John Myers
If you want to heat sesame oil to cook with it, you should know a few properties of the oil. Sesame oil is a special delicacy and is considered healthy, especially when it is cold-pressed and unrefined.
It is possible to heat sesame oil
The fatty acid pattern with about 42 percent monounsaturated oleic acid and doubly unsaturated linoleic acid, as well as about 15 percent saturated fatty acids, makes sesame oil a suitable candidate for hot meals. But sesame oil can also be used for cold dishes.
- For high temperatures and frying, refined sesame oil is best. During refining, short-chain and free fatty acids are removed from it, which are unfavorably changed in the heat and could lower the smoke point. The smoke point of refined sesame oil is noted at around 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It is therefore also suitable for frying.
- However, refined sesame oil is not easy to obtain for the kitchen. Most products are cold-pressed and native. Refined sesame oil is mostly offered for cosmetic purposes.
- Cold-pressed sesame oil that hasn’t been refined has a lot of fat by-products and short-chain fatty acids that interfere when heated. Its smoke point is therefore around 180 degrees Celsius. However, this is still high enough to allow gentle heating and frying. Make sure the temperature is moderate.
- Asian cuisine relies on sesame oil for frying vegetables and meat in the wok. The nutty, typical sesame note of the unrefined, cold-pressed oil is also spicy. Refined sesame oil, on the other hand, has a more neutral taste.
- With dark sesame oil , the sesame seeds are roasted before pressing. This creates a typical sesame oil roasted aroma and the darker color, which can also come from the use of black sesame seeds.
- However, toasted sesame oil is not suitable for high heating as the ingredients and fatty acids have already been ‘destabilized’ by the toasting process. Ideally, add this oil to warm dishes only after cooking. It serves as a flavor carrier and seasoning component.
- It is gentle and preserves nutritional values if you only add sesame oil, whether golden or dark, to the dish after frying and steaming. This is a default for toasted sesame oil and an option for light sesame oil. In addition to steamed vegetable dishes, stews and soups, you can also round off salads with it.
