Butter vs oil

Summary

In this video, the host explores the age-old question of whether to cook with butter or oil, using fried eggs as a test case. The video breaks down the pros and cons of each fat, focusing on flavor, heat transfer, and preventing sticking. Butter adds flavor and prevents sticking due to lecithin but has a lower smoke point, while oil excels at higher heat, creating crispy edges. The video concludes with the option of using a combination of both for a balance of flavor and versatility, while also touching on health considerations and the importance of using a VPN for online privacy.

Takeaways

• 😀 Butter and oil serve different purposes in cooking, especially when frying eggs.
• 🍳 Butter adds flavor to dishes due to extra compounds like proteins, sugars, and aromatic molecules.
• 🍽️ Most oils (except less-refined ones) are neutral in flavor, allowing the natural taste of the food to come through.
• 🔥 Butter has a lower smoke point (300-350°F), which means it starts to break down and produce undesirable compounds at lower temperatures.
• 🌡️ Oils can withstand higher temperatures, making them better for achieving crispy, lacy edges on eggs.
• 🍯 Butter forms a stronger barrier between the food and the pan due to lecithin, reducing sticking better than oil.
• 💧 Water in butter evaporates quickly during cooking, but the extra compounds in butter affect its behavior in the pan.
• ⚖️ If you want both flavor and higher heat tolerance, mixing butter with oil gives the best of both worlds.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Health considerations are important when choosing between butter and oil, especially concerning the saturated fats in butter.
• 🧑‍💻 When in doubt, using a VPN like Surfshark ensures privacy and security while browsing, without affecting your cooking decisions.

Q & A

Why do we cook with fat in the first place?

We cook with fat to add flavor, transfer heat from the pan to the food, and prevent food from sticking.

How do butter and oil differ in their composition?

Both butter and oil are made up mostly of triglycerides, but butter also contains water, proteins, sugars, enzymes, and free fatty acids, which make it behave differently than oils.

What makes butter more flavorful than most cooking oils?

The extra compounds in butter, such as aromatic proteins and free fatty acids, add flavor. Most cooking oils, particularly refined ones, lack these compounds and are more neutral in flavor.

What is the 'smoke point' and how does it affect cooking?

The smoke point is the temperature at which butter or oil starts to break down and smoke. Butter's smoke point is around 300-350°F, while oils can have higher smoke points, allowing them to be used for higher-heat cooking.

Why is butter better for preventing eggs from sticking to the pan?

Butter contains lecithin, a compound that binds water and fat, forming a better barrier to prevent the proteins in eggs from bonding with the pan, making it less likely for eggs to stick.

How does oil help create crispy edges on eggs?

Oil has a higher smoke point than butter, allowing it to cook at higher temperatures. This is essential for achieving crispy, lacy edges on eggs.

What happens when you mix butter and oil for cooking?

Mixing butter and oil gives you a combination of flavor and slickness from the butter, while the oil helps you cook at higher temperatures, reducing the risk of burning the butter.

What are the health considerations when choosing between butter and oil?

Butter contains saturated fat, which has been linked to health concerns, but the overall impact is debated. Oils, especially those high in unsaturated fats like olive oil, are often considered healthier choices.

Which type of oil is best for cooking eggs?

If you're looking for a neutral flavor, vegetable or canola oil are good options. For more flavor and richness, you might choose butter or an unrefined oil like olive or sesame oil.

Can you cook eggs at higher temperatures with butter?

Butter tends to break down and produce smoke at lower temperatures (around 300-350°F). For higher temperature cooking or crispy eggs, oil is a better option due to its higher smoke point.