Avocado is quite a unique fruit. What sets avocado apart from the other fruits is the fact that it is rich in all healthy fats, and you can make a healthy oil from it.
Olive oil is still very popular but lacks the delicious taste that many love from the avocado fruit.
Avocado has a high smoke point, so it has become a great alternative oil to cook with.
Avocado oil doesn’t need to be cooked. It can be eaten raw, drizzled over a salad, or grilled fish.
Avocado oil is greenish in color as it is able to retain the fruit color when if it has been cold-pressed and unrefined.
The question most of you are wondering is, can avocado oil be used in high heat cooking?
Is Avocado Oil Good For High Heat Cooking?
Avocado is good for high heat cooking from searing, baking, frying to even barbecuing. The oil has a high smoke point that goes over 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This means the oil can reach high temperatures without ever burning.
What Is Avocado Oil?
If you are not familiar with avocado oil, it is an oil made with pressed avocado pulp.
This oil has the highest smoke point when compared to other plant-based oils.
The oil is over half monounsaturated fat which means it is less prone to any oxidation, which cannot be said about the polyunsaturated fat.
Avocado will also stay in a liquid form even when it is set at room temperature. This isn’t the same for saturated fats.
Why Has Avocado Oil Grown So Much In Popularity?
Avo oil is popular with paleo people who need to have a variety of healthy fats, so they are not just tasting coconut oil with every meal.
Most avocado oils are produced in the Mexico area; however, in 2016, we saw a huge scale of production coming from the US.
Is Avocado Oil Healthy To Consume?
Avocado oil is very healthy for the heart more than saturated fats.
This is due to the zigzag shape it possesses which allows it to be more stable than the fats that are found in the likes of vegetable oils.
There is around 12 percent of saturated fat in avocado oil that is less than cottonseed oil, peanut oil, palm oil, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, corn oil, and even extra virgin olive oil.
When it is compared with olive oil, it has plenty of phytosterols that are still present after it has had exposure to high heat.
How Is Avocado Used For Cooking?
Avocado oil is well suited for high heat cooking with a high smoke point, which means it is suitable for cooking in any way that you prefer.
The only time when you have to be careful of using avocado oil is when you want to avoid an avocado taste as the oil has a strong flavor.
Is Frying With Avocado Oil Safe?
Avocado oil is safe for frying and will not burn. The only problem you might face is the fact that it comes with a high price tag, so you might tend to avoid filling up the deep fryer with it.
Can You Make Your Own Avocado oil?
Making your own avocado oil is quite easy and doesn’t take much effort.
You will need ten avocados, all cut in half. Scoop out the seed and throw it away.
Scoop out the avocado pulp and toss the skin. You can use a special avocado tool that I love, and it makes cutting, pitting, and peeling of the avos easier.
Put all the avocado pulp into a blender and puree it. You want a lump-free and smooth-like consistency.
Now the avocado can be spread over a baking tray evenly. Place into the oven and cook for 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 degrees Celsius).
The avocado needs to dry out for around 6 hours. Keep an eye on it just to ensure the avocado is just drying out and not actually cooking.
After 6 hours, if the avocados are green/dark brown, then they can be taken out of the oven.
Try and scrape as much of the avocado off the tray as you can onto a thin clean cloth.
With the avocado in the cloth, you need to pull the corners in tight together.
Over a bowl you want to squeeze the corners in as hard as you possibly can. This will take effort.
Squeeze as much of the oil out as you can and funnel it into a bottle with a tight seal.
Well done, you now have your own avocado oil. Making your own oil means that you know exactly what is going into it.
Frequently Asked Question About Avocado Oil For High Heat Cooking
Is Avocado Oil Safe To Eat After Cooking At High Temps?
The popular oil has a high smoke point, so it is perfectly safe to cook and eat after it has been exposed to high temperatures.
Is Raw, Extra Virgin Avocado Oil The Best To Cook With?
Any oil you use, you want it to be raw and organic if possible. This means the flavor is true, and there are no hidden nasties that you shouldn’t be consuming. Raw and organic are healthier and cooks better.