Vegetable oil for frying....?

Question

Sorry for sounding dumb, but I don't usually make fried food and I was wondering -- if I wanted to fry something in a pot or pan (I don't have a deep fryer) I can just use regular vegetable oil? The reason I ask is because I've tried it once on a steak and it just tasted really bad. Maybe it was just me. I used regular Crisco vegetable oil, should I have used something else? Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

If your making naked steak (not country fried), try buying a good cut. Good steaks with be on a cross cut (across the fibers of the muscle) eye of rounds are flavorful, but need to be slow cooked for best results IMO. Also try a salt and pepper (herbs optional) rub. Grilling is probably the best way to cook steak; so no oil is needed.

For my frying needs, I like to use extra virgin olive oil. It adds just a little extra flavor and is not hydrogonated to be kept fresh (corn oil, canola and blends thereof have to be infused with hydrogen to keep them from spoiling)

Answer 2

I use canola oil for everyday cooking, even deep frying(I don't have a deep fryer either). Peanut oil is used for deep frying for its high smoke point, but "trans fat" shortening gives the crispiest results. I dont like the taste of veggie oil(soybean oil).

I only have canola and (evoo)olive oil in my kitchen.

Deep frying steak is possible, but the oil has to get almost smoking hot. The high heat sears and build a crust around the meat, low heat with steak is a no no. Thats why your steak tasted wrong, the meats just soaking up the oil.

If all deep frying is done at the right temperature water is pushed out from the meat, and little chance for oil to get into the meat. And always keep the temperature constant, when food goes into hot oil the oil will lose temperature.

Best way to cook steak is with a HOT cast iron skillet, do not add oil to skillet, rub the meat with oil. ONLY FLIP ONCE, give it time to build up that tasty crust.

HAVE FUN!!ENJOY!

Answer 3

It's not the kind of oil, it's the amount that you're using. A Steak have a flavor of it's own, frying is really just a way of sealing in the juices and great flavor of your beef. Medium heat heat, Tbs of "Oil" S&P, make sure the pan's hot and sizzle away, depending on the thickness of your steak it could be anywhere between 3-5 mins a side. Enjoy

Answer 4

Vegetable oil is fine for frying, though canola has a better taste. You want to be careful of the heat level. When frying something like a steak, slower, and LOWER, is better. Oil overheated DOES have a bad taste.

Answer 5

You normally don't use olive oil in baking at all because it has a very strong taste of its own that doesn't normally lend itself to sweet dishes (cakes, etc.) For baking you normally use vegetable oil or shortening, which have no flavor of their own. Butter is another good choice, but you have to be careful because butter is roughly 20% water and 80% fat, so if a recipe calls for 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of oil and you want to use butter, you'll have to increase the amount of butter to about 1 1/5 cup, while decreasing the amount of milk down to about 3/4ths of a cup in order to maintain the same ratio of liquid/fat. Otherwise the baked good won't turn out the same way. If you were making a savory cake (like a muffin with herbs, instead of chocolate) then olive oil would be a good choice due to the mixture of flavors. You especially don't use extra virgin olive oil in cooking of any type. I honestly don't know why they sell huge bottles of this stuff in stores, and don't even get me started on Rachel Ray and her "EVOO" silliness... Extra virgin olive oil is used for fresh dishes - like a salad dressing, or drizzling directly onto food - where you really want the taste of the olive oil to come through. You don't cook or bake with it because heat destroys the flavor. It also has a low smoke point making it unsuitable for sauteing. Finally, it's more expensive than just regular olive oil, so why would you waste a premium ingredient like that?

Answer 6

I use olive oil altho it has a lower heat point, so lower the temperature of your stove. I find it doesn't create a flavor that shouldn't be there. Sunflower oil is also good, or canola.

Answer 7

i dont think steaks r meant to be deep fried. you just need a small amount of oil to fry a steak. take care

Answer 8

It depends on your heat. Regular veg oil can burn at high heat, and taste funky.

Peanut oil always works.

Answer 9

All fruits are fruit and vegetables. A "vegetable" is a plant, any part of which can be used for food.

Answer 10

In the superstore, fruits are usually picked out far too soon. Some are rocks, many are bitter. Some of the fruit and vegetables are typical right (zucchini, onions, garlic, lettuce, greens, and a few others) so I'd have to go with vegetables.