What cooking oils besides vegetable oil are good for deep frying?
I normally use vegetable oil but wonder what other options may be.
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Answers ( 1 )
The most important factor in choosing the right oil for deep frying is knowing the so-called "smoke point" of the oil. That's the temperature at which it starts to burn, which can impart off tastes, and can also be dangerous. While there are other considerations, such as flavor, cost, and health factors such as saturation, the smoke point is what determines how the oil will perform at the high temperatures required for deep frying. In addition, it's usually a good idea to select an oil that is neutral in taste, so it doesn't change the flavor of the foods you are deep frying.
While vegetable oil performs quite well, my personal favorite oil for deep frying is peanut oil. Like vegetable oil, it's quite versatile, but its smoke point is even higher by a little bit, clocking in around 450 degrees fahrenheit. Some frying is done at temperatures slightly below this point, but it's better not to risk your results if the oil gets a little hotter than intended.
In addition to peanut oil and vegetable oil, other oils that are for deep frying include corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil, and extra light olive oil. It's important to note that while we usually think of extra virgin olive oil when discussing oil extracted from olives, there are several other types available and some of them are quite good for deep frying. While extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has a fairy low smoke point and distinctive flavor, more refined options like extra light olive oil and pure olive oil are much more neutral and have fewer solids that cause smoking. Some oils to avoid when deep frying are extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil.