sunflower or olive oil?

[mat777]

So, as my bottle of olive oil has just run out, before I buy a new one I was just thinking whether it would be healthier to buy sunflower oil. I use the olive oil for cooking, for everything from basting meat to lubricating the frying pan for an omelette, to smearing a bit on jacket potatoes as they cook to make them extra tasty. So, would sunflower oil be better for me in this case? And is it generally cheaper or more expensive than supermarket own brand non-virgin olive oil?

thanks,
Matt

[GranderTransit]

My personal preference here is extra virgin olive oil (best you can find) for anything that isn't heated. Salad dressings, on eggs etc. If it is being cooked in a pan I will use groundnut oil. If it is being roasted as is going to get super hot then I will cook with lard. So long as you take into account the fat you are cooking with when working out calories / fatrotein:carb ratio then these fats will do you no harm.

Best to avoid vegetable oils in my opinion.

[Eversleigh]

Look into rapeseed oil http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5407832/The-rape... rather alot is farmed in Britain also!

[FWDRacer]

Butter - trust cows more than scientists.

[jbudgie]

Eversleigh said:

Look into rapeseed oil http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5407832/The-rape... rather alot is farmed in Britain also!

Yes, that .

[sherman]

Sunflower oil for cooking, Olive oil for dressings etc.

Oilve oil has one of the lowest smoke points of all oils and you are risking getting a burnt flavour on the food.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_point

[mat777]

I say, that rapeseed oil does appear to be the best of both worlds for health and taste, especially as it doesnt appear to cost much, if anything, more!

[Mobile Chicane]

Eversleigh said:

Look into rapeseed oil http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5407832/The-rape... rather alot is farmed in Britain also!

Indeed, that.

For one it's a British product (rather than throw money at the Frogs or Itis), it can be heated to higher temperatures than olive oil - therefore ideal for frying.

It also has a 'mustardy' taste ideal for curry, and contains lots of poly-whatsits meaning it's healthier than ghee.

I use it a lot.

Edited by Mobile Chicane on Tuesday 28th February 23:05