Right Temperature & Cooking Oil Makes Your Fried Cuisine Healthy
Whenever we talk about fried food, it may not seem to be the most restrained cooking method for all. But, a huge chunk of one’s diet relies on savoring those deep-fried snacks and main courses. For those who are unaware, fried food is not as calorie-laden as you think. This makes it one of the most preferred cooking methods of all. Hence frying your favorite meals with healthy cooking oils available in India helps seal the flavor and health characteristics of the dish.
Cooking is a necessity for some and more than just art for many. Those who understand the aesthetics of cooking know the importance of temperature. Even though taste plays an important role, the temperature doesn’t lose its importance in any way possible. If you are keen on understanding the importance of cooking temperatures, which requires attention to the smoke point of the oil.
Smoke Points- All You Need to Know
For one’s safety, one must understand the basics of an oil’s smoke point. For those who are unaware, this signifies the point at which cooking oil starts to smoke and burn. If you have ever left a pan with oil over a burner for a minute and noticed smoke, you’ve seen this in action.
Hence, why is this that important? Firstly, when oil is cooked beyond its smoke point, it adds a burnt/ bitter taste to food. Its fats also break down causing some nutritional qualities to be compromised.
Some examples of the same are- ghee, high oleic safflower and sunflower oil, rice bran oil, canola oil, avocado oil, and sesame oil. These showcase higher smoke points as compared to others.
Right Cooking Methods with Edible Oils
Since a healthy meal holds a special place in one’s heart, here are some of the ways to prepare the same.
- Stir-frying and Sautéing– These two cooking methods are fast and versatile at the same time. Talking about pan-frying, this method requires cooking with oil at high temperatures. For those who are unaware- this is an unhealthy option since it releases fumes that increase the risk of cancer. However, heating your edible cooking oils at the right temperature oxidizes and removes free radicals. This leads to DNA mutations and inflammation in the body. There is, however, one thing you need to keep in mind: the higher you heat oil, the faster it will oxidize. This does not mean that one needs to cut out on their favorite stir-fry recipe. Keeping the cooking time short helps control oxidation. Also, choosing an oil with a high smoke point reduces fumes. Talking about healthy cooking oils available in India, those with a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit or greater is good.
- Poaching– Rooting over this classic French technique, this method follows gentle cooking in a liquid over low heat. Traditionally, this liquid is a light broth- court bouillon. This adds an essence to your dish making it delicious, light, and flaky. Olive oil is generally used to incorporate this cooking technique where the temperature reaches over 120°F. Since this oil is a little heavy on the pocket, one can substitute the same with refined sunflower oil. This brings about a slight change in taste and fragrance, being a cheaper alternative to consider.
- Roasting– This cooking method does take a toll on one’s health when overcooked. Did you know Acrylamide, a human carcinogen can cause a chemical reaction in foods when heated at higher temperatures? Even though it may be a challenging task to avoid it entirely, reducing the roasting time can be a savior in disguise. Note- Consider roasting to a light brown/ golden yellow texture to reduce the amount of acrylamide.
Fats, specifically oils are necessary while roasting food. Without this, getting that lovely crisp caramelization in veggies would seem nothing more than a wish. There are multiple varieties and options to consider for roasting, however, choosing only those with high smoke points is favorable.
4. Broiling– Considered more of an oven cooking methodology, this involves utilizing a high-heat blast to prepare your meal. This in turn opens doors to acrylamide formation. Even though healthy cooking oils do not play a vital role here, marinating in vinegar, lemon or thyme helps prevent HCA.
Doctor’s Choice- A Healthy Cooking Oil to Consider
Keeping the above-listed effective cooking methods aside, edible cooking oils also play a vital role. Even though its nutritional value decreases, choosing the right cooking oil helps resolve health barriers.
With a healthy lifestyle being a mandate nowadays, choosing the best edible oil available in India also helps resolve everything. Since a healthy lifestyle comes with a list of compromises, Doctor’s Choice helps bridge that gap. With a range of unadulterated edible cooking oils, giving life to any recipe seems like a secret ingredient behind any special dish.
When it comes to Stir-frying and Sautéing,,Poaching,Roasting or broiling , Doctor’s Choice showcases a range of healthy yet taste-enhancing cooking oils.
- Doctor’s Choice Sunflower Oil
- Doctor’s Choice Rice Bran Oil
With a smoke point of 450°F, refined sunflower and refined rice bran oil are the two pantry heroes that can be used for any kind of cooking method mentioned above. Substituting this type of oils for saturated fats in the diet can produce lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Refined sunflower oil has high levels of Vitamin E and Refined rice bran oil has more than 1000ppm gamma oryzanol which works as antioxidants.
In addition to keeping fried foods healthy, it also preserves flavors. Keeping your health in mind is our number one priority with Doctor’s Choice. Hence, get your pack of refined sunflower oil and physically refined rice bran oil from Doctor’s Choice. This paves the way for a healthy and guilt-free eating spree.
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