Vegetable Oil

[edit] Guide Note

Vegetable oil is a blend of oils from seeds and plants. Any oil that comes from plants, is known as vegetable oil. It is the most commonly used of all the oils. It is extracted from plant sources such as: corn, peanut, and soybeans. The various seeds it comes from are: cottonseed, safflower seed, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds.

Some of the different types of vegetable oil are: canola oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.

Vegetable oil can be used in recipes or consumed directly. It is often used for dressings, marinades and sauteeing. When used in recipes, it is used for flavor, texture and flavor base. Vegetable oil is the most commonly used oil for frying. It has a high smoke point and can take high heat. Most vegetable oils do not have a detectable taste when frying except for peanut oil.

Some people choose to use regular vegetable oil while others use waste vegetable oil as fuel for their vehicles as an alternative form of energy. Huge demand for biofuels has created tension between using land to produce fuel and using it for food.¹

[edit] Fast Facts

1. Canola is the heathy choice for today's cooks²
2. Low in saturated fats
3. Margarine and shortening are forms of vegetable oil
4. Pale in colour and neutral in flavour
5. Has a higher smoke point than most oils
6. Does not have to be refrigerated
7. Has a shelf life of about 12 months

One cup of Vegetable Oil is equal to 1879 calories