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Avocado Oil - A Healthy Oil for Cooking
Avocado oil is a healthy oil, like olive oil, because it has a healthy saturated versus unsaturated fat ratio. This oil is also used in cosmetics because of its moisturizing and regenerative properties. Avocado oil has a smoke point of 491 degrees F, which is very high. It is also a good carrier oil for other flavors.
Avocado Oil Health Benefits
Avocado oil is high in vitamins A, B, D and E, as well as monounsaturated fats, making it a nutritious choice. This oil is good for your heart. The fat content of avocadoes is higher in omega 3 and monounsaturated fats than any other cooking oil. An avocado contains seventy-five percent monounsaturated fats.
Omega 3 can increase good cholesterol levels whilst decreasing bad ones. This helps to lower the risk of heart disease and decrease arterial clogging. There is twice as much lutein in avocado oil as olive oil. Lutein helps to protect against blindness and macular degeneration.
Healthy oils are vital if you want good liver health. Bile will not be excreted unless you add fat to your diet and this can result in gallstones. If you eat too much saturated fat, you might get cholesterol-filled gallstones, but eating a balanced diet, which features monounsaturated fats, is good for your liver. The body needs fats to work properly but these should be good fats, not bad ones.
Process of Avocado Oil Extraction
Some olive oil manufacturers produce olive oil during the olive season and avocado oil the rest of the time, since avocadoes are a year-round crop. Avocado oil does not come from seeds like most vegetable oils; instead, avocado oil extraction comes from pressing the fleshy pulp around the pit of the fruit.
This oil is rich and smooth and you can use it in recipes without overpowering the taste of the other ingredients. Avocado oil brings out the natural flavors of the other ingredients and that is very important if you are using delicately flavored ingredients like poultry or fish.
Great for Asian and French Cuisine
Avocado oil is really good if you like making Asian or French dishes. Because of its high smoke point, it works well for cooking in a wok or for searing meat. If you use an oil with a low smoke point, you might be able to taste burnt oil. With avocado oil that will not happen. You can use avocado oil for deep-frying because it can get really hot without smoking.
Other Culinary Uses of Avocado Oil
Try pouring avocado oil on any vegetables or salad and let it marinate for an hour. This infuses your chosen vegetables or salad with the delicate avocado oil flavor. Sprinkle some grated cheese over the salad or vegetables before serving and you will have an impressive gourmet dish.
Avocado, mandarin segments and chopped apple can be combined to make a tasty salad. Throw in some blue cheese, walnuts and some avocado oil to finish it off. This is a simple yet mouthwatering dish. Try drizzling avocado oil over your hot potatoes instead of using butter. This is healthier than using butter and the flavor is really good.
Marinate chicken, fish, or seafood in avocado oil before cooking it or combine this oil with red chili flakes and drizzle it over your favorite pizza recipe.
Avocado oil makes a good dipping oil. If you are looking for easy appetizer recipes why not serve a bowl of olive oil and a bowl of avocado oil, as well as some freshly baked bread? This is a great way to compare the different flavors of the oils.
