Did you know that it is really important to choose a healthy cooking oil for your family? Though the choice of the right type of cooking oil would depend on several different factors and varies from family to family, there are certain things you should remember when choosing a healthy cooking oil that applies to us all.
Things to remember: Heat stability
The following are some very important points to remember when choosing a healthy cooking oil for your family.
- It is important to note that the oil you choose should remain stable at high-temperature when cooking. Many oils will easily be oxidized or go rancid which can result in the formation of disease-causing free radicals that are best avoided.
- It is important to look at the degree of saturation of the fatty acids that are present in the cooking oil when it comes to examining its stability.
- Saturated fats that are present in cooking oils are those that only have single chemical bonds whereas the monounsaturated fats contain a single double bond and the polyunsaturated fats have two or more than two double bonds.
- While oils that have monounsaturated fats and saturated fats are ideal there are also oils that contain polyunsaturated fats in large amounts and these are the ones that are best avoided.
Coconut oil
So, who is the winner? When it comes to heat stability, coconut oil clearly wins. It is best to go with virgin coconut oil since it is organic and has a number of health benefits. At room temperature, coconut oil usually remains semisolid and will last for years without going rancid. Coconut oil can also help keep bacteria and pathogens at bay.
Olive oil
Olive oil helps promote good cholesterol and has a high percentage of monounsaturated fats. Make it a point to use extra virgin olive oil which has more antioxidants and powerful health benefits. You should always store your olive oil in a cool and dark place to protect it from going rancid
