Fried schnitzels are not the healthiest of dishes, but they are certainly one of the most popular. In order to be properly crispy, they must be fried in oil. And you know there’s no such thing as oil. Do you use good quality oil or do you choose the oil in the shop according to its price? And do you know why our bodies need fat, but only to a certain extent?

Fats are important to the human body for several reasons. The human body needs fats for energy and also for the absorption of certain vitamins from food. They are also necessary for a healthy immune system and for the brain to function. However, there is no such thing as fat. There are saturated and unsaturated fats. The body requires both, but you can’t have too much saturated fat because it raises cholesterol levels.

Replace unhealthy with healthy

Examples of saturated fats include butter, lard, margarines, ghee or palm oil. It is a good idea to replace these fats in your diet with oils made from vegetables or seeds. That is, for oils such as olive, rapeseed, sunflower or soya. And rapeseed oil is also good for frying steaks. No wonder it is one of the three most consumed oils in the world. It is high in unsaturated fatty acids and therefore has a high nutritional value.

In addition, rapeseed oil contains nine functional ingredients. These have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects. Rapeseed oil is pure. This means that it contains no protein or carbohydrates. Research on the effects of this oil on cholesterol is mixed. However, according to a recent analysis, regular consumption led to a reduction in bad cholesterol.

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Which oil to choose for frying?

When frying, the temperature is very high, so it is important to choose an oil that is stable even at high temperatures and has a high smoking point. This is the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke and harmful substances are formed. It is different for every oil. Canola, sunflower or corn oil is therefore suitable for frying. Coconut oil, goose fat and butter should be avoided.

In any case, use only the minimum amount of oil necessary. Keep in mind that meals are already high in calories. Also, never use frying oil more than once. Repeated frying can lead to the formation of harmful substances and trans fats. Think about your health, which is definitely not something to skimp on. So, after each frying, pour off the fat and use a new one.

Unsaturated fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids have health benefits and cannot be synthesised by the human body. It is therefore necessary to obtain them from the diet. Many people choose oils based on nutritional value. Rapeseed oil is rich in oleic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acid. Rapeseed oil has a higher proportion of oleic acid than mustard oil and peanut oil. Conversely, it has a lower proportion of SFA than soybean and sunflower oil.