Cooking With Oils For The Health-conscious Chef
If you like cooking with oils or oil products such as butter or margarine
, you probably have wondered if it is healthy to continue doing so. There are so many different products for cooking with oils, many of which claim to be relatively good for you.
But with so many choices, how do you know which ones to add to your pantry, and which ones to throw out? Here are some tips on cooking with oils for healthy diets.
1. Canola oil
Canola oil is low in saturated fat, has a better fatty acid composition than other oils, and has many doctors claiming it has the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Canola oil is quite popular for cooking. It works well for sauting, frying (on low temperatures), and in marinades. Canola oil also does not have a strong taste, which makes it a good choice for spicy foods or for meals where you particularly don't want the oil to interfere the taste of your meal.
2. Olive oil
Olive oil has been around for years, and is widely used in cooking all over the world. It has a distinct flavor and a long storage life. Physicians say that this oil is full of heart-healthy ingredients, helps to reduce cholesterol levels, and even reduce the risk of cancer. It is rich in momounsaturated fat (the "good" kind of fat), as well as in antioxidants.
Olive oil should be heated only on low to medium heat ideally, as with high heat it quickly burns. It is healthiest, however, when left uncooked, and used in food items such as dipping sauce or salad dressing.
3. Butter
The popularity of butter over the years has remained constant. Very few people dislike the taste, and research as shown that "real butter" (made from natural ingredients) offers sources of the vitamins A, E, K, and D.
Butter has multiple uses in the kitchen, and can be used with cooking, baking, spread on sandwiches, and much more.
4. Margarine
Margarine is a relatively new product, and become more healthy as product development continues. When it was first created as a substitute for high fat butter, it contained too much trans fat. Trans fat raises bad chloresterol levels.
Margarine does taste good when used as a cooking oil, and it is lower in fat than butter and most oils. It is also significantly cheaper than butter and oils, comes in a range of products, is spreadable, and is a source of Vitamin E.
There are many different kinds and flavors of cooking oils and oil products available today in grocery stores, but these are the most popular four. Having a healthy diet means cooking healthy food, which is really where your knowledge of cooking oils is important.
by: Mel Drestin
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