These Oils are Our Top Picks for Frying
Frying oil is gold, because cooking food in frying oil gives it that crispy outside and juicy inside that everyone loves and craves. Some oils have properties that make them better options for frying such as high smoke points, neutral flavors, cost, and health benefits. Take a look at some of the best oils for frying.
Soybean Oil
Smoke Point: 453°F
Cost: about $55 per 35 lbs
Flavor: "greenbeany" or neutral if refined
Other: Soybean oil mostly consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are a heart-healthy type of fat that’s associated with several benefits. Soybean oil can be used in place of other cooking oils in nearly any recipe. It can also be applied to the hair and skin or combined with essential oils.
Canola Oil
Smoke Point: 400°F
Cost: about $38 per 35 lbs
Flavor: neutral
Other: Canola oil is oil made from crushed canola seeds and is considered one of the best oils for heart health. It's one of the best oils for frying due to it's high smoke point, neutral flavor, and lower cost.
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Avocado Oil
Smoke Point: 520°F
Cost: about $36 per gallon
Flavor: Slightly nutty in taste
Other: Almost 70% of avocado oil consists of heart-healthy oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid.
Peanut Oil
Smoke Point: 446°F
Cost: about $61 per 35 lbs
Flavor: neutral
Other: Peanut oil is a popular option for deep frying because it has a neutral taste and high smoke point.
Lard
Smoke Point: 374°F
Cost: about $56 per 5 gallons
Flavor: salty, smoky
Other: Most lard is made through a process called rendering, whereby the fatty parts of the pig (such as the belly, butt, and shoulder) are cooked slowly until the fat is melted.
Other popular options for frying oils include any standard vegetable oil, which is really just a term used to describe any plant-based oil. Really, all oils have pros and cons, but as far as the best oils for frying goes, these are our top picks because of their costs, flavors, and smoke points.
How to Save Money on Frying Oil
Almost all frying oils are considered pretty pricey, and with the prices expected to potentially triple this year, it's important for restaurants to protect their bottom line by protecting their oil investment. Click here to learn how a national chicken chain saved $8k on their frying operations at two locations by using FreshFry Pods to filter their oil.
