Looking for the best oil for frying schnitzels? Can you use whatever oil you have in your kitchen? Or you should pick a special one? What should you pay attention to get the best results? Let’s find out!
If you’re reading this, I bet you love frying schnitzels and you are looking for how to improve your results. When we are frying, the oil in which we are frying schnitzels can make a big difference because if you do not use proper frying oil, you may get an unwanted flavor or give a bitter taste because your oil will burn and you may get also a smoky kitchen.
Not sure which of them to choose with all these options that we have at the supermarkets? Don’t worry, I will tell you all you need to know about each option, so you can choose the right one for your needs and budget.
Let’s find out the optimal oil for frying schnitzels that have a neutral taste, are not too expensive, and have an enough smoke point.
All About the Smoke Point
When we are talking about the frying oil for the schnitzels or other ingredients, you should pay attention to the smoke point of the oil that you are planning to use. You should always aim for oil that has a higher smoke point than the temperature at that you plan to fry the schnitzels.
Why Do You Need to Avoid Burning the Oil?
For example, if you use unrefined oil when the temperature rises, the sediment from the oil will start to burn and smoke.
Besides the fact that all kitchens will be in smoke, you can activate your smoke detector and you will enter into panic mode.
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Also, you may risk your health if you burn the oil. Once the process of burning these particles has begun, they turn into carcinogens. For this reason, I recommend using only refined oils or preferably double refined oils.
On What to Pay Attention To?
You should pick an oil that is ok at the temperature of 350-375°F. We are using high temperatures for frying to offer the food a nice crispy crust that will stop absorbing the oil into the food.
Another important part when you choose the oil for frying schnitzels is the price and flavors.
You don’t want and don’t need to use for frying an expensive oil that will cost double as much as your price of schnitzel.
What Is the Best Oil for Schnitzels?
When we are talking about the frying oil for schnitzels it is important to pick an oil that has a neutral taste, enough smoke point, and the right price. If you want to go safe with oil for schnitzels, pick peanut oil or sunflower oil if you are ok with the nutty flavor. If you’re looking for a neutral flavor and cheap frying oil, go with corn or canola oil.
What Other Options Do You Have?
Avocado Oil
Smoke point: 520°F
High price point
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Avocado oil has one of the highest smoke points that you will find. It will give a nice avocado flavor which will go well when you’re planning to fry a few schnitzels. The downside of avocado oil is that it is more expensive than previous variants.
Safflower Oil
Smoke point: 475°F
Medium price point
If you’re looking for another oil for frying schnitzels, but you want to pick one that has a neutral taste, the Safflower oil can be a great alternative as it has the highest smoke point after the avocado oil.
The downside of it is that safflower oil is also expensive to use for frying.
Peanut Oil
Smoke point: 450°F
Lower price point
A lot of fast-food restaurants use peanut oil for frying schnitzels as it has a high smoke point, is not too expensive, and offers a nice nutty flavor to the schnitzels.
Soybean Oil
Smoke point: 450°F
Medium price point
Soybean oil is another cheap alternative for frying schnitzels as it is neutral, it will not add any additional flavors to your schnitzels and it is cheaper compared with previous alternatives.
Corn Oil
Smoke point: 450°F
Lower price point
Corn oil is another great alternative with the same smoke point as previous recommendations and it is very affordable.
Sunflower Oil
Smoke point: 450°F
Medium price point
Opt for sunflower oil if you are looking for a cheaper option of frying oil for schnitzels that will give you a nutty flavor. The sunflower is a little more expensive than other variants but is considered also a healthier option than the rest oils.
Cottonseed Oil
Smoke point: 420°F
High price point
You can also use cottonseed oil for frying schnitzels as it has a neutral flavor but it costs almost double the sunflower oil or other alternatives. If you have it already in your kitchen and it will expire soon, then sure, you can use it for frying the schnitzels.
Canola Oil
Smoke point: 400°F
Lower price point
Canola oil has the lowest smoking point of all the recommendations but still, you are in the safe zone. It has a neutral flavor and is largely used in frying because it is cheap.
What Oils Should You Avoid When Frying?
Avoid at all costs the unrefined oils that are not designated for frying. Also, avoid oils that have a low smoke point as they may harm you in the long run. A few examples of oils you should avoid when frying schnitzels are coconut oil, which has a smoke point of 350°F, extra virgin olive oil which has a smoke point of 325°F, and all other options that smoke point goes even lower.
Also, consider avoiding butter when deep frying. Yes, it will give you a nice and delicious taste, but the smoke point of the butter is only 300°F.
Pro Tip: If you are going crazy about the buttery flavor, and want to give your schnitzels this buttery taste, you can mix the melted butter with an oil that has a high smoke point as avocado oil or peanut oil. And you will be safe with smoke point and also will get the buttery taste. Win-win.
Refined Oils vs Light Colored Oils?
The more refined an oil is, the higher the smoke point is. You can even pick the double-refined oil for frying.
Don’t know how to distinguish them? As a simple rule, pay attention to the color of the oil. The lighter it is – the higher its smoke point is.
Answering Your Questions:
When we are talking about healthy oil, we should pay attention to the ratio of polyunsaturated fats. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) also called good fats versus LDL (low-density lipoprotein) called bad fats or bad cholesterol.
The highest ratio of polyunsaturated fats has sunflower and safflower oil. So, if you’re looking for the safest oil for frying schnitzels, go with sunflower or safflower oil.
If you’re looking for the cheapest oil for frying schnitzels, go with canola oil. Is widely available in the stores and one quart will cost you around $2-$3. It has a good enough smoke point, neutral taste, and low level of saturated fats.
If you plan to cook on high heat, the best option for you will be the avocado oil as it has the highest smoke point, around 520°F. The downside of avocado oil is that it is a little bit pricey.
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