Exceeding the smoke point results in the production of acrolein, a toxic liquid chemical. Extra-virgin olive oil has a very high smoke point, on average 180°C. In some cases it can even exceed 200°C.
Aside from high-quality extra virgin olive oil being well suited for deep frying, it's also a great way to impart flavor and keep it healthier. Chef Dory Ford of Aqua Terra Culinary deep fries with extra virgin olive oil because, as he says, “It's a more healthful way of cooking.”
All cooking oils have what is called a "smoke point," the temperature at which the oil starts to break down and smoke. And where there's smoke, there will soon be fire. This is why extra virgin olive oil, which has a low smoke point of 350°F to 410°F, shouldn't be used for high heat cooking, especially frying.
For a lot of people, the concern is one of health, specifically that olive oil, with its relatively low smoke point of 325 to 375°F (165 to 190°C), degrades more than other oils when exposed to high heat.
More and more chefs are convinced that olive oil is the best choice for frying. In fact, frying with olive oil is healthy, if you know how to do it.
Avocado oil contains large quantities of Omega-9 and Omega-3 fatty acids and is particularly high in oleic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids like these have been shown to lower bad cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. This makes avocado oil the healthiest choice when frying.
Extra virgin olive oil has three key qualities that make it an excellent cooking oil: it contains predominantly stable monounsaturated fatty acids, it has a low level of free fatty acids and it has a high level of protective antioxidants.
Olive oil is packed full of beneficial antioxidants that can lower your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol while leaving your "good" (HDL) cholesterol untouched.
The short answer is: Yes you can! This is a debated subject, and I want you to use whatever healthy oil you feel comfortable using for your fried eggs. When frying an egg in quality extra virgin olive oil, you'll use shallow amounts of the oil, over medium heat, for about 2 minutes or so.
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.
Extra virgin olive oil usually isn't the first think that comes to mind when I think of French fries. But cookbook author Fran Gage changed my view. “You can deep fry with extra virgin olive oil,” Gage told us.
However, excess consumption of olive oil may cause several side effects. It may cause acne, allergies, skin rashes, blackheads, and saturated- and trans-fat-related diseases. It may also cause diarrhea and inflammation in some people. Hence, consume it in moderation to avoid its adverse reactions.
Nutrition and cooking experts agree that one of the most versatile and healthy oils to cook with and eat is olive oil, as long as it's extra virgin. “You want an oil that is not refined and overly processed,” says Howard. An “extra virgin” label means that the olive oil is not refined, and therefore of high quality.
Vignoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Everyday Kitchen
Gil mentioned that Coratina olive oil works well for cooking meat, grilling and frying. This olive oil comes in a dark green 500-milliliter glass bottle.
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. Oh, and they'll give you a big fat health risk in the meantime.
However, with any unsaturated oil, including olive oil, heating it repeatedly to a high heat (say for deep frying) will cause the oil to develop compounds that have been found to have carcinogenic properties when tested on rats.
Olive oil actually has a relatively high smoke point and is a safe, reliable option for frying. On top of that, it is one of the healthiest cooking staples around. Olive oil has been named “the healthiest fat on Earth,” in part because of its unique ability to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Indeed, many Italians will keep two bottles of extra virgin olive oil in the kitchen: one 'everyday' extra virgin olive oil, which is used for cooking, plus a bottle of the best extra virgin olive oil they can afford, which is used for drizzling, dressing and dousing.
And for good reason. Jamie Oliver really likes to cook with EVOO. We've already noted the British celebrity chef measures it by the “glug” instead of a “drizzle.”
However, if you do need to deep fry your food, our long-standing advice is that oils like corn and sunflower oils are not recommended for high temperatures. These oils are rich in polyunsaturated fats which can form undesirable compounds when heated at high temperatures.
Heart-healthy oils like safflower oil and rice bran oil are perfect because they can withstand frying temperatures of almost 500° F. You can also look to peanut oil and sunflower oil if you're frying at 450° F, or canola oil and vegetable oil to keep temperatures around 400° F.
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.