Healthy Oil

I use canola, but Mark Bittman says grapeseed oil is the best neutral-flavor oil for cooking and frying. Can't say I've ever seen it in the store, but that factoid stuck in my mind after reading one of his books lately. :-)

Actually, canola oil gets rancid as it heats and makes it a bad fat. Grapeseed oil and avocado oil or BUTTER is best for baking- these will not become rancid and cause free radical damage in your body.

Olive oil is wonderful if it is raw. Use in salad dressing or to drizzle over a dish AFTER it is done cooking.

There are so many misconceptions about fats. Margarine is horrible, it will CAUSE high cholesterol as will anything with trans or fractionated fats. Anything partially hydrogenated is bad.

I use butter in baking OR applesauce in place of oil when I make brownies or cake.

You posted a great question!

I use Grapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil or Walnut Oil to bake goodies...I use a mixture of coconut oil, olive oil or sesame oil for cooking and for casseroles. Grapeseed oil has a high heat content and 1g of Sat fat..walnut oil is healthy in omega 3's, must be cooked under 350 as olive oil too. Coconut oil really has gotten a bad rap, but is ideal baking oil.

Canola oil, vegetable oils are not good oils, not heart healthy.

There are other fun oils to try, avocado oils, other nut oils (if you don't have a tree nut allergy). Have fun experimenting. (hmmm...this will make a good family health article for my column, nice question!)

J. W. MPH
Maternal and Child Health Educator
Chicago Examiner Family Health Expert
http://www.examiner.com/x-7158-Chicago-Family-Health-Exam...

Canola oil is good for your heart and to use in the kitchen for cooking but have you ever wondered if it's good to bake with?

One of the healthiest for your heart and most versatile cooking oil in use today, Canola oil is used widely by both home cooks and professional chefs alike. It's light, clear and has a mild taste, which makes it ideal for cooking, fondues, stir-frying, salads and marinades. And, yes, even baking!

This oil can replace the other types of unhealthy fats or oils you've used previously in baking to help lower the saturated and trans fat content of your favorite recipes. Besides using it in the recipe itself, use it to generously grease your cake pans and cookie sheets so you've eliminated even more fats from your diet. Every little bit you can change in the kitchen will count toward your better overall health.

When using Canola oil as a substitution for shortenings or margarines, replace it in the following measurements:

Solid Fat to Oil Conversion Chart

Solid Fat-------------------------Oil

1 cup---------------------------3/4 cup

3/4 cup------------------------2/3 cup

1/2 cup------------------------1/3 cup

1/ 3 cup-----------------------1/4 cup

1/4 cup------------------------3 Tablespoons

1 teaspoon--------------------3/4 teaspoon

1 Tablespoon------------------2 1/4 teaspoons

2 Tablespoons-----------------1-1/2 Tablespoons

I use vegetable oil or applesauce for baking and butter where it can be used like for cookies and breads. Like Anne says, Canola is not a good oil for baking. Also,I don't like the way my stuff turns out. Olive Oil is great, but it can actually be bad for you at high temps so I don't use in baking-use Extra Virgin for salads and regular for quick (and I do mean quick) sauteing. I have seen grapeseed oil in specialty shops but it is expensive. I think I saw an 10 or 12 ounce can for $15.