Cooking Oil for use in a Wok

Jokester · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:08

Made the mistake of using olive oil as it was the only thing I had to hand. What's best to use that won't leave black carbon deposits?

Raikiri · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:08

Peanut/groundnut oil.

Ahleckz · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:10

Raikiri said:
Peanut/groundnut oil.

Motion seconded.
Move to motion passing, and thread closure?

dpbadger · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:10

sesame?

vicisthebest · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:13

I wouldn't use peanut or sesame oil because they leave a very noticeable taste in your food. Is there a less highly-flavoured oil you could use?

Raikiri · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:14

Sesame oil is strongly flavoured but peanut oil is neutral, barely tastes of anything.

Ahleckz · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:15

Peanut oil doesn't leave a taste at all. Sesame does so fair enough. Sunflower oil would work also, and is what I use when out of peanut.

nantucket66 · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:16

Another vote for groundnut

must be a flavourless oil whichever way you look at it......

Jokester · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:20

Aye, I've got sesame oil, never thought to use it for anything other to add flavour. Is bog standard veg oil ok for the high temperatures?

vicisthebest · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:21

OK, thanks, guess I just assumed that peanut oil would leave a taste.

Ahleckz · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:24

Jokester said:
Aye, I've got sesame oil, never thought to use it for anything other to add flavour. Is bog standard veg oil ok for the high temperatures?

Standard veg oil is refined with lots of different vegetable oils, generally. It's designed to have a high smoke point so you'll be fine. Vegetable shortening, a semi-solid; kinda like lard) isn't appropriate though. Though, I find vegetable oil gives off that distinctive 'fry' smell. As such, I use sunflower oil instead.

Voltar · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:51

sesame/groundnut

Xordium · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:55

I always use groundnut for my wok and ghee for everything else.

ProOrWhat · 7 Jan 2011 at 18:58

I use sunflower oil.

Trusty · 7 Jan 2011 at 19:10

Groundnut fo sho!!

Crowort · 7 Jan 2011 at 19:18

Sesame oil doesn't have much of a taste really, the stuff you buy in supermarkets is smoked. The oil itself would normally be fine for wok cooking but pretty hard to find unlike groundnut oil which works well and can be found any place.

VeNT · 7 Jan 2011 at 19:20

goose fat

Clown · 7 Jan 2011 at 19:46

vicisthebest said:
OK, thanks, guess I just assumed that peanut oil would leave a taste.

It loses its flavour when it reaches boiling point or something.

Kennysevenfold · 7 Jan 2011 at 20:24

5W30 Semi-synthetic IIRC

Chojin · 7 Jan 2011 at 20:27

Rice bran oil - high smoke point, healthy, no distinct taste.