Is It Healthy To Cook With Olive Oil
One of the main things to consider when evaluating whether it is OK to
heat extra-virgin olive oil (or any other oil for that matter) is the
smoke point of the oil. The smoke point is the temperature at which
visible gaseous vapor from the heating of oil becomes evident. It is
traditionally used as a marker for when decomposition of oil begins to
take place. Since decomposition incurs chemical changes that may not
only result in reduced flavor and nutritional value but also the
generation of harmful cancer causing compounds (oxygen radicals) that
are harmful to your health, it is important to not heat oil past its
smoke point. Inhaling the vapors can also be damaging.
The smoke point is a natural property of unrefined oils, reflecting
their chemical composition. When oil is refined, the process increases
the oil's smoke point; in fact, raising the smoke point is one of the
reasons why the refining process is used.
No comments:
Post a Comment