One of the most basic and essential cooking items in our kitchen is cooking oil. We use it for a variety of purposes – from sautéing to frying – as it helps in cooking and adds depth to almost every food we eat. It also helps in absorbing the flavours of food and enhancing its overall taste. Today, if you walk into a departmental store, you will find a plethora of options that claim to be healthy in their own ways. There is a debate going on about which kind of oil is actually healthier for cooking – cold-pressed or refined. Some people often end up making mistakes in choosing cooking oil, which in turn can affect their health. So, which oil to buy the next time you go grocery shopping? If you are wondering the same, you have come to the right place! Nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar (@consciouslivingwithshalini) has shared a video on her Instagram handle answering this burning question. The next time you shop for cooking oil, you’ll know what to expect.
Also read: 5 best cooking oils for heart health, according to Dr. Shriram Nene
Photo Credit: iStock
Cold Pressed Oil Vs Refined Oil: Which is Better?
Nutritionist Shalini Sudhakar says that when it comes to choosing cold pressed or refined oil, it depends on your cooking purpose. So, instead of blindly choosing one, follow these tips.
1. Daily Cooking
For everyday cooking such as frying and deep frying, the nutritionist suggests using cold-pressed oils as they are better than refined oils. However, she suggests not using cold-pressed oils for deep frying. This is because the boiling point of cold-pressed oils is only 180 degrees Celsius. So, if you deep fry anything using cold-pressed oils, it will become unhealthy.
2. Deep frying
According to nutritionist Sudhakar, if you want to shallow fry or deep fry, use refined oil. This may surprise you as many people consider refined oils unhealthy. However, refined oils have a very high boiling point and are therefore suitable for deep frying and high-temperature cooking.
Therefore, determining which oil is safe and healthy depends on the cooking purpose and not the choice of oil.
Watch the full video below:
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Is it safe to reuse cooking oil?
Now that you know which oil to use for which purpose, you might be wondering if it is safe to reuse leftover oil for cooking. Well, this is a common question and you are not alone. According to health experts, it is best to throw away the oil used for frying. In fact, it should not even be used for frying. However, if you want to reuse the oil to avoid wastage, then by following these tips you can reduce its negative impact on your body.
1. Discard after two uses
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommends discarding cooking oil that has been used for frying more than twice. This is because it becomes unfit for consumption when the total polar compounds exceed 25 per cent.
2. Cool and filter
After using cooking oil, allow it to cool. Once cooled, filter out any food particles before storing the oil in an airtight container. Make sure to remove all particles from the oil, else it will go bad.
3. Consume within a month
After storing the oil in an airtight container, keep it in a cool, dry place. Make sure to keep it away from air, moisture, and sunlight. Use the oil within a month to keep it fresh.
Also read: How to safely dispose of cooking oil after frying? Viral video explains
Although you can reuse the oil, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and use fresh oil every time for cooking.
