This oil dethrones all others for frying foods.
Peanut, olive, sunflower oil… Vegetable oils are widely used for frying because of their ability to remain stable at high temperatures. But with a large number of oils on the market, we no longer know where to turn. If these oils are more suitable for cooking than the others, this one stands out from the rest. Italian food blogger Stella Totino conducted the survey with 6 different chefs and culinary specialists. All are unanimous.
Touted for its nutritional benefits, the oil they recommend is as good for your health as olive oil, but rarer. However, it has many advantages. The first difference with olive oil is that it is a neutral oil in taste. It will not alter the flavor of your dishes. Its main advantage for frying, however, is its heat resistance with an exceptional smoke point that far exceeds olive oil.
The smoke point of this type of oil, i.e. the temperature from which the oil smokes and becomes potentially toxic, is in fact located between 250°C and 270°C, while that of Olive oil is between 160°C and 190°C. “If an oil doesn’t have a high smoke point, it can alter the taste of your food and, in some cases, even release harmful compounds,” says Hispanic influencer Laura Muller, creator of Food and Deals culinary content by Laura, to blogger Stella Totino. In the case of our chef’s favorite oil, it’s its rich content of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, which protects fatty acids from oxidation. Did you guess? This ideal oil for your frying is avocado oil.
According to César Zapata, chef at Asian cuisine restaurants Phuc Yea and Pho Sho in Miami, avocado oil is “exceptional for pan-frying. Its high smoke point ensures even browning without burning.” If avocado oil has a very similar composition to olive oil, it is its very high smoke point that distinguishes it from all other vegetable oils.
“It’s perfect when you don’t want the flavor of the oil to affect the dish,” David Benstock, chef at Il Ritorno Italian restaurant in St. Petersburg, Fla., told Stella Totino. But then what about peanut oil, so popular for frying because it also has a high smoke point of 230°C and a neutral taste? Although it is good for the wallet, its high level of saturated fat is bad for cardiovascular health.
Avocado oil is rarer to find in France. Unlike the other oils mentioned, it is found on the French market, but rarely packaged in large bottles. It is not available in all supermarkets, but Monoprix or Carrefour supermarkets do offer it, in a 25 centiliter bottle sold for around 8 euros at Carrefour and 9.50 euros at Monoprix. On the other hand, you will have no problem obtaining it in your favorite organic store, from Naturalia to Biocoop for example.