There is no point in arguing that the type of oil you are cooking with can drastically affect your lifestyle. But, with a plethora of oils to choose from, finding the healthy option can get tedious at times. Now, based on the different recipes and your cooking methodology, you can also use different cooking oils simultaneously. Have a look at best cooking oil brand in India.
But, before making your purchase, there are two of the most crucial factors to consider in cooking oil—the overall saturated fat content in the oil and its smoking point. You will be surprised to know, although coconut oil and butter have gained a lot of popularity with the rise of the keto diet, it can actually have an adverse effect on the body.
So, in this article, we have properly curated the top 10 healthiest to the least healthy oils based on different dietitians.
1) Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is by far one of the healthiest oils you can ever get your hands on. Neither less to say, you won’t be able to find a strong flavor in them as well. So, don’t worry about getting your food completely overpowered by the same.
Avocado oil is also rich in Vitamin E. It is actually a fat-soluble vitamin that is effective with its antioxidant properties. Being an unsaturated fat oil, you can also get a higher smoke point out of it.
2) Hazelnut Oil
The sweet aroma of hazelnut oil is surely something you are going to enjoy with fall vegetables such as carrots and winter squash. But, bear in mind, it is not suitable for everyday use such as searing meat and regular cooking.
Hazelnut oil is actually a monounsaturated fat, which means it has a higher smoke point. You can also get the added bonus of Vitamin E added with the same. So, if you are seeking antioxidants, hazelnut oil is just the right option for you.
3) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Now, the majority of us are already accustomed to Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It is rich with antioxidants while containing monounsaturated fats. It is by far one of the healthiest cooking oils you can ever get your hands on. The Omega-3 content in EVOO can also help you to deal with cholesterol.
Although it doesn’t possess the highest smoking point, you can still get a ton of benefits out of it. Our recommendation would be to use EVOO only for stewing and roasting.
4) Regular Olive Oil
If the term Extra Virgin is not labeled, chances are it is just regular olive oil. Sometimes you can also find the term refined attached to it as well. But, with the tradeoff for some antioxidants, you can actually get a higher smoking point for refined olive oils.
Another great advantage is that regular olive oil is way cheaper than EVOO. So, for high-heat cooks, we would recommend you to use regular olive oil. It is going to properly resonate with your frying pan.
5) Peanut Oil
One of the biggest perks of using peanut oil is that everything you use it for is going to smell like a peanut. So, if you are considering using it for cooking, just don’t. On the contrary, if you want something to taste like peanut butter such as cookies or cakes, this is just the right oil to go for.
The monounsaturated fat present in them is going to come handy, dealing with high smoke points. No matter the type of cooking you throw at it, it’s going to survive.
6) Algae Oil
Algae Oils comes with one of the most neutral taste you can ever ask you. In other words, you can use it with any type of cooking. Neither less to say, it is rich in antioxidants and offers a higher smoking point. The only downside is that Algae oil is almost new to the market.
So, it is more on the expensive side. But, at the same time, you can get as little of as 120 calories out of a per tablespoon of serving.
7) Canola Oil
Over the years, canola oil has gained a bad reputation for its use in fast foods. Neither less to say, it is also fairly cheap and easily accessible. But the main constituent being unsaturated fats, you can still get a higher smoking point. So, it offers great versatility on the table as well.
We won’t recommend using it every once a while due to higher calorific value. Only use if you are craving for something fried. Then canola oil is just the one to go for.
8) Vegetable Oil
If a clear bottle is labeled as vegetable oil, chances are you have no clue what you are getting into. The majority of the time, it is nothing but a blend of different oils.
Vegetable oils also have a very low smoking point. This means it would literally burn even in lower temperatures. The production of carcinogens is something you should always avoid over a longer duration of time.
9) Palm Oil
Palm oils also come under the category of not so healthy oils. In fact, chances are you will only find them under snack foods. Palm oils are also very cheap due to easier production as well as easy accessibility.
Having a higher content of saturated fats is going to have some major consequences for your health. They don’t offer a higher smoking point as well. Lastly, they are also one of the major contributors to adverse environmental impact.
10) Coconut Oil
If there is an oil that has been around a lot of controversies, it is definitely going to be the coconut oil. It has gained a ton of praise and criticism at the same time.
It consists of a ton of saturated fats, but at the same time, coconut oil offers a higher smoking point. The slightly sweeter flavor of the coconut oil is also something people are drawn to. Taking our recommendation, we would suggest keeping your distances from the coconut oil.
