What Oil or Fat Should I Cook With?
First off, refined oil (which is most oil in the supermarket) is not healthy. It’s been processed at such high temperatures, (sometimes using chemicals), that it causes the formation of trans fats. Yes, that’s what happens. Extra virgin olive oil is unrefined, but most other oil (vegetable, canola…), unless it says “unrefined,” has been refined for use at high temperatures. I want to point out that “organic” does not mean unrefined.
Cooking Oils:
– Unrefined Coconut Oil
– Grass Fed Butter
– Animal Fat (like leftover bacon grease)
The best oil to cook with is unrefined coconut oil– it can be used for medium to medium/high heat. Don’t worry, your meal wont taste like coconut. Organic, grass-fed butter is also great, if you are ok with dairy, and animal fat is also great to cook with cause it can withstand very high heat.
Do not use crisco (hydrogenated oil), margarine (including “organic” spreads), or olive oil to cook with. Unrefined sesame oil and peanut oil (if you are ok with legumes) are good oils to cook with when used at medium to low temperatures.
Don’t cook with extra virgin olive oil, unless cooking at a really low temp. Add to your dish after cooking for flavor.
And on a side note, fats are important in our diet (especially for our brain!), but eating the healthy fats- I know that sounds like an oxymoron- is key. Other good, healthy fats include avocados, nuts (raw almonds, brazil nuts, etc), seeds (like flax, chia, hemp, and pumpkin), fish, and hormone/antibiotic-free meats.
So go eat some good fat!
(photo by Martin Cathrae)
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