oil for salad lovers because it does not solidify when chilled.

Final thought   

There are countless lists of cooking oil for meal preparation. However, one of the considerations that should influence your choice of oil is the fatty acid and cholesterol level. For the safety of your health, consider using oil with low fatty acid. Using cooking oil with low cholesterol levels is good for your health and reduces the chances of exposing yourself to heart-related sickness and stroke.