We all have this experience of cooking something only to have to keep re-adding oil as it ‘cooks away’, but what actually happens to the oil? Is it absorbed by the food we’re cooking? Does it burn away? And specifically, what happens to the calories in the oil?
In: 230
Yes, it gets absorbed by the food. Cooking oil doesn’t evaporate. Since it gets absorbed, the calories get added to the food’s calories.
Some of the oil gets absorbed by the food and some of it evaporates away. You can see the evaporated oil as a buildup on your exhaust as it gets sticky overtime.
Some oil is absorbed by the food and some evaporates (or burns)
All oils have what is known as a smoke point (or temperature), you shouldn’t cook with oils with a low smoke point (like extra Virgin olive oil) as it will evaporate (or burn) and also can make the food less healthy to eat
If you’ve ever cleaned a kitchen that has seen a lot of oiled pan cooking, you’ll notice that it mainly goes up, but also goes everywhere else too. In, around, and on top of the vent hood seem to be the main places I’ve had to clean it from. Also splatter will account for some of it.
Next time you’re in your kitchen, use a clean finger and rub a streak just about anywhere on, around, or above your stove top. You’ll find the oil.
And of course, some of it sticks to food and to the pan.
Soaked right into the food in your pan. You are eating it all.
Try a bbq instead, the oil drips off. Some bbq’s like the weber q series has a fine grille and a oval shaped drain area with a catch pan so you can even cook bacon on them without it bursting into flames.
Some of the oil absorbs into the food you’re cooking, especially if something breaded or starchy. Also, oil vaporizes with steam and gets sucked out the exhaust vent, coats your wall or cabinet above the stove, etc. feel under the vent hood and you’ll see how greasy it is unless it’s cleaned regularly.
I deep fried some chicken wings and a week later oil started dripping onto my stove from the overhead vent.
Into the food or evaporated.
Where did you think it went? 😂
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