oils

An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic (does not mix with water, literally "water fearing") and lipophilic (mixes with other oils, literally "fat loving"). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated lipids that are liquid at room temperature.
The general definition of oil includes classes of chemical compounds that may be otherwise unrelated in structure, properties, and uses. Oils may be animal, vegetable, or petrochemical in origin, and may be volatile or non-volatile. They are used for food (e.g., olive oil), fuel (e.g., heating oil), medical purposes (e.g., mineral oil), lubrication (e.g. motor oil), and the manufacture of many types of paints, plastics, and other materials. Specially prepared oils are used in some religious ceremonies and rituals as purifying agents.

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  1. Rosyrain

    Sesame oil

    I recently bought a bottle of sesame oil for an Asian dish I was making and the oil looks and smells amazing when it is in the pan. I would like to use it for other dishes, but do not have much experience with this kind of oil. What do you use sesame oil for?
  2. Bakemehappy

    What oil do you use to fry an egg?

    Are you the type who fries eggs without oil at all using some technology or a plain non-stick pan? I would still prefer to use oil when I fry my egg and sometimes would try butter to achieve that nutty flavor. Most of the time though I use olive oil and oregano in the morning. How about you?
  3. DancingLady

    Hempseed Oil

    i recently came across hempseed oil and read some things about its nutritional value. Apparently it's one of the healthiest oils out there because of its ideal ratios of omega 3 and 6. So I bought some to give it a try. It is not meant to be heated, so I figured I would stir it into warm food...
  4. torreyy

    Olive Oil Fanatic

    Years ago, due to my daughter being diagnosed with high cholesterol, her doctor demanded the we only use butter and not margarine. I'd never used butter before, preferring because of cost, margarine. Some years later, I discovered that olive oil was even better than butter. It's been olive oil...
  5. joycemcgregor

    Olive oil versus other oils for cooking

    I use both olive oil and vegetable oils when I cook. When browning meat, making oven fried potatoes, ect I use olive oil. If I am deep frying or frying eggs or making biscuits or other baked items that call for using oil, I use vegetable oil. Do any of you notice a diffence in the taste with...
  6. kuda88

    Baking with cooking oil vs baking with butter!?

    When is it best to bake with cooking oil and when is it best to bake with butter?thanks
  7. teamshepherd

    Coconut Oil in everyday cooking

    I was wondering if anyone uses coconut oil to cook? I was away from hubby for a while and when I came back I had found that he is obsessed with using coconut oil instead of olive or vegetable oil. I find that it's not TOO horrible but it does overpower the taste of whatever food he prepares. Is...
  8. ChanellG

    In favor of olive oil

    I'm not sure when, but at some point I gave up cooking with butter in favor of olive oil. Of course there are times when nothing beats actual butter, but I don't find that I miss it. I've been told coconut oil is a great choice for cooking, but I have been reluctant to try it because I don't...
  9. GadgetGuy

    How to tell if or when your oil starts to spoil.

    How do you tell when cooking oil starts to go bad? The other day, I was frying some pork chops, and noticed that the oil I was using had foamed up! I was wondering at first, if there was some soap resdue left in the skillet after washing it. But it was the cooking oil! Dicover that the...
  10. Ellyn

    Cooking Oil

    There are a lot of different kinds of cooking oil out there. Some of them evaporate at different temperatures (called a flash point), some of them burn easily or turn into smoke, some clump into solids, some are runny, others still are cloying... some carry on unmistakable flavors into the food...
  11. L

    olive oil?

    hi all, I'm a new user. I wanted to ask in your opinion what is the right amount of olive oil per day. How much oil use you? Extra virgin? organic? you trust in olive oil after the articles in the NY times? thanks
  12. Rachele

    Rapeseed Oil

    I've recently discovered rapeseed oil and have been using it a lot as a substitute for olive oil in cooking. It's a much healthier alternative to olive oil, and the best thing is that I buy it from a local supplier, so I am putting money back into my local community. I do still use extra-virgin...
  13. Food4thought

    The Most Versatile Cooking Oil

    Olive oil is best for making pasta dishes, dips and salad dressings but it is not so good for frying. A light oil made from sesame oil or peanuts is best for stirfries and noodle dishes, and other types of vegetable oil are more suitable for deep frying, shallow frying and grilling. Recently...
  14. True2marie

    Does anyone use solid shortening anymore?

    When I grew up, most grocery stores sold Crisco. Crisco was the white solid goo (lard) my mother used to fry chicken and make pie crusts. As for me, I cannot remember ever buying a bucket of Crisco. I use liquid oil. Does anyone use solid shortening anymore?
  15. C

    A healthly cooking oil

    I always thought olive oil was the best oil for you but l wondering if there is something better, does anyone have any suggestions?
  16. OhioTom76

    Oil or Butter When Cooking Eggs?

    I love cooking eggs all sorts of ways, and I've almost always used butter to cook them. My grandparents always used to cook their eggs in olive oil instead - which is nice too, I love the smell of it. However when I am making omelettes, I try to get the eggs to set without browning them - which...
  17. Sandra Piddock

    What cooking oil do you use?

    I tend to use extra virgin olive oil for most of my shallow frying, and sunflower oil for my husband's occasional treat of chips. I find it makes the food taste better, as well as being a healthy alternative to vegetable oil. I've tried the various spray-on oils, but they all seem to compromise...
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