Is Peanut Oil Safe?

Peanut oil is a good source of fat.

Peanut oil, made from the legumes of the peanut plant, is a vegetable oil high in good monounsaturated fat and low in bad saturated fat. Peanut oil is a popular choice for cooking, particularly when deep-frying turkeys or preparing stir-fry recipes.

Identification

Peanut oil is virtually clear, has a thick viscosity and possesses a light nutty scent.

Features

Peanut oil is trans-fat free and cholesterol free. It's also an excellent source of vitamin E and phytosterols, which are steroid alcohols that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Benefits

Peanut oil can be beneficial in lowering cholesterol, preventing heart disease, decreasing appetite, soothing joint pain and moisturizing skin.

Uses

Aside from cooking, peanut oil is often used in massage oils. Peanut oil massages are said to be effective in treating arthritis.

Types

The three main types of peanut oil are refined peanut oil, which has its allergic protein components removed to make it non-allergenic; gourmet peanut oil, which is not refined and provides substantial vitamin E and phytosterols; and 100 percent peanut oil, which has no other added ingredients.

Warning

Unrefined peanut oil can pose serious health risks for those with peanut allergies.

References

• TurkeyFrying.net
• AskDrSears.com
• Nutrition Data: Peanut Oil