Fats and vegetable oils

Fats and vegetable oil information, properties and uses. How to use fats and vegetable oils in making your own natural skin care products...

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Fats & Vegetable Oils for Cooking

In recent times food producers and cosmetic are making increasing claims of the medical benefits of their products. This is mostly due to the active ingredients such as vitamins, phytochemicals, enzymes, herbs, anti-oxidants and Essential Oils. Food, drugs and cosmetics all now use vegetable sources for cooking as well as for cosmetics and medicine.

Traditionally this has always been the case. Different cultures use the same natural raw materials such as vegetable oils for cooking, making soap and candles, medicine and cosmetics. A good example is the use of Olive Oil in the Mediterranean area. If you have ever dipped a chunk of bread into a pool of fragrant Olive Oil, you will be aware that it can be used much more than as merely a cooking medium. Nut Oils too are good examples of oils used as for seasoning.

Sometimes you may wish to use a flavourless cooking oil that will disappear without a trace into the finished meal. A fragrant oil can bring new flavours to baked food, salads, sautés and pastas.

We hope that this article will encourage you to use different vegetable oils for cooking and as salad dressings. There is much more to the use of oils than the usual Olive and Sunflower Oil! For example Thistle Oil will provide you with more Omega 6 and Rosehip Oil with Omega 3.

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What is Smoke Point?

Smoke point is the temperature to which an oil can be heated before it smokes and discolours - indications of decomposition. If you are cooking with oil and it begins to smoke, you have reached its smoke point. At the smoke point, the oil begins to emit unpleasant odours and impart unsavoury flavours to your meal. Watch out for the smoke point signs as it means you are getting close to the ‘flash point’, which is when the oil can erupt into flames.

Knowing the smoke point warn you about the flash point and fire points. At the flash point, there are tiny wisps of flame; at the fire point a fire is blazing. The best oils for cooking and frying are those that have a high smoking point – that is, they can be heated to high temperatures before smoking. Generally, refined oils have a higher smoke point than unrefined or cold pressed oils.

N.B. The smoke points listed against each oil are specific to the type sold by Aromantic.

