What Does Smoke Point Mean?

Smoke coming from cast iron pan - smoking point

What Is Smoke Point and Why Is It Important?

No matter its type, every kind of cooking oil — nut oils, vegetable oils, refined oils, virgin oils, organic oils and processed oils — has a smoke point. Representing an oil's resistance to heat, an oil's smoke point is the temperature at which it will stop glistening and start to burn and smoke. Too much heat breaks down compounds in the oil and creates an acrid, burnt flavor which can ruin the food that's cooking in it.

Knowing an oil's smoke point is important because it let's you know how the oil can be safely used. Which is important because, in addition to giving your food an unpleasant flavor, cooking with burnt oil can also cause health issues.

When oil hits its smoke point and begins burning, it also destroys phytochemicals and beneficial nutrients in both the oil and the food, creates highly flammable conditions and releases free radicals that can be harmful if consumed.

There are many factors that affect the smoke point of different types of oils. Oils are extracted from seeds, nuts and vegetables through a variety of processes; including crushing or pressing. After oil is extracted, it's filtered or refined to remove impurities. The different methods used during to extraction and refinement determine the amount of nutrients and flavor that an oil ends up with. Typically, oils with higher levels of nutrients have lower smoke points.

Unrefined oils that go straight from the press to the bottle tend to be packed with enzymes, minerals, compounds and the full-bodied, aromatic flavors of whatever source they come from. While these all-natural oils are intensely flavorful and heart-healthy, their higher nutrient content makes them more susceptible to rancidity and burning because they have lower smoke points. Because of their high compound content, unrefined oils are better for cooking at low temperatures.

Refined oils, however, have a higher smoke point because they undergo processes that remove the color, flavor and smell. Refinement techniques like high-temperature heating, filtering, bleaching and deodorizing work to extract all the compounds — full of minerals and flavors — that do not interact well with heat and eliminate them to produce industrial-level, neutral-flavored cooking oils with higher smoke points.

Considerations for Cooking

 

To avoid burned flavors and free radicals in your foods and get the most from your cooking, it's helpful to understand what oils work best for which type of cooking style. Understanding different smoke points will help get rid of the guess work when you cook your next meal.

In general — as we mentioned above — an oil's smoke point has a lot to do with whether it has been refined. Because they have been stripped of all nut remnants, refined oils have a higher smoke point and are more suited to high-heat cooking, like deep-frying and searing. The lighter a refined oil appears, the higher its smoke point is bound to be and the safer you are to cook that oil at extremely high temperatures.

An oil's smoke point also depends on its source. Typically, vegetable oils like avocado oil, soybean oil, canola oil, sunflower oil and grapeseed oil withstand the highest heats, making them the best for stir-frying and deep-frying. Nutrient-rich, organic oils like nut and olive oils have lower smoke points and are better for finishing or low-heat purposes — although there are some exceptions.

It's helpful to keep in mind that little bits of food can break off into oil while you are cooking, which can effectively lower the smoke point and accelerate the process of breaking down. Also, every time an oil gets near its smoke point, the smoke point decreases. So, if you plan on reusing your cooking oil, it will have a lower heat tolerance each time you cook with it.

Overview of Common Smoke Points

 

The smoke point of oils will always vary based on their manufacturing, makeup and natural or refined quality. Because La Tourangelle's all-natural oils are made from a blend of refined and unrefined oil for a higher quality, the smoke points of our oils may be slightly different than these common smoke points. However, this is a good guide to the general smoke point of specific oils:

  • Virgin Coconut Oil: 325°F -  good for baking, sautéing, smoothies and self-care
  • Refined Coconut Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing and stir-frying
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing, drizzling and salad dressings
  • Canola Oil: 450°F - good for deep-frying, stir-frying, grilling and everyday cooking
  • Grapeseed Oil: 375°F - good for sautéing and stir-frying
  • Sunflower Oil: 450°F - good for deep-frying, stir-frying, grilling and everyday cooking
  • Flax Oil: 225°F - good for drizzling, salad dressings and smoothies
  • Almond Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing and stir-frying
  • Avocado Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing and stir-frying
  • Extra Virgin Avocado Oil: 325°F - good for baking, sautéing and smoothies
  • Peanut Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing, stir-frying and salad dressings
  • Walnut Oil: 375°F - good for baking, sautéing, salad dressings and drizzling
  • Sesame Oil: 325°F - good for sautéing, ramen and dressings

With so many different types of oils to choose from, how do you pick the right one? Keeping several oils on hand means you have more options to make the right pick.

How to Choose the Right Cooking Oil

Knowing how to choose the right cooking oil can be difficult. Keep this quick guide to cooking oils close at hand, so you always know which oil is best for your next meal.

Here are a few considerations to keep in mind next time you're staring at the cooking oils in your cupboard.

  • Flavor Profiles: Some oils have more pronounced flavors, while others are more neutral. If you're cooking a dish with very specific flavors, even the subtle flavors of certain cooking oils can affect the taste of the entire dish. If you only want the flavors of the ingredients of the dish itself to come through, use a neutral oil like canola oil, safflower oil, peanut oil or corn oil. You can also experiment with oils that provide more flavor, like sesame oil, walnut oil and coconut oil.
  • Refined or Unrefined Processing: Unrefined oils, like extra virgin olive oil, do not go through additional processing like refined oils, such as canola oil, and are often more nutritious. Refined oils are filtered, heated at high temperatures and bleached to remove impurities to extract the maximum amount of oil possible. Refined oils typically have a much longer shelf life and higher smoke point — the extra compounds found in unrefined oils break down at higher heats and can impact flavor.
  • Health Considerations: Different oils have different nutrients as part of their makeups. When you're making various dishes, being aware of the nutritional values of each oil helps you understand its impact on your health. Oils do contain fats, but mainly those fats that are considered healthy, like unsaturated fats and omegas, which promote heart health and are generally considered a healthier pick than butter and lard.

When you're looking for the perfect cooking oil, whether you're cooking for your career, for your family or just yourself, considering these and factors can make a big difference in your dishes.

From the ability to cook meats, vegetables and other foods at the right temperature to affecting the flavor profile, your cooking oil plays a big part in the process. When you begin using new cooking oils, you'll see how big a role it plays!

Adding new oils to your cooking repertoire is a great way to experiment with flavor profiles, and using a different type of oil in a dish may make it even better. If you tried to cook a new dish that didn't come out right, cooking it with a different oil may make all the difference.

Choose La Tourangelle's Artisan Oils for Your Next Dish

Cooking can be a professional skill or a hobby. Knowing the smoke point of different types of oil will help you cook properly and add amazing flavour.

Now that you know your smoke points and the ins and outs of oils, it is time to start cooking. Choose La Tourangelle's all-natural artisan oils for the best flavors and finishes for all your dishes.