You may have noticed that HelloFresh meals say to have some oil on hand. But which one is the best to use? We’re taking an in-depth look at common cooking oils to find the best one for your meals.
Oil is a staple pantry item in every home. But when you go to the grocery store and see the shelves lined with all different kinds of cooking oils, how do you know which one is best?
It can feel overwhelming to choose from all of the different types – canola, avocado, coconut, etc. This guide will help you pick the right oil for the job (and your health).
Are you using the right cooking oil?
Cooking oils might look similar on the store shelf, but they can be very different from each other in the way they taste, smell and how they work in recipes.
Neutral flavoured oils like vegetable and refined avocado oil are great for cooking with. This ensures that your oil doesn’t affect the final flavour of your dish. In some cases, you might want your oil to add flavour so you can choose coconut or olive oil. For salad dressings and non-cooking uses, oils like olive oil are a great choice!
The best oils to have on hand:
All oils have their uses. Here’s what our culinary team at HelloFresh recommends keeping on hand in your home:
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Avocado Oil
Get to Know Your Oils
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Likely the most well-known and frequently used of cooking oils. Called EVOO for short, it’s made by crushing olives to extract the oil. Olive oil is a great oil to keep in your pantry. It’s flavourful, making it a great choice for dressings, dips, and salads. It has a low smoke point (which means it doesn’t stand up well to heat) making it not ideal for cooking.
Smoke Point: 375F
Characteristics: Olive oil is light in colour and the flavour profile will depend on the crush date and quality of the bottle you choose. A good quality unrefined olive oil will have a pleasant aroma and a fruity, bitter and peppery taste. The older your olive oil is, the less flavour it will have, which is why the crush date is often printed on the bottle.
Storage Tip: Buy in a dark bottle, store in a cool, dry, dark cupboard.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oils come from a blend of vegetables (varies depending on the brand). To be sure of the quality of your oil, check the label to see what it’s made from. Vegetable oils can be appealing due to their neutral taste and higher smoke point, but they can cause inflammation in your body. Ideally, it’s best to limit your use of vegetable oils (this includes Canola oil) and use them sparingly for cooking only when other oils aren’t suitable.
Smoke Point: 400F
Characteristics: Neutral taste and light in colour. It should have very little flavour.
Storage Tip: Store in a cool, dry, dark cupboard.
Coconut Oil
You may have noticed on the label that coconut oils also come in refined or unrefined. Both are solid at room temperature. Refined coconut oil will have less of a coconut flavour and a higher smoke point making it ideal for sautéeing or roasting. While unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil has more of a coconut flavour, making it ideal for cooking, dressings or sauces. Both are good substitutes for butter in baking.
Smoke Point: 350F (unrefined) 450F (refined)
Characteristics: When solid it’s white, when melted it’s a clear thin oil. Refined coconut oil has a fairly neutral taste, while unrefined (virgin) coconut oil often has a more pronounced coconut flavour. Depending on your preference, you can choose between them to add flavour to your dish, or not.
Storage Tip: Store in a cool, dry, dark cupboard.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is becoming a popular household choice. Known for its healthy fat content and neutral flavour, avocado oil is a great choice for frying, searing, roasting, and grilling.
Smoke Point: 480F (unrefined) 520F (refined)
Characteristics: Refined avocado oil has less of a flavour then virgin. Keep this in mind when shopping as the flavour could interfere with the dish.
Storage Tip: Buy in a dark bottle, store in a cool, dry, dark cupboard.