In recent years, food manufacturers have created some nifty new options for cooking oils. Whether you’re looking for the perfect oil for that stir-fry or the ideal oil for baking, you can find the answer at Vitacost. But do you know which one to choose for which purpose? We’ve got the dish here.
First, it’s helpful to understand the different types of fats and which oils fit into which categories:
- Monounsaturated fats are healthiest. They’re known to reduce so-called “bad” cholesterol and raise levels of good cholesterol. In addition, they provide you with vitamin E, which is an antioxidant. Canola and olive oils are monounsaturated oils. In addition, avocado oil is more than 50 percent monounsaturated.
- Polyunsaturated fats also help your body function properly because they contain essential fatty acids. Sunflower oil and rapeseed oil are in this category.
Get the best results with this guide to cooking oils:
- Are you making muffins, cakes or other delicious baked goods? Go for canola oil, such as Spectrum Organic Canola Oil or coconut oil, such as Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil.
- For frying or sauteing, use sunflower oil, such as Spectrum Organic Sunflower Oil or avocado oil, such as Olivado. Other options include sesame oil and peanut oil.
- If you’re making marinades, salad dressings or dips, remember that flavor is everything. A general crowd-pleasing choice is olive oil, such as Vitacost Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For an exotic taste, try walnut oil, such as Flora Walnut.
Storage Notes:
Fresh is best. And although that pretty bottle of oil might look elegant on the window sill, both light and heat can ruin its contents. Therefore, we recommend keeping oils in a cool, dark cabinet or the refrigerator.