How to choose the best cooking oil?

Alright, let’s address the cooking oil dilemma facing restaurant owners today. With prices having significantly increased, particularly during the pandemic, cooking oil has become a major expense for establishments that rely heavily on frying. Determining the optimal cooking oil is crucial for both cost-effectiveness and quality.

To make an informed decision, you must first establish your key criteria. Are you prioritizing cost, smoke point, flavor, or nutritional value?

The following infographic provides an overview of the smoke points, taste profiles, and shelf life of various cooking oils:

Cooking Oil Smokepoints and Shelf-life Infographic by Rebirth

For any restaurant, achieving delicious fried food is paramount. Typically, you’ll want an oil that minimizes flavor transference to cooked food. A high smoke point is also essential, as overheated oil imparts undesirable flavors. These two factors are critical for maintaining food quality.

Cost is, of course, a significant concern for restaurant profitability. However, the cost extends beyond the initial price per unit. You must also consider the oil’s longevity before disposal. Some oils are more durable and stable, particularly those with higher smoke points. The type of food you are frying and the frying temperature also play a role.

Here’s a breakdown of various cooking oils and their properties:

• Low-Heat Oils: Hazelnut, walnut, and flaxseed oils are primarily used for salad dressings and flavor enhancement. They have low smoke points and are generally not suitable for frying due to their higher cost.
• Medium-Heat Oils: Olive and unrefined coconut oils are suitable for sautéing, baking, and recipe incorporation. However, their lower smoke points and relatively high cost make them less ideal for deep-fat frying.
• High-Heat Oils: Sunflower, safflower, corn, canola, refined peanut, soybean, cottonseed, and rice bran oils are characterized by neutral flavors, relatively lower costs, and high smoke points (400 to 470 degrees F). Since most fryers operate between 350 and 375 degrees F, oils with higher smoke points, such as 450 degrees F, offer greater durability and longevity.

Fast-food restaurants, which engage in extensive frying, utilize various oils.

Canola oil is a popular choice due to its relatively high smoke point (400 degrees F), high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content, neutral flavor, and affordability. Peanut oil, while generally more expensive, offers a higher smoke point (450 degrees F) and greater durability. While concerns about peanut allergies exist, highly refined peanut oil is considered allergen-free. Safflower oil boasts one of the highest smoke points, but it comes at a higher price.

Soy oil is widely used due to its low cost, although its durability is moderate. Corn oil is another inexpensive option with a slightly sweet flavor and medium durability. Premium soy oils offer improved durability at a higher cost. The FDA has recently approved a heart-healthy claim for soy oil.

To illustrate, Wendy’s uses 100% corn oil for its fries. Burger King employs a blend of soybean and cottonseed oil. Chick-Fil-A utilizes a canola and peanut oil blend. McDonald’s is known to use a blend of canola, corn, and soybean oils. McDonald’s UK uses a canola and sunflower blend. KFC uses canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil. Often, restaurants will use different oils for different fried items.

A common practice among restaurants that purchase large quantities of cooking oil is to blend oils to achieve a balance of durability, smoke point, flavor, and cost. By creating blends that meet specific requirements, these establishments can adapt to fluctuating oil prices. Some bulk suppliers offer custom-blended oils for larger clients.

Ultimately, the best cooking oil is the one that provides the optimal balance of flavor, cost, and health considerations. This may vary depending on the foods being fried and your customers’ priorities. If you have been using the same frying oil for an extended period, it’s advisable to reassess your options.

To further improve your financial performance, ensure you are receiving the maximum rebate for your used cooking oil. Contact Rebirth Biofuels today to optimize your kitchen grease returns.