We all know that fat matters in food, but it's essential to know the difference between types of fat. The one thing common is that they are not always good for our health!
Therefore, if you expect to learn more about cooking fat, which is beneficial for your health, then be sure to read on. And if you don't mind getting a little bit heavier in the process, we highly recommend trying out some of these cooking methods yourself!
Table of Contents
The Best Cooking Fat
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made from churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It contains butterfat, which is mainly saturated fat. It tastes like cream and has a slightly salty flavor.
It can be used as an ingredient in cooking to add flavor and richness to food such as onion rings or potatoes. This product also reduces added salt on fried dishes because it already provides some natural saltiness.
Some people use butter on toast or slices of bread that don't contain enough fats.
In addition, it gives baked goods a delicate butterscotch-like taste and aroma when cooked at high temperatures with sugar ingredients such as brown sugar, molasses, or honey.
Olive Oil
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Olive oil is a favorite ingredient of many chefs, and for a good reason. It has a fantastic range of flavors, from hot to buttery to fruity. And despite what you might think, not all olive oils are created equal. Some don't even come from the country they say on the label!
The key with olive oil is getting one that suits your tastes or needs best - there's no one-size-fits-all option! This healthy fat type makes your meal tasty and healthy while being luxurious!
It's essential to buy your olive oil from a trusted source so that you can ensure and control the fat's quality.
Lard
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Lard is an animal fat used in a variety of culinary dishes. Initially, it was produced from pork belly and leaf fat, which is still the most prized type of lard to have.
Its usage is a staple in certain desserts, as its unique taste makes it desirable for other dishes. Lard occupies a special place in the large world of animal fats.
In some countries such as Belgium and France, people have been cooking with lancets for centuries because they believe there are health benefits associated with eating this type.
For example, lard is said to help lower harmful cholesterol levels and improve heart health when eaten in moderation. Such a healthy fat to consider!
Schmaltz
Schmaltz is fat rendered from beef or chicken, often used in Jewish cooking, particularly in Eastern Europe, to enhance the flavor of chopped liver and knaydlach (dumplings). In Jewish cuisine, schmaltz is a crucial ingredient, which has been dubbed the "Jewish soul food."
It's one of the few fats that can be called healthy because it has less cholesterol than other animal fats and more unsaturated fatty acids.
Its flavor is milder than butter or lard, made from pork. It also contains about 25% more calories per tablespoon due to its high saturated fat content.
Furthermore, you can use it instead of butter or oil before mashed potatoes are fried. The Yiddish term for "rendered poultry fat" comes from shmalts.
Rendered Beef Kidney Suet
The secret to cooking meat is fat. If you want your beef pot-au-feu, for instance, to taste like it's been in the Cryovac bag for a month, all you need is some rendered beef kidney suet.
That's right! Suet made from the kidney or kidneys of beef has been regarded as an infallible elixir containing the spirit of beef. Swipe it on the pot, and it will look great!
We can hardly find a slice of meat that is well-marbled or affordable, so this product fixes nature's defect and offers a shortcut to excellence for even the nave chef. That means, even if you're no more intelligent than a box of rocks, you can have a great meal.
Lamb Fat
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A few things make for great food, and it doesn't take more than one of them to make a dish unforgettable. Lamb fat is one of those things. You can add it to hash browns or potatoes, and the gaminess gives the dish an extra kick.
The experience is even better when you can get your hands on some frozen solid lean meat flown thousands of miles around the world. Without it, this type of meat would be nearly inedible.
A magical combination results from adding all of these together. Enjoy the exotic taste of the healthy fat lamb in your recipe!
Duck Fat
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The low ranking of duck fat in the grease chart may surprise Gourmands visitors.
After all, this is the essence of many delicious dishes, such as duck fat french fries, rillettes, cassoulet, and various applications that a person avoiding fat might need. In most cases, duck fat can be substituted with schmalz since it is difficult to obtain.
We're aware that these ranks are somewhat subjective, but they're intended to understand that: not all fat types are created equal, but most of them are preferable to vegetable oil, as they are healthy and yummy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cooking fat is an excellent addition to your diet if you are trying to lose weight. It's essential to choose the good fat type for our meals to complement and get the most benefits from them.
For example, eating carbs like bread or rice with chicken breast meat and vegetables cooked in butter will help us burn off any excess calories consumed, especially those pesky belly ones!
We hope you've learned something new in this article and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below!