How do I know when to use butter and when to use oil?

Question

Is there a certain guideline to follow? When pan fryin or battering fish, most people use butter. Why not oil? Is it more for the flavor of the butter? I was just curious.

To Curious Connie. You should try flouring your fish and then coating it with a egg batter. Place it in a pan with melted butter and cook till both sides are a nice bright yellow color. Make sure not to overcook. It is really good. Its my favorite way to prepare fish. Here in Hawaii its a very popular way to prepare alot of different fish dishes. Thanks for answering. I usually try my best to follow the recipes i use to a T. Some times i just cant help myself tho, gotta change things. Haha

Answer 1

Butter tastes better, but has a lower flash point than oil. If pan frying; butter is the way to go. Deep frying, well use a good canola oil.

Answer 2

They're both the same on helping grease the pan, but oil healthier than butter to use. Butter contains saturated fats which has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, while vegetable oil contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are better for you and the body has an easier time getting rid of unsaturated fats

Answer 3

I've never heard of frying fish in butter. I've been cooking fish for almost 50 years. I saute certain things in butter, mushrooms, onions, shrimp, etc. I fry in oil. When following a recipe, use what it calls for. I am a firm believer in recipes. When I first learned to cook I tried everything and had some real disasters. Naturally there are lots of things you don't need a recipe for, but if you are using a recipe, follow it.

Answer 4

butter burns at the lowest temps followed by olive oil so to quickly fry eggs butter is OK but butter alone will burn on longer hotter cooking foods so mix it with oil
and yes they are looking to add the flavor otherwise you would be far safer to go with almost any oil

Answer 5

For sauteeing, use butter for flavor
For deep frying use oil or because butter burns too easily at deep frying temperatures.
For pan frying, use butter for anything you fry on medium or lower heat, oil if you are frying on higher heat.

Bert

Answer 6

I usually use a mixture of butter and oil. Butter has a low burning point so usually people use oil. When you mix the butter and oil the butter doesn't burn as easily.

Answer 7

I only ever use butter for scrambling eggs. Normally I use olive oil for all of the other frying

Answer 8

I saute in oil with a little butter for flavor. Depends upon what you like.

Answer 9

Butter is used mainly for flavor and sauteeing but rules are made to be broken....it also burns quicker too, so be careful...Oil is better for frying........Good Luck

Answer 10

If you think butter might not be healthy go and use olive oil. Sure you can't use it for cookies or cakes. But sure it's ok for fish. But be aware that you can't heat it to high otherwise the olive oil gets smoky.