Why Do We Use Oil in Cooking?

Have you ever wondered why we use OIL in cooking? There are so many kinds of oils in the market and one can get easily confused as to which oil to use.

First of all the oil is used for many reasons in cooking and eating.

Here are the benefits of using Oil:

1. 1. It preserves food-for some time.Oil is used in making Pickles-Indian and Western. Oil is used in preparing, Vegetables, Daals, Roti, and many other dishes. Salad dressing has Oil.
2. Helps pass the food through your system- think of how hard time babies have until they start taking some cooked food.
3. Think of Starchy foods-like potato, rice etc. It is easier to eat with a bit of oil-goes down your throat easy. Oil helps starchy food easier to eat.

The key is to know what kind of oil to use.

Peanut oil, Sesame oil, Canola oil, Corn Oil, Vegetable-Soya bean-oil, Olive oil, Grape Seed Oil, Coconut Oil,  and many others.

Oil becomes stale if not used up within certain time.

You can do your research and use which you feel is great for you.

I use:

Olive oil for salads and some cooking. Use Vegetable or Grape seed oil for Frying. Use Sesame oil-roasted sesame oil for flavoring. Olive oil has very low smoke point. It heats up very fast.

Several oils now has become popular.

Extra Virgin Olive oil,

Avocado Oil-this oil has recently entered the market-this oil is derived from Avocado flesh and has many benefits. The smoke point is very high that means it is good fro Frying also.

Walnut Oil is extracted from dried or roasted Walnuts. This oil is a rich source of antioxidants,  and has medium smoke point.

For Cooking, Baking and Frying, I use Grape Seed Oil or Vegetable Oil- has high smoke point so it is good for frying.

Flaxseed Oil contains plent of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Flaxseed oil is unstable so it is best to use after cooking.

Try the ones that are healthy. Do some research and use the ones you feel good about.

Some oils are not suitable for Baking-such as Olive Oil-it makes the item heavy and when you put it in the Refrigerator, the Oil seems to solidify. Olive Oil has great flavor and is used for salads and special Olive Oil Dips.

Remember fried food becomes stale fast and, Oils lose th quality after it is used for Frying-it is best to discard left ove oil after you have fried in it.