It is impossible to say which oil is the best organic oil for cooking because that would depend on many different factors. There are many organic oils and each has qualities that make them the best for cooking a certain way.
Why Use Organic Oil?
You may be wondering why you should bother seeking out organic cooking oils which are often harder to find and more expensive. Here are three great reasons:
- Organic oils cannot be made from any plant that has been genetically modified or treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This helps insure your family's good health, and that is probably the best reason of all to use organic oils for frying, cooking, and baking.
- Since organic oils are manufactured differently than conventional oils, they retain more nutrients and flavor. The more intense flavors of the oil adds deeper flavor to the foods you cook with it.
- Organic products are often also Fair Trade products, although not always. This means that while you may be paying more for the organic product, you are also helping to make sure that the farmers that created it get paid fairly for the work that they do.
A List of the Best Organic Oil for Cooking
Since there isn't one best organic oil for cooking, you will have to decide if you want to keep a couple of different oils around the house or use an all purpose oil that is good for most of what you do.
Best All Purpose Organic Oil
The best organic oil for cooking almost anything is olive oil. Organic olive oil has a rich, olive flavor and scent that it imparts to the foods you use it with. Olive oil can be used in the following ways:
- Saute vegetables and meats in it.
- Use it as a salad dressing component.
- Use it to dip bread in.
- Use it as an ingredient in baked goods.
Olive oil has a low smoking point, however. It is not good for deep frying.
Best Organic Oils for Deep Frying
The best organic oils to use in deep frying and cooking at high temperatures are those with a high smoke point. These don't break down as easily as olive oil. They tend to have little flavor and this makes them less desirable for use as an ingredient.
- Peanut oil is the best oil for deep frying. It has a very high smoke point, does not go rancid easily, and keeps fried foods crispy not greasy. The downside to peanut oil is that a lot of people are allergic to peanuts.
- Safflower oil is a good organic oil for deep frying.
- Sunflower oil will also work well, although it does not have the lightness of peanut oil.
- Almond oil fried well up to 495F and is a good source of monounsaturated fats.
Best Oils for Dressings
When you are making a salad dressing or sauce of some kind, you want the flavor of the oil to come through without being overpowering. Some oils do that better than others. Here are some organic cooking oils that flavor your salads beautifully:
- Walnut oil adds a delicate nutty flavor to salads and is a great source of omega-3s.
- Sesame oil is another light and delicate oil that adds a touch of flavor. For more flavor, used smoked sesame oil.
- Olive oil, once again, is perfect for almost any dressing.
A Word about Coconut Oil
Coconut oil got a bad reputation a few decades ago, but organic coconut oil is actually pretty good for you. It retains a delicate coconut flavor and is perfect in Thai foods and desserts. It has a high smoke temperature and does not break down when you are sautéing at high heats. You can even deep fry in it, but the cost would be outrageous if you do much frying.
Whichever oil you choose, make sure that it is high quality, cold pressed, and organic for best flavor and health benefits.
