As I mentioned to Liz (privately, because I'm not qualified to offer expert opinions), I believe that most of the oils have to be refined in order to handle high heat. In particular, we love the local sunflower oil for its flavor and always have a bottle on hand, but the more flavor an oil has, the more volatile components there are to burn when the heat goes up. In other words, it smokes (a lot) if you're using it for frying things.
Greg On Fri, Aug 8, 2014 at 11:49 AM, Miranda Phillips <[email protected]> wrote: > I have read that canola is bad for you if refined. I also read that, if > unrefined, it is way too bitter. So I stay away from it altogether. > > For alternatives, I agree about sunflower oil. Also, safflower and > sesame. All are healthy vis a vis saturated fats, and fine for high heat. > If you want local, Greenstar has local sunflower oil. > > Miranda > > > On Fri, Aug 8, 2014 at 10:02 AM, Thomas Shelley <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Liz--I use sunflower oil. We buy Wegmans organic sunflower oil which is >> a great product at a reasonable price (compared to other brands or >> Greenstar products). If you aren't using organic oils you are >> automatically poisoning yourself as many "industrial farming chemicals" >> are only oil soluble and traces of these chemicals wind up in conventional >> oils of all kinds. My $.02. Tom >> >> >> On 8/8/2014 9:48 AM, Liz D. Rowland wrote: >> >> There seems to be quite a lot of contradictory information on the web >> about canola oil, mostly saying it’s bad: GM, so bad ecologically, and >> contains some compounds that are harmful to your health (more than other >> oils). But some say that if you can get organic, it’s quite a good oil for >> high temperature cooking. Does anyone have an specialist knowledge? We use >> olive oil mainly, but have been using canola for adding to bread and >> granola and some frying. If canola really is a no-no, what would be the >> best oil to use instead, and presuming that would be quite pricey, what >> would be a reasonably priced alternative. >> >> >> >> Our next batch of granola is on hold! >> >> >> >> Thanks >> >> Liz >> >> >> > > > -- > Miranda Phillips > Sustainable Tompkins Volunteer Coordinator > 402 Utica St > Ithaca, NY 14850 > 607 277 1241 > -- Tell the story, sing the song/Guide the needle with your hand/Create an inspiration/We have been waiting for so long. -- Ellen Hamilton/Leena Evic For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom Shelley, at [email protected].
