Is Peanut Oil Good for Cooking?

Diet and Nutrition
21

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
He asked if peanut oil is good for cooking. … It’s a fact that there are better choices than peanut oil. [/quote]

And again, in moderation (like anything else), peanut oil is “good for cooking”.

Then again, one slice of frozen pizza will kill you dead.

5 or so years ago (and certainly further back), most on these forums would have had heart attacks if you suggested they consume coconut oil (OMGz saturated fatzzz).

There are ‘healthier oil’ like virgin OO, but when you heat them up beyond their smoke point, they break down and become worse than higher smoke point oils. No one knows if OP’s o3/o6 is out of whack or not.

No one bothered to ask what OP’s goals or concerns were, or what his ‘health history’ was. Question was simply “is it good to cook with”. Yes. It is.

Better alternatives? Sure. He knows it and implied that they are expensive (possibly prohibitively so). So given that he’s got peanut oil out the wazoo and that’s what he can afford, the answer should be “There are alternatives X, Y, and Z, but if that’s what you can afford, use it in moderation (like everything else).”

So many binary thinkers here.[/quote]

Are you ignoring what Im saying just to make a semi-obvious point?

The OP clearly logged onto a health and fitness based website to ask as a specific question. It is fairly clear that OP is concerned with the nutritional profile of peanut oil.

Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.

Calling this way of thinking ‘binary’ is a cop out. Your stance is that ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is ok in moderation. Well no shit; we’re not talking about cooking with rat poison. Doesnt really answer the question as it was intended though. No single food is going to kill anyone instantly. Does that mean these questions shouldnt be asked/answered?

22

[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Question was simply “is it good to cook with”. Yes. It is.

[/quote]

ONLY FROM A TASTE STANDPOINT.

You cant say something like this and then call other (far more reasonable analyses) ‘binary’

23

Palm oil? It’s ~50% saturated fat.

Palm kernel oil is even more % sat fat.

Dunno how healthy they are, but it’s the only oil I use for frying.

24

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.
[/quote]

No one is saying there aren’t better alternatives- several were listed. OP knows that because he mentions them in the OP. Obvious facts are obvious.

You can apply relativity to anything. Apparently, casein hydrosylate is superior to whey isolate. Does that mean don’t use whey isolate if that’s what you can afford? Whey isolate is superior to whey concentrate. Does that mean don’t use whey concentrate if that’s what you have access to?

Local grown eggs are far superior and healthier to ‘corporate’ eggs. Does that mean don’t consume the latter?

25

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

No one bothered to ask what OP’s goals or concerns were, or what his ‘health history’ was. Question was simply “is it good to cook with”. Yes. It is.
So many binary thinkers here.[/quote]

So when someone asks if their diet is good for “gaining weight” would you consider it binary thinking to assume the person is talking about gaining muscle and not fat?

26

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.
[/quote]

No one is saying there aren’t better alternatives- several were listed. OP knows that because he mentions them in the OP. Obvious facts are obvious.

You can apply relativity to anything. Apparently, casein hydrosylate is superior to whey isolate. Does that mean don’t use whey isolate if that’s what you can afford? Whey isolate is superior to whey concentrate. Does that mean don’t use whey concentrate if that’s what you have access to?

Local grown eggs are far superior and healthier to ‘corporate’ eggs. Does that mean don’t consume the latter?

[/quote]

So I guess it’s time for you to create a sticky thread informing people to never ask if some foods are better than others…

27

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.
[/quote]

No one is saying there aren’t better alternatives- several were listed. OP knows that because he mentions them in the OP. Obvious facts are obvious.

You can apply relativity to anything. Apparently, casein hydrosylate is superior to whey isolate. Does that mean don’t use whey isolate if that’s what you can afford? Whey isolate is superior to whey concentrate. Does that mean don’t use whey concentrate if that’s what you have access to?

Local grown eggs are far superior and healthier to ‘corporate’ eggs. Does that mean don’t consume the latter?

[/quote]

So I guess it’s time for you to create a sticky thread informing people to never ask if some foods are better than others…

[/quote]

Right after you create a sticky thread informing people not to bother eating anything except the most expensive organic and pure brand of foods for fear of dying slow and painful deaths.

28

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.
[/quote]

No one is saying there aren’t better alternatives- several were listed. OP knows that because he mentions them in the OP. Obvious facts are obvious.

You can apply relativity to anything. Apparently, casein hydrosylate is superior to whey isolate. Does that mean don’t use whey isolate if that’s what you can afford? Whey isolate is superior to whey concentrate. Does that mean don’t use whey concentrate if that’s what you have access to?

