What you need to know about avocado oil
AVOCADO OIL is in the spotlight, like OLIVE OIL was years ago. Testing is showing some problems.
“I was surprised some of the samples didn’t contain any avocado oil,” said Selina Wang, Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Food Science and Technology.
Wang discovered most of what was being sold in the U.S. was actually a much lower grade. Her research sparked a cascade of responses that led California to establish one of the world’s most stringent standards for different grades of olive oil.
“Consumers seeking the health benefits of avocado oil deserve to get what they think they are buying,” Wang said. “Working together with the industry, we can establish standards and make sure customers are getting high-quality, authentic avocado oil and the companies are competing on a level playing field.”
Just like with OLIVE OIL – Know Before You Buy Avocado Oil
Before you buy avocado oil, especially if you’re planning to shop online, it’s important to know what you’re looking for.
EXPELLER PRESSED
First, it’s important to make sure you’re buying expeller pressed avocado oil. Expeller pressed avocado oil is made manually – not with chemicals, so it is naturally purer and lower in acid. Since it is less processed, it is also naturally higher in nutrients and antioxidants.
Unfortunately, many companies that produce avocado oils in the U.S. use chemicals in their process and therefore strip the oil of nutrients and sterols that are important to the benefits of avocado oil.
Should You Buy Organic Avocado Oil?
While it’s extremely important how your avocado oil is made, you may be surprised to know this is one kitchen staple you don’t need to buy organic.
Avocados are a member of the EWG Clean 15, which means that they aren’t at risk of passing along farming pesticides normally kept off organic fruit.
Thanks to thick skin, any harmful toxins end up in the trash with the rest of the avocado peel long before our gentle refining process.
COLOR
Virgin avocado oil should be green in color, whereas refined avocado oil is light yellow and almost clear due to pigments removed during refining.
Good OIL will become RANCID with TIME.
Even good oil becomes rancid with time. It’s important to purchase a reasonable size that can be finished before the oil oxidizes.
Store the oil away from light and heat.
A cool, dark cabinet is a good choice, rather than next to the stove.
How do you know if the oil is rancid?
It starts to smell stale, sort of like play dough.
When possible, choose an oil that’s closest to the harvest/production time to ensure maximum freshness.
The “best before date” is not always a reliable indicator of quality.
WHAT I BUY
I buy Chosen Foods Avocado Oil (Costco, Target, Walmart and other stores).
Chosen Foods was founded by a well-traveled Naturopathic Doctor named Carsten Hagen who discovered the powerful effect traditional foods were having in their native cultures.
He was inspired to share these ancient superfoods with the rest of the world – and so our journey began.
His vision centered around the idea that food should nourish and sustain our bodies, our lives and our communities. The mission of Chosen Foods is to support true nourishment through the rediscovery and accessibility of real food.
Hass Avocados from MEXICO vs CALIFORNIA
Chosen Foods works closely with their famers in Michoacán, Mexico, where Hass avocados grow in the optimal climate and elevation.
- They’re naturally irrigated by rainfall, saving thousands of gallons of water every year compared to California avocados.
- Thanks to their thick skin and safe location atop huge trees, they’re safe from any critters, too.
- Chosen foods Haas avocados are never sprayed, and every Chosen Foods product is non-GMO verified.
- Chosen Foods purification process uses a steam method that protects the nutrients while removing the rest of the impurities including naturally occurring waxes, free fatty acids, and the prominent avocado flavor.
GOOD TO USE WITH COOKING
Chosen Foods avocado oil touts a smoke point of 500°F!
GOOD for the Environment
Chosen Foods is the largest purveyor of naturally refined avocado oil in the world, processing over 350 million avocados per year. They refine avocado oil in Mexico in their brand new, 10,000 square foot facility in Zamora, Michoacan.
Their processes reuse the avocado waste (pit and peels) as biomass fuel to power their Mexico-based processing plant. By utilizing food waste in a productive way, they have been able to reduce energy consumption by 7,425 Gigacalories – roughly the same amount of energy required to power 1,200 US homes for an entire year!
Recipes using Avocado Oil
Use the search box for this blog to find recipes using avocado oil.
Shown above: Hot and Hearty Tomato Avocado Chicken Soup
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