Healthy Cooking Discussion: Cooking Oil

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Replies

  • RaquelLynnPalomino
    RaquelLynnPalomino Posts: 4 Member
    When I stir-fry, I start with a teaspoon (40 calories), and a little water (and then add water as needed), when eating veggies it's important to have a fat most vitamins are fat soluble. I like grapeseed oil (no added flavor), olive oil for italian cooking. They are both higher in the good fats. Saturated fats, are the ones you want to avoid.
  • juicygurl1
    juicygurl1 Posts: 195 Member
    The best cooking oils I have found and read about consist of unprocessed organic oils. Local health food stores usually offer some guideless on which products are best. Oils that are partially hydrogenated create trans fat. Most cooking oils including mass produced olive oils, canola, sunflower and soybean oils are processed for use at high temperature cooking and shelf life. I use oil for most cooking dishes but only purchase organic unprocessed oils including organic clarified butter-ghee.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I typically use peanut oil, coconut oil, or hemp oil, depending on what's cooking.

    I haven't bought olive oil in a very long time. I might try it again.
  • GnochhiGnomes
    GnochhiGnomes Posts: 348 Member
    Fat goes to fat stores, only miniscule amounts are needed and you get them anyway in a balanced diet. No need to add it on purpose. You want olive oil ? eat olives. Butter ? drink milk. Coconut ? aren't you full already from the olives and the milk:)

    Because you can roast them courgettes by sprinkling olives on them.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    Eating more calories than you burn, from any source (oil, sugar, protein), will make you fat. Which oils are "healthiest" depends entirely on context. On salads, I like hemp seed oil, because it has a good balance of essential fatty acids, but you do not want to heat hemp seed oil (or flax oil), as doing so negates these advantages. For cooking I use extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil is particularly good for cooking at relatively high temperatures, as it has a high burn point.
  • juicygurl1
    juicygurl1 Posts: 195 Member
    Organic coconut oil has a wonderful flavor but not recommended for all cooking dishes. I love using it on all types of fish for a tropical exotic experience to my dieting.
  • MonkRocker
    MonkRocker Posts: 198
    I use Ghee because it's DELICIOUS.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

    You're welcome. :)
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    Rice bran oil, for cooking at high temperatures. Otherwise I use butter, olive oil infused with lemon, or rendered fat from whatever I have been cooking. Just .... not very much
  • GnochhiGnomes
    GnochhiGnomes Posts: 348 Member
    I use Ghee because it's DELICIOUS.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

    You're welcome. :)

    It is delicious. Though isn't it like ridiculously calorie dense?
  • Zarebeth
    Zarebeth Posts: 136 Member
    I think fat is fat, all around 100 calories a tablespoon, right?

    Anyway, another BIG vote for coconut oil. It has a high smoke point and much thinner feel when it melts so I can use a lot less. And it gives everything such a marvelous crispy crust! I love my fish and chicken breasts fried in a tiny bit of it with just a little seasoning. Yum, think I will have that tonight.
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member


    Please ignore everything marll said regarding which fats are healthy for you, except regarding hydrogenated oils and margerine. There is a little bit of a fashion I've noticed in the diet world to say that all the things we thought were unhealthy are really healthy. They aren't usually, or only in moderation.

    It's ok, I forgive you for not knowing anything about what you're talking about. Let's all run out and start eating all the bastardized, lab created vegtable oils that are trans fats and unnatural and forget that people have survived for millions of years cooking with animal fats and only recently have gotten fat as all f**k in the last 50-60 years when all that crap started cropping up.
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
    I use Ghee because it's DELICIOUS.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

    You're welcome. :)

    It is delicious. Though isn't it like ridiculously calorie dense?

    Who cares about calories when you aren't eating a bunch of garbage grains and bastardized oils a few extra calories for something natural AND tasty.
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member

    Please ignore everything marll said regarding which fats are healthy for you,


    Please ignore everything bathsheba_c said

    Because many of the the things thought to be healthy are not and are worse that the "unhealthy" thing they were to replace.

    This exactly. Vegtable oils, margarine, fat free anything...they are all abominations. Shockingly none of that s**t has helped anyone loose weight, in fact most of the time I'm willing to say that it was probably working against them and they succeeded only through pure determination and willpower.
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    I minimize oil for reasons of caloric efficiency. But the proper oils will enhance your lipid profile and health, not worsen it.

    Look up the health benefits of Extra virgin olive oil. It's my preferred cold oil. I try to use at least one tablespoon per day on a salad. Coconut oil is still a little more controversial, but I use it when heating oil is necessary. Look for organic virgin coconut oil. There is a regular coconut oil sold at most places but it is not the same from a health perspective.

    When i use butter, I try to use Kerry Gold, It is made from pastured cows, so it theoretically should have a better Omega 3 profile.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    So I know oil is evil and basically just fat in liquid form but sometimes we have to use it to cook.

    What is the lowest calorie oil to cook with that will still give the desired results?

    Are there some oils that may have a slightly higher calorie count but they make such a difference in cooking that we let them slide?

    Discuss.

    Why is everything always just about calories on these forums?

