Top 10 Best Almond Cooking Oils Taste Reviews and Guide
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If you are have heard about almond cooking oil, you might be wondering what is this oil all about and it is really extracted from almonds. Yes, this oil is extracted from almonds. You can get to know more about this oil for cooking here:
Almond cooking oil is the oil extracted from almond seeds. But, this oil should not be mistaken with sweet almond oil. Regular almond oil used for cooking is otherwise called bitter almond oil. When you take the case of sweet almond oil, it is a carrier oil and it is fixed and does not evaporate. But, when you take the one used in cooking, it is an essential oil. It is an oil with volatile nature and it does not evaporate. But, when cooking with this oil, you should remember one thing. You should not heat this oil too much.
The best almond cooking oil is a natural oil that is extracted from almonds. So, this oil is rich in vitamin E. It will generally have a light flavor with a nutty and mildly sweet taste. When this oil is heated to more than a recommended level, its nutrients will destroy. This is why, this oil is recommended to be used in salad dressing and low-heat baking for adding nutty and toasty flavor to different dishes like cinnamon buns, muffins, cookies, and cakes.
The mild flavor of almond cooking oil makes it an ideal choice for slipping into dishes. You can find refined and unrefined almond oil variants. You can use the former oil for sauteeing and roasting as it would have been made to tolerate higher heat. However, unrefined oil will have better nutrients. Therefore, it can bring better health benefits to your family. Here are the methods used for making refined and unrefined almond cooking oil:
High heat processing and chemicals are used for obtaining refined almond cooking oil. On the other hand, when it comes to unrefined almond cooking oil, it is made by pressing raw almonds without using any chemical agents and high heat. This is why the latter is more natural with lots of nutrients from almonds as compared to the former.
You might have judged that almond cooking oil will be beneficial. Yes, you are right whole almonds are known for their properties to lower blood pressure levels and blood cholesterol levels. Also, these nuts help with weight loss. In the same way, almond oil has been associated with bringing many potential health benefits that include bringing down the probability of heart diseases. Even, this oil is known to stabilize blood sugar levels. Here are other benefits you can expect from the best almond cooking oil:
May keep your heart healthy: Almond cooking oil encompasses 70% monounsaturated fat. This makes this oil beneficial. Also, this oil is beneficial to the heart because it helps with increasing HDL cholesterol levels. HDL is a kind of protein that aids with carrying cholesterol away from the arteries and takes it to the liver. At the liver, it is broken down and excreted from the body. It is heart-healthy because it is known to bring down bad or LDL cholesterol as well besides increasing good or HDL cholesterol levels.
The method you should use for cooking will differ based on whether you buy refined or cold-pressed almond cooking oil. When talking about almond oil for cooking, it is the bitter or regular almond oil that is used in cooking and not sweet almond oil. Of course, you can use sweet oil. But, the problem is that it will have a powering flavor and aroma and so most cooks do not want to use the sweet variant and only the bitter variant in cooking. Even, regular or bitter almond oil is available in two forms. One is the cold-pressed oil with more flavor and refined almond oil with much of the flavor removed during the refining process.
When cooking with this oil, you should remember that the cold-pressed variant can impart a strong flavor to your dishes. However, it is unstable when you heat it at a high temperature. But, when it comes to refined oil, it is not flavorful and it can also withstand high heat. So, if your recipe calls for oven baking or frying, you should better use the refined variant. Also, if your family does not like the strong nutty flavor, you can use the refined variant in cooking.
If you wish that your family should get the complete benefits of almond cooking oil, it is better to make sure that you use a cold-pressed variant. But, when using this type, use it in cold dishes and you can also use it as drizzling oil in salads. When you expose this type to high heat, excess heat will bring down the nutty flavor and even its nutritions. When you wish to bake flavorful goodies, you can consider using both variants in equal quantity.
You can also use cold-pressed almond oil in baked foods to add a nutty flavor. Also, this oil will help with bringing a nutty flavor to your cookies, cakes, muffins and cinnamon buns. Irrespective of the recipe in which you use the cold-pressed oil, you should ensure that the oil should not be heated more than a specific point. If done, you cannot get the nutritional benefits from this oil. Of course, you can use it as a topping in any dish once it is cooked well and has reached room temperature. When you do this, you can get the nutty flavor to any of your dishes.
When you buy almond cooking oil, you can look for the features listed below. In turn, you can make sure that you buy a healthy oil for your family so that they can reap the heart-friendly benefits of this nut-based oil:
Certified Non-GMO Product: You might have heard that non-GMO products do not contain any genetically modified ingredients. When the almond cooking oil is from a manufacturer producing certified Non-GMO products, you can feel more confident about buying it. Yes, it will be safe for your family.
High Smoke Point: When it comes to buying almond cooking oil, of course, you cannot get the intended benefits from the refined variant. But, the good thing about refined oil is that it will have a better burning point. Most of us rarely use oil in cool cooking conditions. So, it is better to check whether the oil has a high smoke point of more than 4500.
Refined Using Expeller Pressing: Just because you are opting for refined almond cooking oil, it does not mean that it should totally not be beneficial to your health. Rather, you can look for oil refined using the expeller pressing method. Of course, this is a mechanical method that produces heat when producing the oil as it uses high pressure for extracting oil from the nuts. But, it does not use any chemicals for refining. So, it is safer than regular refined oils.
Choose Virgin Almond Oil: If you are particular about healthy oil, you can choose virgin almond cooking oil. Yes, you cannot heat it too much. But, if you frequently prepare salads in your home that do not need hot or warm oil for dressing, you can very well choose virgin almond oil.
Suitable for Keto and Paleo Dieters: If an almond cooking oil pack reads that it suits Keto and Paleo dieters, you can choose it if you or one of your family members follow one of these diet programs. Even if you are looking to lose or maintain weight this feature will benefit you.
Choose Certified Kosher: When an Almond Cooking Oil pack is kosher-certified, it is an indication that the product has been made following the Kosher Food Law. It encompasses quality, purity and cleanliness. So, if your family follows Kosher Food Laws, this feature is a must for you.
You should be ready to pay more than $50 if you need high-end almond cooking oil. But, if you wish that you can start with cheap almond cooking oil, you can find affordable almond cooking oil options at less than $10. The average cost of this oil will differ based on different factors like whether it is refined or unrefined and the quantity of the oil can to name a few.
No one can deny the fact that at any point in time, the use of the best almond cooking oil is of the utmost importance for any family. Oil is an essential ingredient in any cooking and it is one of the fatty ingredients we use in our cooking. When it comes to oil for cooking, oils derived from nuts like the best almond cooking oil are beneficial to the health. So, consider the factors discussed above and choose the best oil for your family to stay healthy.
This post was last modified on January 3, 2022 3:15 pm