Local grown eggs are far superior and healthier to ‘corporate’ eggs. Does that mean don’t consume the latter?

[/quote]

So I guess it’s time for you to create a sticky thread informing people to never ask if some foods are better than others…

[/quote]

Right after you create a sticky thread informing people not to bother eating anything except the most expensive organic and pure brand of foods for fear of dying slow and painful deaths.
[/quote]

lol the amount of assumptions here is absurd. Even if they are made completely sarcastically and not out of ignorance.

First, organic vs processed neatly falls into the ‘good vs better’ category of questions.

Second, unrefined foods have a clear positive impact on body composition and performance in addition to the potential postive effects on longevity.

The whole ‘anti-clean freak diet’ that a few of the guys in your generation push on this site is just as ignorant as the ‘clean only diet’ that gets slammed so hard.

29

And after reading your analogy to whey vs casein hydro, I couldnt help but laugh.

Peanut oil as a main fat source (as the OP alluded to) will literally have harmful effects on health, body comp, and performance.

Whey vs Casein hydro may as well be 1b vs 1a, whereas Peanut Oil vs Olive oil/coconut oil is 10 vs 1.

This argument is ridiculous. Anyone arguing that peanut oil should be anything but a rare exception in a healthy diet is lazy/ignorant.

30

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

Peanut oil as a main fat source (as the OP alluded to) will literally have harmful effects on health, body comp, and performance.
[/quote]

Show me where the OP alluded to where peanut oil would be his ‘main fat source’. The dude asked about cooking with it. You have no idea about the amount or frequency from his very short first post.

Here it is:

That’s the entirety of the post. Now tell me, Matlock, how many calories of his diet come from fat? I mean, it must be clear to everyone here from that one sentence that peanut oil is now his “main source of fat”.

You jam pack so many assumptions in all of your posts in this thread.

No one has said or implied that peanut oil should or would be his “main fat source”.

No one has said or implied there weren’t other or better alternatives.

Even you have agreed that in moderation cooking with peanut oil is not ‘unhealthy’. Peanut oil in and of itself is not ‘unhealthy’ just like a cheeseburger in and of itself is not ‘unhealthy’. It has it’s place and use.

Your whole argument (besides being just for the sake of arguement) is that there is a clear heirarchy of “healthy” to “unhealthy”. Peanut oil is more like “safflower” and “olive oil” than “Twinkie”.

It seems you like to argue for the sake of arguing.

31

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
The whole ‘anti-clean freak diet’ that a few of the guys in your generation push on this site is just as ignorant as the ‘clean only diet’ that gets slammed so hard.

[/quote]

LOL @ ‘in my generation’.

That’s weak, even for you.

“anti-clean freak”? LMAO. OK, I admit-- I’m not neurotic about food.

32

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
The whole ‘anti-clean freak diet’ that a few of the guys in your generation push on this site is just as ignorant as the ‘clean only diet’ that gets slammed so hard.
[/quote]

entertaining thread fellas, well done

(and in keeping with neither-here-nor-there theme, Chik-Fil-A claims to use 100% peanut oil and their spicy filet is outstanding and recommended)

33

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Peanut oil is ok in moderation (I use that term lightly) but RELATIVELY SPEAKING it’s not good at all. And since there are no absolutes when it comes to nutrition, comparing choices to each other is all you can do.
[/quote]

OH… Wow. I think I may have said something pretty fucking similar to this.

34

[quote]chillain wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
The whole ‘anti-clean freak diet’ that a few of the guys in your generation push on this site is just as ignorant as the ‘clean only diet’ that gets slammed so hard.
[/quote]

entertaining thread fellas, well done

(and in keeping with neither-here-nor-there theme, Chik-Fil-A claims to use 100% peanut oil and their spicy filet is outstanding and recommended)

[/quote]

There you go, old man, pushing death on people. People in your generation are so fucked up.

35

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

It seems you like to argue for the sake of arguing.[/quote]

For the most part, yes.

I do think you glorify shitty foods quite often though, only by justifying it with ‘well it wont kill you immediately so it cant be that bad’.

I did make a big assumption that OP would be using peanut oil as his main cooking oil.

But this is my point. If oil is only a small part of one’s diet, it makes perfect sense to spend additional money on the best stuff. And if oil is a substantial part of the diet, it is more healthful to use the better choice.

The only justification I can think of to use peanut oil is if you genuinely dont care about health and only care about flavor.

I understand you dont subscribe to that line of thinking. Fair enough. Im just giving this topic a fair shake.

edit

I didnt say ‘your generation’ to be an insult towards your age. Ive just noticed a difference in ideology amongst different age groups.