	Almond Oil - Refined Inci Name: Prunus amygdalus Has a subtle toasted almond aroma and flavour. Suitable for salad dressings and sauces. It has a high smoke point (255 ºC / 490 deg.F) and is used in sauté and stir fry. Order this product
	Apricot Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Prunus armeniaca Has a mild flavour and a healthy oil to use in salad dressings. High in Mono-unsaturated fats (Omega 9) and contains no trans-fatty acids so it can be used for cooking but not for high heat cooking. It is safest to use it for salads. Order this product
	Argan Oil – Cold pressed Inci Name: Argania spinosa Has a smooth, roasted nutty flavour with a sharp overtone. Used in Moroccan dishes. Good in salad dressings when combined with lemon juice. High nutritive quality. It is best used as a dressing for cooked, grilled or roasted vegetables. Argan oil is also used in the preparation of ‘Amlou’ – a spread of crushed almonds, honey and Argan oil. It is delicious on toast. Order this product
	Avocado Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Persea gratissima Has a light and unique flavour. Therefore it is very good for salad dressings and for use as a condiment. Order this product
	Borage Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Borago officinalis Due to its high quantity of Omega 3, Borage Oil should never be heated over 40 ºC /104 deg.F. Use if you want to get a GLA boost to your dressings. (instead of using GLA capsules, simply add 2ml of Borage Oil in a teaspoon everyday or add approximately 20ml to 80ml of Sunflower Oil as a dressing. NB. Borage Oil should not be taken internally by pregnant women, nursing mothers or by people with seizure disorders and haemophilia. Order this product
	Castor Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Ricinus communis Used mainly as a laxative in dosage of 15 – 20ml. We recommend chilling it in the fridge and mixing it with cold orange juice to make it more palatable. In China it is used in cooking and dressings. Order this product
	Cocoa Butter – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Theobroma cacao This has a very subtle mellow flavour that gives chocolate its smooth creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can use it to replace butter in cake and bread recipes. One third Cocoa Butter and two thirds Coconut butter is a good Vegan alternative to dairy butter. Order this product
	Coconut Butter – Non Organic Inci Name: Cocos nucifera This has a neutral flavour with a buttery texture. It is a good substitute for butter in most baking recipes such as cookies and cakes and is a good vegan alternative. You can also use it for pan frying instead of butter. In the Philippines and Fiji it is the primary cooking oil. Also good for frying pancakes and to sauté foods such as potatoes. For a rich butter which can be used on toast, melt ¼ Cocoa butter and then add ¾ Coconut Butter. Allow to cool before use. Use coconut butter in a blender to make smoothies which is an excellent fuel and energy drink especially in the morning. Order this product
	Coconut Butter - (Organic) Inci Name: Cocos nucifera Softer than non organic and smells and tastes of Coconut. Use in the same way as the non organic type. Order this product
	Coconut Oil - (Refined, Liquid, fractionated) Inci Name: Cocos nucifera The solid Coconut Oil/fat is traditionally used in commercial baked goods but the liquid fractionated form is used for high temperature cooking because of the high level of saturated fats that make it more durable for higher temperatures. (Smoke point unknown). It has been suggested that Coconut Oil is more like a carbohydrate as it digest rapidly to be used as immediate energy rather than be stored as a fat. Order this product
	Evening Primrose Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Oenothera biennis Similar to Borage Oil but with a more pleasant smell and taste. Order this product
	Grapeseed Oil - Refined Inci Name: Vitis vinifera A thin and dry oil with a very mild flavour and therefore good for dressings as it will not overpower the other ingredients. Can easily be combined with other stronger flavoured and expensive oils. Refined Grapeseed has a high smoke point (Over 200 ºC / 392 deg.F ) and is therefore an excellent choice of cooking oil for sautéing or frying. Order this product
	Hemp Seed Oil – Cold pressed – Organic Inci Name: Cannabis sativa A delicious nutty oil, thin and dry and rich in Essential Fatty Acids (Vitamin F) or EFA’s which is vital for our well being but cannot be made by our bodies. Hempseed Oil contains GLA in small quantities. Recommended use for good health: Adults: 1 – 2 tablespoons per day. Children 2 – 4 teaspoons. Hempseed Oil should not be used for frying due to its fragility. It can be heated at low temperatures but at higher temperatures it creates unhealthy by products known as trans fatty acids. It is good as an alternative to Olive Oil in salad dressings and mayonnaise. It also gives extra flavour to ready-made products such as pasta, baked potatoes and vegetable dishes. Order this product
	Jojoba Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Simmondsia chinensis Can be heated to 180 ºC / 356 deg.F and is best used as a dressing oil for slimmers. Its very high wax content forms a coating on the intestines which blocks the absorption of nutrients and fats. Good to blend with Sunflower Oil or Grapeseed Oil for this purpose to make it thinner. Order this product
	Macadamia Nut Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Macadamia tetraphylla This is a fatty oil with a subtle, nutty flavour and a slight yellow colour. Due to high quantities of Saturated and Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acids is very good cooking oil for sautéing and stir fry. (Smoke point 200 ºC / 392 deg.F). Excellent as an oil in salad dressings and for use in baking as a substitute for butter as it gives a buttery flavour. Good to use in making popcorn. Order this product
