The 101 on Oil with Gail Simmons

I think by now we all know what avocados are, right?

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They're versatile, creamy, delicious

and basically everywhere.

This is a perfect avocado, by the way

and when extracted into oil form

you get a smooth, neutral tasting cooking oil that is full

of monounsaturated fats and has a high smoke point

which is crucial for cooking at high temperature.

Even though these days, you can learn pretty

much everything you need to know about cooking online.

When it comes to oil, the do's and don'ts

are still a bit of a mystery to some people.

So here's the 101 on oil.

Humans have been producing oils

since ancients and even prehistoric times.

Common cooking oils include avocado oil,

olive oil, corn, safflower, coconut, sunflower

and a whole slew of other oils.

Cooking oil can either be unrefined or refined.

Unrefined oils retain more

of their natural flavor and have a lower smoke point.

Refined oils, on the other hand

create a more neutral flavor and have a high smoke point

while still maintaining

most of the oil's original qualities.

Chosen Foods 100% pure avocado oil, for example,

is a refined oil that retains all

of the monounsaturated fats from avocados.

It also has a 500 degree smoke point

and a smooth neutral flavor, which makes it super versatile.

Fats and oils play a number of important roles in cooking

which provide flavor and richness for all kinds of dishes.

In cooking methods like frying or sauteing, they act

as a medium for the development of crisp textures

and the all important browning reactions

that you're looking for.

In baking, fats and oils weaken gluten networks

and help keep baked goods tender.

And of course, oils are an essential ingredient

in emulsions like mayonnaise or vinegarettes.

When choosing an oil for cooking

you wanna think about two main things.

The first is flavor.

Do you want an extra virgin olive oil that's

gonna lend its own flavor to a platter of ripe tomatoes?

Or do you want a warm neutral oil like avocado oil

which will round out a dressing, lay low in a cake

or let the flavors of roasted vegetables really shine?

The second thing you wanna think about is temperature.

The concept here is something called smoke point.

Like boiling water, fats and oils

will eventually turn into gas at very high temperatures.

When oils are allowed to break down in this way,

not only do they fill your kitchen

with noxious fumes, releasing free radicals

and harmful compounds, that can be a hazard to your health,

but the nutritional value is compromised

and the flavor deteriorates.

With an especially high smoke point of 500 degrees

and a neutral taste, Chosen Foods avocado oil

really stands out as a versatile kitchen workhorse.

Another common way to use oils is through a spray.

Many cooking sprays contain chemical propellants

to drive them out of the can.

Chosen Foods 100% pure avocado oil spray is made

without any of these propellants or additives.

Instead, relying solely

on air pressure to deliver an even coat

of 100% pure avocado oil.

The one other thing you might wanna consider

when choosing an oil to cook with

is its potential health benefits.

Both avocado oil and olive oil are packed

with monounsaturated fats as well as powerful antioxidants.

In addition, Chosen Foods avocado oil is certified non GMO

and glyphosate residue free.

Okay, now that we've covered our bases

I'm gonna show you five recipes where avocado oil shines.

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Time to get cooking, and more importantly, eating.