A.K.A

salad oil

What is it?

Vegetable oil is a broad term for a category of oils pressed from the seeds, nuts, grains, or fruits of plants. With the exception of specialty oils (such as toasted sesame or nut oils), vegetable oils are refined and filtered to create clear, relatively neutral-tasting oils to be used for cooking, frying, and baking. Examples include corn, canola oil, peanut, grapeseed. You will also find bottles simply called vegetable oil, which often contains a blend of different oils.

Don’t have it?

Light olive oil can often substitute in vinaigrettes and marinades (extra-virgin may offer too much flavor) and for cooking. Butter may also be substituted in the frying pan, though it burns more easily than oil; clarified butter would be a better choice.

How to choose:

When choosing an oil for dressings, marinades, and baking, the only real criteria are taste and health preferences. For sautéing and frying, however, you’ll do best using an oil with a high smoke point. Your better bets for serious frying include grapeseed, peanut, corn, and safflower oils.

How to store:

Keep capped and away from heat.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Moroccan Lamb and Seven-Vegetable Couscous

  This traditional dish is served as the centerpiece of every festive and celebratory meal in North African communities around the world, from weddings to funerals, for the feast of the…

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  Recipe

  Onion Soup Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

  Rich with melty Gruyère and a tangle of onions cooked down in butter, beef broth, a nip of thyme, and a splash of sherry, these sandwiches deliver everything you love…

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  Recipe

  Thai Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

  Skewered thigh meat is much more likely to turn out juicy than skewered breast meat. Its inherent richness can handle the dry heat of the grill without losing too much…

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  Recipe

  Steak Fajita Quesadillas

  Sizzling spiced steak and peppers paired with gooey cheese is a win-win combination.

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  Recipe

  Louisiana-Style Deep-Fried Turkey

  厨师大卫配伍使他的家人这个土耳其every Thanksgiving. “A great reason to deep-fry your turkey is that it takes only 35 to 40 minutes to achieve a…

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  Recipe

  Spiced Cider Doughnuts

  In the fall, almost every pick-your-own orchard in New England serves its family’s version of cider doughnuts. They’re all wonderful, but I’ve been told many times that mine—warmly spiced and…

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  Recipe

  Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Apricot-Dijon Sauce

  “A home run.” That’s what our test kitchen's testing notes say about these juicy pork chops. Try them with garlicky Green Peas and Bulgur.

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  Recipe

  Basic Rice Pilaf

  It’s easy to tailor a rice pilaf to your taste. For example, add minced garlic or other aromatics with the onion, and fold in fresh herbs just before serving.

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  Recipe

  Grilled Peaches with Maple-Cardamom Butter and Ginger Ice Cream

  Grilling stone fruits such as peaches and nectarines is easy as long as your fruit is just ripe but still firm. The flavor of warm grilled fruit is enchanting—especially when…

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  Recipe

  Grilled Chicken and Charred-Onion Tacos

  Chicken breast might be everyone’s poultry go-to, but thighs are arguably more delicious: meaty, sturdy, and perfect for grilling. The rich, tender meat is fabulous with grilled onions and spicy…