	Moringa Oil – Cold pressed, Organic Inci Name: Moringo oleifera Odourless to mild nutty flavour. Due to its high quantities of Oleic Acids (Mono-Unsaturated Fatty Acid) is good for sautéing and deep frying. Can be used as a replacement for Olive Oil in cooking because of its similar properties. Can also be used in dressings. (Smoke point unknown) Order this product
	Mustard Seed Oil – Cold pressed - Organic Inci Name: Brassica nigra In its raw form, the oil is flavourful but extremely hot so it needs to be used in very small amounts when adding flavour. When cooking with Mustard Seed Oil it should be brought to its smoking point before food is cooked in it. When it reaches this temperature a taste change occurs which results in a smoother, mustard flavour which will not overpower the food. This oil is often used in Indian cooking and is also popular in salad dressings, stir fry recipes and marinades.
	Neem Oil – Cold pressed – Organic Inci Name: Melia azadiracta Not used for cooking purposes. Order this product
	Olive Oil - Andalusian – Extra Virgin - Cold pressed Inci Name: Olea europea Is a classical cooking oil because you don’t get free fatty acids when using it. High smoke point (Over 210 ºC / 410 deg.F). Good for sauté, pan fry, stir fry and grilling.
	Palm Kernel Oil / Fat Inci Name: Elaeis guineensis This is a solid white/yellow colour and has a milder flavour than Coconut Butter. In Central and South America and in West Africa, it is used for cooking. It is good for cooking at high temperatures and can be used to replace butter in baking products. (Smoke point unknown) Order this product
	Peach Kernel Oil - Refined Inci Name: Prunus persica Similar properties and use as Apricot Kernel Oil but as it is refined it can be used for high temperature cooking. Order this product
	Rice Bran Oil – Refined Inci Name: Oryza sativa Has a light but not overpowering flavour. Contains a high quantity of Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids and is therefore a durable oil that can tolerate high temperatures. Good for cooking at high temperatures such as in sautéing and deep frying. Traditionally used in Asia to fry potato chips, rice crackers and French fries without greasiness. Rice Bran Oil is ideal for grilling because it can endure high heat. (Smoke point 254 ºC / 490 deg.F). Rice Bran Oils secret lies in its E-vitamin group of anti-oxidants: Tocopherol, Oryzanol and Tocotrienol giving it a long shelf life. Numerous studies have shown that Rice Bran reduces the harmful cholesterol (LDL) without reducing beneficial cholesterol (HDL). Oryzanol is reported as the key element. It reduces cholesterol better than olive oil, which is the better known healthy choice. Rice Bran Oil is good for dressings and salads and, combined with Thistle Oil is good for reducing cholesterol. Order this product
	Rosehip Oil – Cold pressed – Organic and Non organic Inci Name: Rosa rubginosa Rosehip Oil is very dry and thin and should never be heated over 40 ºC / 104 deg.F. due to its high content of Omega 3. It is the best source of Omega 3 from vegetable sources. Good to use in dressings for that reason. Because it has a strong taste and smell it is best to blend it with other more neutral oils. Use up to 20 – 30% in a dressing. To read more about Rosehip Seed Oil click here. Order this product
	Sesame Oil – Cold pressed – Organic Inci Name: Sesamum indicum A light colour and a mild nutty flavour. Sesame Oil is not good for high temperature cooking as its smoke point is only 177 ºC / 350 deg.F. It is often sold as toasted sesame oil which is mostly used as a flavouring. It appears to reduce high blood pressure. It is very good in salad dressings blended with Sunflower Oil. Order this product
	St. Johns Wort Oil – Organic, Macerated Inci Name: Hypericum perforatum A reddish colour with a taste similar to Olive Oil. It can be heated but because of the macerated herbs it is best to use under 40 ºC / 104 deg.F. This is a sedative herb which promotes relaxation. It is also good for relieving upset stomachs. Use up to 15% in a dressing with a more neutral oil such as Sunflower, Thistle Oil or Rice bran Oil. Order this product
	Sunflower Oil – Cold pressed – Organic Inci Name: Helianthus anuus This is a thin and dry oil which has a light yellow colour and a mild sweet flavour. The cold pressed unrefined Oil which Aromantic stocks has a smoke point of 109 ºC / 228 deg.F therefore it is not good for heating but it is very good for a neutral salad dressing base oil or in a mayonnaise. It can be combined with stronger flavoured, more expensive oils. Like Olive Oil, the cold pressed Sunflower Oil is known as ‘extra virgin’. Order this product
	Thistle Oil (Safflower Oil) – Refined Inci Name: Carthamus tinctorius This is a dry to very dry and thin oil. The refined type has a smoke point of 263 ºC / 505 deg.F which makes it ideal for high temperature cooking such as sauté and deep fat frying. It has little flavour and is a good base for salad dressings. Combine it with highly flavoured and more expensive oils. It does not solidify when chilled which is an added advantage for salad oil dressings. Thistle Oil is a very good source of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) as it contains between 63 – 86% of Omega 6 which is a good source to provide the raw materials for the formation of GLA and Prostaglandins in the body. Order this product
	Thistle Oil (Safflower Oil) – Cold pressed - Organic Inci Name: Carthamus tinctorius This is a dry to very dry and thin oil which has a rich golden colour with an attractive smell and nutty taste. Due to the unrefined oils smoke point of 109 ºC / 228 deg.F, it is unsuitable for cooking at high temperatures. It is however excellent for dressings and has similar properties as the refined type. Research has shown that using only 2 teaspoons of cold pressed Thistle Oil in a salad dressing helps people to reduce weight. Hair, skin and nails is also improved. Order this product