Cooking Oil
Level
Usage
Product Category
Health impact
Environmental Impact
Cooking Oils to avoid
Conscious alternatives
Things to know about oil
When did we start using refined oils?
In the 1900s, they used to make industrial oil from waste seeds. Procter and Gamble, a soap manufacturer, figured out a way to harden these oils and make them white so that they could use them to make soaps. The oil looked very similar to butter and lard. So, Procter and Gamble decided to sell the oil made from these waste seeds as food.
They started marketing these oils as “vegetable oils” to make it sound healthy.
Nina Teicholz, the author of the widely acclaimed book "The Big Fat Surprise," speaks about the history of refined oils. Procter and Gamble was the company which figured out a way to convert waste seeds into oil which they then aggressively started marketing as healthy food by getting the American Heart Association to endorse the product.
How is refined oil manufactured?
Petrochemicals like Hexane are used to "refine" oil.
Refining is done to lower the price and increase the shelf life so it is easier for large companies to manufacture and sell in large quantities without having to worry about expiry.
Is your cooking oil safe?
Practically every household today uses refined oils like sunflower, soya bean, ricebran, corn, palm or cottonseed oils.
Even though they are all marketed as “safe for the heart”, there is growing evidence that refined oils are contributing to the epidemic levels of heart disease.
Video
Here is a clip where Palki Sharma beautifully breaks down how Palm oil is everywhere. She makes us realise that most of us don't know how or how much we consume
Palki Sharma answers the following questions for you
- How much is too much?
- What do the doctors say?
- What you should do
How are refined oils marketed?
Refined oils have been marketed as a product which is “safe for the heart”.
Procter and Gamble gave millions of dollars to the American Heart Association in the 1940s to make them endorse these oils.
Saurav Ganguly Fortune oil ad where Ganguly is endorsing the oil for a healthy heart
What is the healthier alternative to refined oil?
Why are cold pressed oils healthier?
- Cold pressed oil is extracted naturally without using any chemicals
- Lesser heat in the process keeps the oil more natural
- Maximum nutrients (vitamins, proteins and antioxidants) are retained
Ask your grandma if she used refined oils or got oils pressed in the neighbourhood ghana/ghani/chakku
Why is cold pressed oil so expensive?
Seeds are crushed physically to extract cold pressed oil. Since this process doesn't involve any chemicals it takes more time and also requires more raw material.
On the other hand, chemicals are used to manufacture refined oil which increases the amount of oil extracted and speeds up the process.
These are the main reasons why cold pressed oil is more expensive.
Ask your grand parents how much fried food they enjoyed
How can you know if cold pressed oil is genuine?
There are many passionate people who manufacture cold pressed oil. There might be a cold press close to your home.
The best way to be 100% sure that the oil is actually cold pressed is to know the person who is manufacturing it and understand the process they follow. If there are no cold presses near your home, try to get some photos or videos from the manufacturer (if you cannot visit them).
What should you keep in mind when you buy cooking oil?
- Groundnut oil
- Coconut oil
- Sesame oil
- Mustard oil
Some regions have had their own oils apart from these 4 most popular ones. For example in Karnataka there is Safflower oil (Kusube Enne)
Each oil has its own benefits and don’t worry too much about which is the best. The best oil for you is actually what your grandma used. Ask your grandma which oil she used. Chances are that she went to the nearest ghana / ghani / chakku to buy her oil.
If your grandma shared any interesting stories from her childhood, we would love to hear them. Please do write to us.