The Best Cooking Oil for Tonight's Dinner
Oil certainly doesn’t have the notoriety that avocado toast or cauliflower pizza do, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Coconut oil is having a BIG moment right now, but is it really the best cooking oil?
The FDA has this crazy idea that people actually measure their oil and only recommends about 1.5 teaspoons per day for its health benefits. Some studies argue, though, that just one tablespoon of coconut oil exceeds the recommended daily allowance of saturated fat. You could say it’s a pretty controversial topic.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons of all the healthiest cooking oils so you can choose the best one for your next controversy-free meal.
Canola Oil
Canola oil’s high tolerance for heat makes it great for frying and baking. Plus, it has the lowest saturated fat content, which has earned it an endorsement from the American Heart Association.
Look for a pure or cold pressed oil to keep the maximum amount of nutrients from this normally highly processed oil.
Olive Oil
You’re probably already familiar with this contender for best cooking oil. Olive oil has been around for centuries and has been traded around the globe. You’ve likely seen both regular and extra virgin oils on your local shelves, and like us, you probably had no idea what the difference was.
According to Tasting Table, extra virgin olive oil is made from cold-pressed olives, whereas regular olive oil is made from a combination of cold-pressed and processed oils. In other words, you get what you pay for: Extra-virgin olive oil is more expensive but doesn’t contain extra additives or preservatives.
Both versions of olive oil contain healthy fats as well as antioxidants such as vitamin E that help support healthy hair and nail growth. Studies show that this and other antioxidants have a variety of additional health benefits such as fighting inflammation and lowering risk for heart disease.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is probably not the first oil that comes to mind when you think of the best cooking oil for a healthy and balanced diet, but this is another two-version oil that has some unique applications.
Under medium heat, sesame oil is one of the best cooking oil options for sautéeing where you want to bring in more flavor while retaining some added health benefits.
Sunflower Oil
Like olive oil, sunflower oil contains vitamin E. It also contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, two heart-healthy alternatives to saturated fats, according to WebMD.
At Outstanding Foods, we know how important it is to use the best cooking oil to make the best snacks. Our Puffs, Cheese Balls, and Pig Out Crunchies are all made with the highest-quality high-oleic expeller-pressed sunflower oil, which contains no GMOs and more monounsaturated fat than olive oil.
Not only do we use the highest-quality plant-based products in our snacks, but we also offer tons of outstanding flavors so you don’t have to choose between being healthy and eating actual good food.
Armed with your favorite Outstanding Foods products and your newfound best cooking oil of choice, you’re basically ready to host your own cooking show! Find Outstanding Foods snacks in stores near you.
