Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumIs It Better to Cook With Coconut Oil or Olive Oil?
'Q. Is it better to cook with coconut oil or olive oil?
A. In terms of health impacts, it is better to cook with olive oil.
Compared to a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of coconut oil contains about six times the amount of saturated fat, nearly meeting the daily limit of about 13 grams that the American Heart Association recommends. High saturated fat intake has been tied to increased levels of LDL, or bad, cholesterol, which raises the risk of heart disease.
Furthermore, olive oil, a main component of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, contains beneficial polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
Between the two, olive oil is a better choice, since monounsaturated fats can have a beneficial effect on your heart when eaten in moderation and when used to replace saturated and trans fats in your diet, said Annessa Chumbley, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the A.H.A., in an email. Earlier this year, the organization issued an advisory that firmly reiterated its guidance to consumers to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats to help prevent heart disease. Consumers were also urged to keep in mind the bigger picture of an overall healthy eating pattern.'>>>
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/well/eat/is-it-better-to-cook-with-coconut-oil-or-olive-oil.html?
ret5hd
(20,497 posts)procon
(15,805 posts)The cooking claims are mostly outrageous, but coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for dry skin.
sir pball
(4,743 posts)Neutral with a smoke point north of 500F, it's the most perfect cooking oil in Deity's creation. Olive and coconut both smoke at around 350; you'll be able to work at those temperatures but you're just not going to get either a decent sear or a quick stir-fry unless you go to a hotter fat. Poaching/confit in olive can be lovely, but that's sort of besides the point.
For finishing, of course, I have a cabinet full of various olive oils. Fairway's selection is kind of amazing.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)About safflower oil. BUT. Also just heard a doctor say no to any refined oils...I don't know which are refined and which are not
sir pball
(4,743 posts)Unrefined oils are generally refrigerated, usually in the health food area. They're categorically impossible to cook with, though - the impurities make the smoke point way too low to use them in any heated application.
They make great finishing oils though, also dressings, marinades and anything else that doesn't involve a pan.