Guide to Traditional Cooking Oils: My Favorite Seed-Oil-Free Options
In 2019, I embarked on a journey towards unlocking optimal health. A key component of this journey was reassessing my cooking oil choices and eliminating processed seed oils from both my pantry and my plate!
In this guide, I’ll share my personal selection of cooking oils and fats, along with some insights on their best uses in the kitchen. :)
Beef Tallow:
Beef tallow is a rendered form of beef fat. It’s stable at high temperatures, making it an excellent choice for frying and sautéing. Its rich, beefy flavor can enhance the taste of your dishes, especially when used to cook meat.
Fun Fact: McDonald's fries helped put them on the map in the 1980’s! Guess what they were fried in? Beef Tallow! :) It wasn’t until later they started using cheap and unhealthy options like soybean oil and other PUFAs.
When you start to use Tallow in the kitchen, you will look for reasons to fry stuff in this beefy goodness. I love making homemade corn chips in beef tallow. I promise it will be the best tortilla chip you will ever taste!
If you have the cookbook, you’ll love beef tallow as the frying choice for the Plantain Hash Browns!
My Two Favorite Beef Tallow Brands Right Now:
Fatworks Organic Grass-Fed Beef Tallow, Certified Organic Non-Gmo Pasture-Raised Beef Tallow. (Sourced From Several Small Family Ranchers) Click here to buy on Amazon!
EPIC Grass-Fed Beef Tallow: Click here to buy on Amazon!
Butter:
Butter, particularly from grass-fed cows, is a staple in my kitchen. It’s perfect for sautéing vegetables, scrambling eggs, or just spreading on a slice of bread. Or pretty much anything! Butter is a historical favorite for a reason.
Always reach for the highest quality butter you can find! Not only does it pay off in taste, it will pay off in your health, too. Despite what you’ve heard, Grass-fed butter is a nutritious choice for fat!
Butter alternatives are littered with cheap oils and cut with a whole list of synthetic ingredients.
How I Get My Butter:
It’s surprisingly easy to make your own fresh butter so if you haven’t already, try it!
If you want to grab a few sticks at the store, typically look for the highest quality available, like I would beef. Grass-fed, non-GMO, pasture-raised etc if possible.
Or look for Kerry Gold! The gold or silver wrapper will catch your eye on the shelf and is readily available in most stores. Click Here to Buy in bulk on Amazon!
PRO TIP: Butter freezes well until you need it so stock up for cheaper prices. You are going to use it anyway!
Duck Fat:
Duck fat has a luxurious, silky texture and a rich, savory flavor. This is fat that never leaves my kitchen!
It’s particularly famous for its ability to make potatoes crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You can also use it for roasting vegetables and meat. Or, add a teaspoon or two to a soup or broth for a stronger body and more savory flavor!
My Two Favorite Duck Fat Brands Right Now:
Fatworks, USDA Cage Free Duck Fat, Premium Gourmet Cooking Oil: Click Here to buy on Amazon!
EPIC Rendered Duck Fat: Click here to buy on Amazon!
Ghee:
Ghee is clarified butter, meaning the milk solids have been removed, making it suitable for those with lactose intolerance. It has a high smoke point and a rich, nutty flavor, making it ideal for frying and baking. Personally, ghee is one of my favorites for frying! A little goes a long way, but If I am running low, I use 50% Avocado Oil! The blend of Ghee and oil makes a great deep-frying base.
My Favorite Ghee Brand Right Now:
4th & Heart Original Grass-Fed Ghee! Pasture Raised, Non-GMO, Lactose, and Casein Free: Click Here to Buy on Amazon!
Fun Fact: Ghee has been a part of traditional cooking methods for thousands of years. Plus, ancient cultures believe there are tons of benefits to using ghee as skincare! I have used Ghee to monetize my face and neck and saw a noticeable difference in hydration.
Avocado Oil:
100% Pure and High-quality avocado oil is a versatile choice too! With a mild flavor and high smoke point, it’s suitable for baking, grilling, frying, and drizzling as a salad dressing!
However, you have to be careful with this one if you are trying to avoid seed oils. Most avocado oils on the shelves are actually cut with vegetable oil/soybean oil so be sure you aren’t reaching for the cheapest Avocado Oil on the shelves. This is an oil you get what you pay for!
My Two Favorite Avocado Oil Brands Right Now:
Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil: Click here to buy on Amazon!
Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil: Click here to buy on Amazon!
Olive Oil:
Extra virgin olive oil is my go-to for dressings, dips, and drizzling over finished dishes. Its rich, fruity flavor can enhance a simple salad or a piece of grilled fish. It’s packed with antioxidants and has numerous health benefits.
Many cooks leave this oil behind because of its lower smoke point, but once you get the hang of it, you will see its use. :)
Fun Fact: Like avocado oil, you have to make sure you are getting 100% Pure and High-quality Olive Oil. Many cheap brands cut the oil with seed oils.
High-quality olive oil will actually have a light ‘burning’ sensation in the mouth when consumed alone. Some equate this to how to test a good whiskey! The more you feel the ‘burn’, the better it is. Or, so I’ve heard.
I don’t use this oil much for cooking so I don’t have a top brand yet, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know. :)
Other Traditional Fats:
Lard and naturally occurring fats like bacon grease are traditional fats that I keep and use!
They can add a rich, savory flavor to dishes. Lard is particularly good for baking, resulting in flaky pie crusts and tender pastries.
When you cook as much meat as I do, you’ll find you actually don’t need a lot of extra oil!
That’s a wrap!
I encourage you to explore these options and find what works best for your culinary creations! Each one has its special use and can bring any dish to a new level when used correctly!
Remember to check out my other posts for a deep dive into why I avoid modern, processed seed oils and prefer these traditional, nutrient-rich alternatives.
Happy cooking!