Cooking Oil Adds Flavor

There are many different types of cooking oil available for preparing delicious dishes for friends and family. Great cooks have their favorite type of oil for each dish that they prepare although normal cooks are not as choosy about the oil for their dishes. Some of the popular oils are extracts from olives, sunflowers, peanuts and soybeans. Vegetable oil is a term that is often used to describe all of the above listed oils. Some cooks add seasonings to these oils according to their individual preferences and tastes. These cooks might add garlic, herbs and spices to their cooking oil and some of these oils are available with these ingredients added before they are packaged for the stores.

The type of cooking oil used in preparing dishes can be important to the health of the people served with this food. Some oil has trans fats which are not healthy for those eating the food prepared using this oil. Recently, the authorities in New York City banned the use of trans fat in the prepared food sold in the city. These authorities are not sure that they can eliminate the use of this type of cooking oil, but they are willing to try for the health of the residents and visitors. Trans fats come from hydrogenation of the oil in the cooking process. Normally healthy oils could be changed through cooking to unhealthy type oil.

Cooking Oil Should Be Handled and Used Properly

Cooking oil can be spoiled if it is not stored and used properly. Those in the kitchen should take care to read the directions on the labels of each oil and carefully follow those directions. One oil, peanut oil, could be deadly for anyone that has an allergy to peanuts. Cooks should avoid using this oil unless they are positive that none of the diners has this type of allergy. Many of the cooking oils have different properties depending on the temperature used to cook. Conscientious cooks should check to make sure that they monitor the temperatures they use with certain types of oil.

There is information available about the different oils, but consumers should be wary of the source of the information. Cooking oil is a money making commodity so the companies selling oils want to sell their products. The information these companies present on the oil might not provide a clear picture about the product. Cooking oil can provide essential nutrients or raise cholesterol. Consumers should choose their oils carefully to maintain a healthy diet.