The bottom line Some of the healthier cooking oils that can withstand higher cooking temperatures include olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and safflower oil. Plus, they contain various unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and other compounds that may offer health benefits.
The healthiest oils are those that are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as vegetable oil and olive oil. These types of fats can help lower your risk of heart disease when used instead of saturated fats.
Sautéing and searing: Choose a more flavorful oil with a lower smoke point. Good options include: canola oil, extra-virgin olive oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil.
Oils with more monounsaturated fats, such as rapeseed and olive, are also less susceptible to heat. Rapeseed oil (often sold as generic vegetable oil) and inexpensive olive oil are therefore the best choices for cooking. All cooking fats add fat and calories to your diet.
Olive oil is a great option for sauteing because it has one of the highest levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients of the cooking oils.
Stir-frying or sauteing is better.
Not only does this cooking method preserve more nutrients than boiling, it also offers cardiovascular perks.
The oils which should be avoided for cooking are oils like soybean, corn, canola, sunflower, and safflower. These oils have unstable fats and will decimate the nutritional properties of your food.
Butter is best for sautéing vegetables because it has a low smoking point and adds an incomparable rich, nutty flavor. Start by heating the pan, then swirl butter as it melts to coat the pan before adding your vegetables.
Because olive oil has more monounsaturated fats (the heart-healthy fats) than butter, it stands to reason it's also healthier to cook with.
Choose plant-based oils rich in unsaturated fat.
The heart association suggests the following cooking oils, which meet its health standards: canola, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, soybean and sunflower, as well as specialty oils like avocado, grape-seed and sesame.
Heart-healthy oils like canola, corn, olive, peanut, and sunflower oils contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. They help to lower harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Conclusions. It's important to be cautious about which oils you use for cooking and eating. The safest oils include avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, ghee or butter, or other animal fats. Avoid using canola and vegetable oils.
So, yes! You can use extra virgin olive oil for all cooking up to 400°F, which includes searing, sautéing, stir-frying, roasting, and low-temperature frying.
When used in cooking, both butter and olive oil help carry the flavors of the food, and warming them accentuates this property. Butter is smooth and creamy, adding a dairy richness that no oil can match. Olive oil provides a unique flavor and aroma. Together, they enhance the flavor of your foods.
Sautéing and stir-frying—The most common question I get on this topic is how to sauté or stir-fry without butter or oil. The trick is to use small amounts of water or broth, adding just a small amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) at a time. Do this as often as needed to cook and brown the food, without steaming it.
Because of its moderate-to-high smoke point, abundance of heat-stable monounsaturated fats, and high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, extra virgin olive oil is a great all-around cooking oil. It can be used for baking, roasting, sautéing, pan-frying, or even blending into soups for a bit of extra creaminess.
The truth is, olive oil is best consumed without heat, as it has a low smoking point and therefore gives off toxins at a certain temperature. (You can read more about that here.) It can also make your food taste smokier since it's literally smoking at a certain temp, which isn't always our preferred flavor.
Cancer Risk
These fumes contain toxic substances called aldehydes that may increase one's risk of cancer. Deep frying produces the most aldehydes, but sunflower oil generates more aldehydes than other oils regardless of the cooking method. Experts recommend low-heat cooking methods when using sunflower oil.
Adding Water or Broth – With your vegetables already in the pan, drop in a tablespoon or two of water or unsalted vegetable broth, and then turn on the heat. The water or broth will prevent your vegetables from sticking to the pan during the cooking process.
Steam frying keeps the temperature of the food in a lower, safer range than sautéing or stir frying. I urge you to avoid frying foods, and especially deep frying, because the amount of fat needed adds many calories to food and also exposes you to the health risks of oxidized fat.
So, what's the best way to cook your vegetables with olive oil? Remember, start with the real deal—extra virgin olive oil—which is completely acceptable to use in household cooking, such as sautéing, pan-frying, roasting, or grilling.
Sautéing and stir-frying improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and some plant compounds, but they decrease the amount of vitamin C in vegetables.