What's the Best Oil for Frying? Here's How to Choose the Right One (2024)

FAQs

What's the Best Oil for Frying? Here's How to Choose the Right One? ›

Canola oil: Along with vegetable oil, canola is one of the most ubiquitous oils in deep fryers today. It has a neutral flavor, low cost, and very high smoke point of up to 475°. Peanut oil: Close to neutral taste with a subtle flavor that goes well with french fries, fried chicken, and other battered fried food.

The healthiest oil to cook with is olive oil. It's versatile, being used in everything from frying to finishing. It's also rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, and polyphenols, all of which have shown protective effects against cancer and liver, heart, and neurodegenerative diseases (27, 28).

Corn oil is slightly more flavorful than canola and vegetable oils, and has a higher smoke point. Use corn oil when preparing fried foods, homemade condiments, or baked goods where subtle notes of corn are welcome, such as the following recipes: Deep-Fried Bloomin' Onion.

Deep frying

Such foods are often high in saturated fat and salt which increase our risk of heart disease. However, if you do need to deep fry your food, our long-standing advice is that oils like corn and sunflower oils are not recommended for high temperatures.

Fried eggs

Usually fried in sunflower or rapeseed oil, you can also use bacon fat left in the pan or a knob of butter. If you're adding a fried egg to a salad or grains how about using some olive oil? Eating curry or dhal? You might enjoy frying your eggs in coconut oil for a lighter flavour.

Although your overall diet is what's most important for your health, it's best to prioritize healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado oil, and sesame oil, and limit less healthy cooking oils, such as soybean, corn, and canola oil.

Canola Oil

Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.

What oil do Chinese chefs use? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Sunflower oil

This is a reasonably priced oil which is extracted from sunflower seeds. It is a pale yellow colour and mild flavour. It is good for all round cooking but best used for baking, salad dressings and shallow frying.

Generally, olive oil, avocado oil, and canola oil are healthful for cooking with. Sunflower oil may be good for shallow frying. Oil reaches its smoking point once it starts to smoke and break down. Once it passes the smoking point, it releases free radicals that can cause damage to cells in the body.

Vegetable oil and canola oil are two popular types of oil used for commercial deep frying because of their high smoke points. Which oil is the better option? Canola oil is often favored because of its neutral flavor, low saturated fat content, and balanced fatty acid profile.

KFC products are fried in oil which may contain the following: Canola Oil and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming Agent Added OR Low Linolenic Soybean Oil, TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming ...

First, extra virgin olive oil is one of the “most stable oils you can buy”. That means even when heated to high temperatures, the oil does not degrade. More and more studies show that olive oils are the most balanced, safe, and healthy fat for both pan-frying and deep-frying.

Canola Oil

Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.