Peanut oil, which may be called groundnut oil in the UK, is a highly desirable oil for deep-frying. Peanuts are believed to be originating in Central American region from where they spread to other parts of the world by Spanish explorers. Today, peanuts are widely cultivated as an important oil seeds and a prime commercial crop in China, India, African nations, and the United States of America.
It is made from the legumes called peanuts, and it is known for its high smoke point, the point at which the oil begins to give off smoke and start to burn. Cold pressed peanut oil has deep yellow color with pleasant nutty aroma and sweet taste. Refined oil has light yellow color and has neutral taste. However, highly refined oil makes it virtually devoid of impurities and allergens.
In authentic Asian cooking, especially in places like China, the peanut oil used is less refined, retaining a little bit more of the protein of the peanut and producing a stronger peanut flavor. You'll find it used quite a bit in the US, especially to fry French fries or make fried chicken, and most experts on deep frying turkey recommend it as the oil of choice. It also has numerous applications in Asian cooking. Most US shelf brand versions of peanut oil, unless they are sold as organic, tend to filter out much of the taste of the peanuts, and all of its protein.
From a nutritional standpoint, many oils are considered superior to peanut oil, but it remains a popular choice. If you’re looking for a good substitute, the smoke points of canola and extra light olive oil are comparable, and from a health perspective they both are much higher in monounsaturated fat. There are a few other oils that make worthy substitutes.
Being a vegetable oil,
peanut oil is a good source of plant sterols, especially β-sitosterol. The FDA has approved the following claim for phytosterols: "Foods containing at least 0.4 gram per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 gram, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."
Peanut oil is high in calories. The high calorie content is because of its fats. However, it is especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
Ivan Yang is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the food industry. 21food.com is just a place for you to look for any delicious foods! Our 21food.com provide E-commerce business directory for importing & exporting of global food products, especially Chinese food products. transglutaminase
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