Groundnut Oil
Groundnut oil, also known as peanut
oil is a vegetable-derived oil made from the edible seeds of the peanut plant.
Peanut oil is used in cooking and
is also used to make medicine. Peanut oil is high in monounsaturated
good fat and low in saturated bad fat. This is believed to help prevent heart
disease and lower cholesterol.
Groundnut oil is a popular oil that
is commonly used in cooking, especially when frying foods.
Peanut oil has a pleasing, light
and nutty flavor. Peanut oil is perfect for deep-frying because it has a
unique property that is it does not absorb the flavor of other foods cooked in
the oil. Peanut oil is also one of the world’s traditional deep-frying
oils because it can reach a high temperature that keeps the outside of food
crispy and the inside very moist.
There are several different types of peanut oil.
- Refined
peanut oil: This type is refined, bleached and deodorized, which removes
the allergenic parts of the oil. It is typically safe for those with
peanut allergies. It is commonly used by restaurants to fry foods like
chicken and french fries.
- Cold-pressed
peanut oil: In this method, peanuts are crushed to force out the oil. This
low-heat process retains much of the natural peanut flavor and more
nutrients than refining does.
- Gourmet Peanut Oil: Gourmet roasted peanut oils are not refined
and are considered specialty oils. Some of these gourmet peanut oils may
be roasted, aromatic oils, which provide a wonderful peanut aroma and
flavor to many food products.
Groundnut oil is a good source of vitamin E, an
antioxidant that has many health benefits like protecting the body from free
radical damage and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Benefits:
Good for Diabetes Control
Lowers Cholesterol
Good for Heart
Here is the nutritional breakdown for
one tablespoon of peanut oil:
- Calories: 119
- Fat: 14
grams
- Saturated
fat: 2.3 grams
- Monounsaturated
fat: 6.2 grams
- Polyunsaturated
fat: 4.3 grams
- Vitamin
E: 11% of the RDI