    Why not focus on health????

    Olive oil is not meant to be a cooking oil. It is a salad oil.

    Coconut oil is the most healthy and heat stable oil.

    I am so glad I am not burdened with the calorie counting thing.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    I use Ghee because it's DELICIOUS.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

    You're welcome. :)

    It is delicious. Though isn't it like ridiculously calorie dense?

    Who cares about calories when you aren't eating a bunch of garbage grains and bastardized oils a few extra calories for something natural AND tasty.

    Exactly.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Olive oil is best, but use sparingly. Two tablespoons has more fat than a big Mac. And coconut oil is the new thing but no research shows its any more healthy than olive or canola. Happy cooking!
    (my fav is saunteeing zucchini green beans asparagus etc in two tsp olive oil and garlic cloves :) YUM!)

    Studies have shown time and time again that Canola oil is NOT healthy in the least. It is a highly processed and rancid oil.

    Same with all other vegetable oils.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Oil and fat are not the enemy, in fact cutting them out is probably hurting most of you more than helping. The best types of oil to use that are healthy are:

    Olive oil
    Coconut oil
    Beef tallow
    Lard
    Bacon grease
    Duck fat

    Anything HYDROGINATED is horrible trans fat, and should not be used. Vegtables oils are all complete garbage, and little do people know are completely rancid before they even make it to the store shelf (where as something like beef tallow will keep at room temp for a year or more).

    This is REAL TALK!!!
  • RuthSweetTooth
    RuthSweetTooth Posts: 461 Member
    Look for La Tourangelle Walnut Oil (has incredible walnut flavor) and Grapeseed Oil. Both are packed with essential fatty acids (Omega 3s) that the body CANNOT manufacture and needs every day. They make delicious salad dressings! (I keep my expensive oils in the fridge for longer life) Cooking oil is not the devil, rather, another nutritional tool. Many contain Vitamin E as well. Just read the labels and enjoy! Smart Balance is a good one that's affordable.

    The good fats are the unsaturated ones (mono and polyunsaturated) the bads ones are saturated and trans fats. Sh&TTY fats is a good way to remember the bad ones.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Okay, so basically, all fats have the same number of calories per volume. Where oils differ is in the kind of fat, and the smoking point (i.e. at what temperature it starts to burn). Any oil that is solid at room temperature, including animal fats and coconut oil, contains saturated fat, which is not healthy for you. Liquid oils, such as olive, canola, and vegetable oil are made from unsaturated fats, which are an important part of your diet.

    So, beyond that, the primary consideration should be cooking temperature. Olive oil is full of nutrients, but it's flavor is easily destroyed and it has a low smoking point, so it is best used either when no heat is applied (dressing salad, on bread, etc.) or where something is being cooked at a low heat. Canola oil has a higher smoking point and a very mild flavor, so it is better for frying things.

    Please ignore everything marll said regarding which fats are healthy for you, except regarding hydrogenated oils and margerine. There is a little bit of a fashion I've noticed in the diet world to say that all the things we thought were unhealthy are really healthy. They aren't usually, or only in moderation.

    Also you need fat in your diet in order to absorb many nutrients from food, including, by the way, from vegetables.

    Actually marll is correct in what he stated.

    The saturated fat MYTH has been debunked time and time again.

    Saturated fat is moderate to high amounts is necessary all the way down to the cellular level.

    http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/04/06/saturated_fat_the_misunderstood_nutrient#axzz0zknkn0yT

    http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/nutrition/saturated_fat.htm

    http://www.health-report.co.uk/saturated_fats_health_benefits.htm
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    Don't worry to much about "fat" just stay away form anything with Hydrogenated_____ in it.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Fat is not the devil. You need it in your diet. You won't get fat eating fat.

    Agree, especially if the fat comes from olive or coconut oil, nuts and avocados. Better than a Big Mc.
  • kristamesmer
    kristamesmer Posts: 1
    Has anyone tried cooking with Malaysian palm fruit oil? Really high in both vitamin A and E, and has a high smoke point. It contains almost equal amounts of unsaturated fats and saturated fats, so it basically it behaves more like a healthier monounsaturated fat.
  • xarge
    xarge Posts: 484 Member
    Has anyone tried cooking with Malaysian palm fruit oil? Really high in both vitamin A and E, and has a high smoke point. It contains almost equal amounts of unsaturated fats and saturated fats, so it basically it behaves more like a healthier monounsaturated fat.

    Unless you mean palm kernel oil, palm oil is very high in palmitic acid content. Palmitic acid is a type of saturated fatty acid chain mostly related to increasing LDL. I'm afraid I didn't any studies that favor palmitic acid yet. Actually, it's one of the culprits of bad saturated fat image.

    Whereas I definitely don't think saturated fats are evil, they come in different packages. As they have different compositions.

    Coconut oil has more lauric acid chains, whereas it was shown to increase overall cholesterol, it also increased HDL levels. Palm kernel oil is similar to coconut. Butter has butyric acid and it was studied to have positive effects in colon cancer or UC. So no, saturated fats are definitely not evil but not all saturated fats are the same and it may be better to avoid some of them in diet.

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