36

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

It seems you like to argue for the sake of arguing.[/quote]

For the most part, yes.

[/quote]

I just read your ‘interview’ in TCell. You’re in law school. Many of your posts make much more sense now.

I don’t glorify shitty food. I have to generally watch what I eat for health reasons. I’m very clear to qualify with “in moderation” with foods that are easy to over do with. I don’t think cake, Twinkies, and Snickers have a place in the diet except in rare exception. I don’t classify peanuts, (natural) pb, or peanut oil (esp. not expeller pressed oil) in the same category.

However, special occasions come up for some people and it’s up to them do decide if their health can handle or not.

Again, I don’t glorify shitty foods. That’s something you must be reading into my posts. I have a whole cooking thread that is representative of the way I eat when I’m not just eating steak, eggs and spinach (and aside from the occasional pizza slice or c’burger). If that’s glorifying shitty food, then we’re much, much farther apart than I’d thought.

Again, I don’t disagree with this. But from the OP, we don’t know what the frequency is.

Meh.

[quote]
I understand you dont subscribe to that line of thinking. Fair enough. Im just giving this topic a fair shake. [/quote]

I don’t know that you know my line of thinking.

The guy isn’t asking about Twinkies. He’s asking about cooking oil.

FWIW, some of the protein bars our site host sells has hydrogenated oil in them.

37

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

It seems you like to argue for the sake of arguing.[/quote]

For the most part, yes.

[/quote]

I just read your ‘interview’ in TCell. You’re in law school. Many of your posts make much more sense now.

I don’t glorify shitty food. I have to generally watch what I eat for health reasons. I’m very clear to qualify with “in moderation” with foods that are easy to over do with. I don’t think cake, Twinkies, and Snickers have a place in the diet except in rare exception. I don’t classify peanuts, (natural) pb, or peanut oil (esp. not expeller pressed oil) in the same category.

However, special occasions come up for some people and it’s up to them do decide if their health can handle or not.

Again, I don’t glorify shitty foods. That’s something you must be reading into my posts. I have a whole cooking thread that is representative of the way I eat when I’m not just eating steak, eggs and spinach (and aside from the occasional pizza slice or c’burger). If that’s glorifying shitty food, then we’re much, much farther apart than I’d thought.

Again, I don’t disagree with this. But from the OP, we don’t know what the frequency is.

Meh.

[quote]
I understand you dont subscribe to that line of thinking. Fair enough. Im just giving this topic a fair shake. [/quote]

I don’t know that you know my line of thinking.

The guy isn’t asking about Twinkies. He’s asking about cooking oil.

FWIW, some of the protein bars our site host sells has hydrogenated oil in them.[/quote]

Glorify was hyperbole, poor word choice, I agree.

The difference here, I think, is that I consider peanut oil an inherently ‘shitty’ food, and you dont. Oh well

38

I swear this forum is confusing sometimes. First it was “McDonalds everyday to get big” then now its “Peanut oil is bad for you!!”

Well as someone of Chinese descent, cooking with Peanut oil is fine. From a health standpoint - so long as you watch all of your other diet outliers a stir fry or two with peanut oil won’t kill you.

Chinese culture literally cooks everything with peanut oil for the last few centuries, and the average life expectancy in a first world nation like Hong Kong is just as good as in Italy.

39

[quote]NotaQuitta wrote:
I swear this forum is confusing sometimes. First it was “McDonalds everyday to get big” then now its “Peanut oil is bad for you!!”

Well as someone of Chinese descent, cooking with Peanut oil is fine. From a health standpoint - so long as you watch all of your other diet outliers a stir fry or two with peanut oil won’t kill you.

Chinese culture literally cooks everything with peanut oil for the last few centuries, and the average life expectancy in a first world nation like Hong Kong is just as good as in Italy.[/quote]

Again. The ‘well, I just ate some and Im not dead yet’ is exactly the mentality Im talking about.

40

[quote]NotaQuitta wrote:
I swear this forum is confusing sometimes. First it was “McDonalds everyday to get big” then now its “Peanut oil is bad for you!!”

Well as someone of Chinese descent, cooking with Peanut oil is fine. From a health standpoint - so long as you watch all of your other diet outliers a stir fry or two with peanut oil won’t kill you.

Chinese culture literally cooks everything with peanut oil for the last few centuries, and the average life expectancy in a first world nation like Hong Kong is just as good as in Italy.[/quote]

And how closely does the peanut oil used over the last few centuries resemble the average highly refined product you find on your shelf today?