Kinds Of Cooking Oil
There are many different kinds of cooking oil. Usually this kind of oil is derived from either plant or animal fats. Of course, the healthier oils used for cooking are the ones extracted from plant fats. They are primarily used to cook our food; hence the term cooking oil but they also have other uses.
Vegetable oil is loosely used for oils that are a combination of some of these oils, sunflower oil, soybean oil, palm and corn oils. Lard is what oil from animal fats is called. Many medical practitioners advice against consuming this at great quantities at it poses a threat to one's health. Coconut and palm oils are also high in saturated fats which can be unhealthy if consumed in large amounts or frequently.
Canola Oil
This cooking oil was initially introduced in Canada from which its name was derived. It is said to have little or no saturated fats content and can contain up to more than 50% mono unsaturated oil and Omega 3 fatty acids. This is quite healthy for a cooking oil, which is why many people have turned to Canola when cooking. This type of cooking oil is great for medium temperature frying and not for high temperature.
Corn Oil
This cooking oil can tolerate higher temperatures compared to Canola oil and is also less expensive than other types of edible oils. It is derived from maize and is commonly used in the production of margarine. Other uses for corn oil are for biodiesel, cosmetic products, inks and textiles.
Olive Oil
This oil has many uses, not only as cooking oil. It can be used for cosmetics, fuel and pharmaceutical purposes. It is derived from the olive fruit, which is mainly grown in the Mediterranean. It is considered a healthy cooking oil because it has a high content of monounsaturated fats although it burns easily when exposed to high heat.
Sesame Oil
This oil is derived from sesame seeds. It can tolerate very high temperatures, which makes it ideal as cooking oil. It is a bit more expensive than other forms cooking oil and has a distinctive flavor that many Asian countries appreciate.
There are many other types of oils used for cooking and, depending on the country and culture, many other uses are found for cooking oil. One must be aware of the heat tolerance of the many different kinds of oils. Burnt oil can pose a danger to one's health and the reuse of this can add to the health risk.
