Today, our focus for discussion is on substitute for canola oil. It is the most widely grown crop in Canada. Canola oil comes from the seeds of the canola plant. It is rich in fats and can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Canola oil is one of the healthiest oils for cooking and research has shown that it has zero fat, coupled with the fact that it has the lowest amount of saturated fats among all other oils.
Canola oil is a rich source of Vitamins E and K and plant sterols. It reduces skin problems, and also slows the aging process. If you use canola oil consistently, signs like wrinkles, spots, and blemishes can be reduced. There are various substitutes for canola oil and in today’s post, we will be discussing some of them. Furthermore, I will discuss a brief history of canola oil, its uses, manufacturing process, pros and cons, and safety precautions for the use of canola oil.
Brief History of Canola Oil
Canola, whose English name is “Rapeseed” , was first produced in 1974 in Canada. Originally, it was a trademark name for the Rapeseed Association of Canada. According to research, the word “Can” was derived from Canada, and “ola” from oil.
Canola was birthed out from Rapeseed cultivators. These men include B Napus and B Raps at the University of Manitoba, Canada, coupled with Keith Downey and Baldur R. Stefansson in the early 1970s. Dr. Stefansson and Dr. Downey are known as “Father’s Canola”. Their contributions and pursuits gave the agriculture industry a paradigm shift. Canada became the first country in the whole world to produce large quantities of rapeseed with a low acid content and low cholesterol.
Importance of Canola Oil
Canola oil has numerous things it represents for you. Here are some of them:
- We’ve already established that Canola oil reduces the risk of heart disease when used.
- A very good source of Vitamin E and K. This also contains a variety of fatty acids, including Omega 3.
- Canola oil can be applied on the skin. This smoothens and also helps injuries heal faster when applied.
- It also has cooking benefits. It can be used for stir-frying, grilling and baking. This is made possible because of its light flavor, smooth texture and high smoke point.
- It can also serve as coating for pans when it comes to non-stick baking.
- Canola oil can also be used for salad, marinades and sauces.
- Canola oil has the fewest saturated fats compared to other oils.
Manufacturing Process of Canola Oil
Studies, according to Canola Council of Canada, have shown that the process of turning canola seed into oil is similar to that of other oil seeds.
Firstly, the cleaning process. This entails cleaning the canola seed properly and thoroughly to remove any particles that were harvested alongside it.
Next is heating and flaking. This is done by the machine. It heats and flakes the seed before the extraction of oil happens.
This is followed by cooking the seeds in heating drums or stacked cookers. This is done to prevent it from breaking unnecessarily.
Extraction of oil follows suit. It is achieved by the machine separating the oil from the solids.
The final stage is the refining and processing stage. Here, the oil is being refined to improve its flavor and color. Bleaching is also done, though it doesn’t use bleach. It has to do with making the oil pass through a filter and the steam distills the oil to get rid of the unpleasant smell.
Uses of Canola Oil
Canola oil is a great fit for any type of cooking. This is because of its neutral taste and light texture, which allows other food ingredients to pop out effortlessly.
It is also a good match when it comes to baking because of its texture, which gives soft moisture with low saturated fat. It also features stir-frying, grilling, salad-dressing, sauces and marinades.
Canola oil can also serve the beautiful purpose of processing plants. It may also be considered good for the skin.
Substitute for Canola Oil
In a situation where there’s an absence of canola oil or you want to try out other oils that compare to or can serve similar purposes as canola oil, there are other substitutes that you would like to try out. Here are some of them.
1. Vegetable Oil
We can’t say that vegetable oil and Canola oil are exactly the same thing. They have some slight differences, especially in taste. The good news is that the outcome will be the same when you cook with any of them. This doesn’t have to do with whether you’re frying, baking or doing whatever. Vegetable oil can really serve as a substitute for Canola oil. The result is the same as that of Canola.
2. Grapeseed Oil
This is very close to Canola oil. It represents, just like Canola in cooking, its flavor. This is because they’re both seed oils, have what you can call a similar nutrition profile and are also refined. This can also be used as a substitute for Canola oil.
3. Avocado Oil
Another alternative that can be used in place of canola oil is avocado oil. Just like Canola, it is high in Vitamin E and also unsaturated. Due to its flavor and high smoke point, it can be used to cook food and also for raw treats.
4. Refined Olive Oil
One of the healthiest oils is Extra Virgin Oil. But refined oil is the best substitute for Canola oil. This is because it is light in color with a mild flavor. Virgin Olive oil has more flavor and may not be the best for different recipes. This doesn’t mean it can’t be used as a replacement. It serves well for sautéing and salad dressing. Because of its low smoke point of 320–400 °F/°C, it is not very suitable for frying.
5. Sunflower Oil
This is particularly used for salad dressing, drip or mayonnaise ingredients. This oil has a light and neutral flavor. It is popularly used for raw dishes.
As much as we’ve come to agree that Canola oil has great importance and can actually make a difference, it is also pertinent to note that it also has its cons.
Let’s see what they are.
Cons of Canola Oil
- The amount of nutrients found in Canola oil gets reduced due to the procedures in which part of them uses heat and chemicals to extract the oil.
- Studies have also shown a high ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3. There is every tendency that you can increase your risk of certain disease conditions. This disease includes: Alzheimer, heart disease and obesity.
- Studies have also shown that daily use of Canola Oil can expose you to memory Issues.
- As a result of this oil being partially hydrogenated, it is likely to cause artery inflammation and calcification.
Safety Precautions for the Use of Canola Oil
The use of this oil is constrained by a certain group of people.
- Since the use of Canola Oil is linked to inflammation. People with cardiac arrest shouldn’t use it.
- The use of Canola Oil has also been linked with stunted growth. So, pregnant and lactating women should first consult their doctor.
- People who are taking drugs, perhaps out of sickness or whatever, should be mindful about how they interact with Canola oil. You will have to know the status of your health condition and also seek the advice of your doctor.
- Since Canola is an oil, it is also inflammable, so you have to be careful around it.
- Humans with impaired cognition should also take serious note about Canola Oil.
These precautions above should be critically adhered to. This is because any carelessness or wrong use of the oil comes with an effect which will not be the best for you.
How Healthy is Canola Oil?
This question has been a thorn in the flesh, as many have different opinions based on how healthy canola oil is. Most people are bothered about the processes, one of which has to do with chemicals. Because of this single reason, some have chosen not to incorporate it anymore into their diet.
Others opt to use it when it doesn’t have to come into contact with their food. They would rather use it for other purposes, like on their skin or for any other external use.
Conclusion
Having given you a couple of substitutes for canola oil, it won’t be a bad idea if you give it a trial. The amazing part is that canola oil can serve diverse purposes. Ranging from cooking, frying, and salad dressing, this doesn’t just stop at the food we eat. It boils down to it serving as a sort of skin care maintenance product and a plant processor.
To make this easier for you, there are other substitutes for canola oil. Some of them share a very similar nutrition profile, which, if not checked properly, can be mistaken for canola oil. This is because the result is almost the same as that of canola oil.
Striking a balance on how well to use the canola oil will do you more good. To be on the safer side, it is wise that you seek the advice of the doctor. This will help you ascertain how much you can take in canola oil.
