Breaking Down The Difference Between Cooking And Finishing Oil
by Angela Tafoya
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When talking about our favorite ways to use our avocado oil, we often get asked about the key differences between them.
While we celebrate the taste and vibrancy of each—and encourage creativity when using them—we wanted to break it down a little further and explain the subtle variations between our cooking and finishing oils.
For starters, we like to think about it two ways—cooking oils are typically used with high heat (so grilling, frying, baking) and don’t integrate as much flavoring into the food and finishing oils are often best for cold items or as a toppers (think salad dressing or drizzling over ice cream), offering a more distinct flavoring in the food than a cooking oil.
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High-heat cooking with our Pure Avocado Oil
Our 100% Pure Avocado Oil's smoke point exceeds 500 degrees, making it a great choice for frying and searing, as it remains stable and doesn't break down or produce harmful compounds.
The high smoke point preserves the nutritional properties and adds a mild, buttery flavor to dishes, enhancing—but not overpowering—the overall taste. So you know you can cook at high temps and still get all of the nourishing goodness avocados have to offer—like monounsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Did you know you could live off avocados alone if you found yourself on a desert island? Yes, it's truly that much of a superfood. It also helps you break down nutrients more efficiently. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, and enhances the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Now imagine that's what you can cook with at peak smoke point—for just about anything—sweet or savory. Why wouldn't you?
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Finishing dishes with our Extra Virgin Organic Avocado Oil
In terms of finishing oil, our Extra Virgin Organic Avocado Oil is a light, flavor-forward oil meant to be enjoyed over salads, roasted veggies, toast, and even sweet treats.
Finishing oils in general offer a range of flavors, adding complexity and enhancing the flavors of a dish. It's the perfect companion for adding a little something extra on top of your favorite cold dish. The flavor is so delightful, you can even just use it plainly as a dipping oil for chopped veggies and bread.
Both of our oils—which were formulated by a professional chef, so you know they are high performance—are derived completely from Mexican-grown ripe avocados. Their farms use regenerative methods that yield more nutrient-rich and environmentally sound food than traditional growers.
Implementing practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and organic farming enhances soil biodiversity and improve soil health.
By understanding the thoughtful processes and variation of uses with our oils, we hope they make it to your table and make cooking and hosting more enjoyable and intentional.
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