Logging Olive Oil

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be_runner
be_runner Posts: 20
in Food and Nutrition
What's the best way to log cooking oils? I almost exclusively use olive oil when I cook almost anything but haven't logged it. I rarely measure, just use enough to coat the pan. This is something I should be adding to my food logs, correct? Measure first?

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  • LouiseH238
    LouiseH238 Posts: 199 Member
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    Measure first, yes.
  • BrenWOW
    BrenWOW Posts: 95
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    Yeah, I use it for cooking too, and I never thought about logging it. Going to start doing that.
  • msleanlegs
    msleanlegs Posts: 188 Member
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    I don't log olive oil when it's used just to lightly coat the bottom of a pan. I figure as long as my weight loss isn't stalling and I only use olive oil like this no more than a few times a week, then it doesn't matter.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
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    I always log my oil as this can make or break a recipe in terms of calories. I try to aim for 300 cal per serving not matter what I make.

    I use a bar glass for making cocktails with markings for tablespoon, teaspoon etc. I measure and use as needed.
  • yellowsnowdrop
    yellowsnowdrop Posts: 154 Member
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    I use an olive oil spray and always log even tho it's just 1 cal per spray.I guess those calories have a nasty way of creeping up on you when you just aren't looking!!
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
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    At 120 calories per tablespoon, I definitely log it. Enough to coat the pan is easily a tablespoon or two.

    Probably not all of it ends up on my food but I'd rather err on the side of caution and I usually only use as much as I need so most of it does actually end up on or in the food I eat.

    Since I'm tracking Macros as well as calories, the olive oil I use for cooking every once in a while helps me make sure I hit my fat macros.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
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    I use an olive oil spray and always log even tho it's just 1 cal per spray.I guess those calories have a nasty way of creeping up on you when you just aren't looking!!

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    I use canola oil spray, but that I don't log :ohwell: good point. I was only thinking in terms of pouring oils :bigsmile:
  • be_runner
    be_runner Posts: 20
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    I use an olive oil spray and always log even tho it's just 1 cal per spray.I guess those calories have a nasty way of creeping up on you when you just aren't looking!!

    Yeah, I used to use a spray too but it ruined my pans so I went back to straight up oil. I do think I have a hand pump mister around here somewhere.
  • be_runner
    be_runner Posts: 20
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    At 120 calories per tablespoon, I definitely log it. Enough to coat the pan is easily a tablespoon or two.

    Probably not all of it ends up on my food but I'd rather err on the side of caution and I usually only use as much as I need so most of it does actually end up on or in the food I eat.

    Since I'm tracking Macros as well as calories, the olive oil I use for cooking every once in a while helps me make sure I hit my fat macros.

    That's my hesitance to count it too - how much gets burned off and how much should I count? Yesterday on my first day I was almost 300 calories under and I don't want to do that... which is what lead to this question. If I measured and counted the oil I used when cooking I'm sure I'd hit that number.
  • tomg33
    tomg33 Posts: 305 Member
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    Definitely count it. It's pure fat so the calories count up very quickly.

    If you figure some of it will be left in the pan, then record maybe 75% of what you use.
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
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    Depending on the size of your pan, it can take several tablespoons to coat the bottom nicely.

    I'm a firm believer in: 1) Fat isn't evil, 2) Nonstick pans are gross, 3) Fat carries flavor and vitamins.

    So I cook with fat, mostly in cast-iron skillets. Every once in a while I measure before putting it in the skillet, to be sure my impression of "two tablespoons" has not changed over time, but from cooking a lot I know that I can generalize what I put into an empty pan as two tablespoons and I'm close enough (given that its goign to be divided over 4 or 6 servings most days).

    But yeah, if you use the recipe calculator for everything that goes into a skillet, and you divide it by the number of servings in a skillet, even a tablespoon of oil can make a significant difference in the total calories for a serving.

    Also, it affects your macros.

    Also? If you use the spray, check the actual info on the spray. Most of them will give a calorie count "Per second." Almost nobody actually sprays the stupid stuff for only a second. Many people are putting significant amounts into their food and thinking its not enough to count!
  • msleanlegs
    msleanlegs Posts: 188 Member
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    I was taken aback reading that some of you use a tablespoon or more to coat the pan, but then realized I do a lot of separate cooking for just myself so my pans are only 8x8". I use between 1-2 teaspoons and half that ends up being mopped into the paper towel used for spreading the oil.

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