When you think about steak, your mouth typically waters because it can taste so tender and juicy. Steak is one of the best protein-rich foods that are healthy for you, like repairing tissues and creating hormones, enzymes, and other things within your body.
Not only this but there are several ways to cook steak, including what oil or butter you cook it with. However, we will discuss the best oils you can use to cook butter in this case. So, what are they, and what should you cook them on? Let's find out.
You can cook steak with six different oils to yield the best results. They include the following:
- Extra light olive oil
- Peanut oil
- 100% natural canola oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
This article will discuss multiple topics on cooking steak with oil and why these are the best. We will also talk about what oil goes best on what product. For example, if a specific oil is best for cooking on cast iron vs. multi-purpose, etc. In that regard, we encourage you to continue reading for all there is to know about these great oils!
What Oil Should I Use to Cook Steak In?
As mentioned above, there are quite a few oils to choose from. We have created a quick chart to briefly summarize what we will discuss below.
1. Extra Light Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 325 to 400, so although it is not as high as some other oils, we will discuss today's cooking with it comes with some excellent perks. First, it is best for multi-purpose or searing it on the grill. Secondly, olive oil does the trick if you like your steak medium-rare.
This particular oil gives your steak a unique and tasty flavor you cannot resist. For some cooks, it might not be a desirable flavor. However, it does not hurt to give it a go to ensure you know your oil preference.
Olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking options as it reduces the risk of chronic diseases and contains anti-inflammatory properties and healthy monounsaturated fats (like vitamins K and E).
Also, extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and does not increase obesity or weight gain. Lastly, olive oil is made by pressing the olives to extract any vegetable fats they contain from the seeds and flesh.
2. Peanut Oil
Pure peanut oil is an excellent way to sear a steak; many people recommend it. Also, peanut oil has a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The main downfall of peanut oil is that it is more expensive than most oils because it gets produced in smaller quantities. Still, we recommend using organic cold-pressed or pure peanut oil when choosing the right peanut oil.
It is healthy in a few aspects, like being high in vitamin E, which may improve insulin sensitivity and heart disease risk. Peanut oil is also high in monounsaturated or dietary fats, meaning it can harden when chilled and becomes a liquid at room temperature.
However, like everything in life, peanut oil has its downfalls too. Peanut oil contains a lot of omega-6 fatty acids. Although this is a good thing, the American diet already has many of these fatty acids inside many of our foods, so it may be wise to use the oil sparingly. Aside from that, peanut oil may be prone to oxidation as well.
Peanut oil is made from the nuts or seeds of a peanut plant, which is grown underground. It has a wide variety of flavors depending on how it is processed. However, we highly recommend a mild or neutral version for searing steak to ensure you are not taking away from the steak's natural flavor.
3. Natural Canola Oil
Natural canola oil has a high smoke point of 400 to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. It is vegetable-based and made from crushed canola seeds from the rapeseed plant.
However, one of the downfalls of canola oil is that it involves synthetic chemicals used to extract it, so it may not be the best option for some people, especially if you eat healthy or have an all-organic diet. Still, canola oil has some all-natural versions if you still wish to go that route.
4. Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is an excellent way to cook steak because it has a high smoke point of 390 to 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Grapeseed oil is best used in a cast iron skillet.
Grapeseed oil is one of the healthiest oils because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, contains high levels of vitamin E, and has high antioxidant properties. Additionally, grapeseed oil is known to help some cancers, prevent heart disease, and reduce damaged cells from free radicals inside the body.
However, to get the best health benefits of grapeseed oil, it is essential to purchase a high-quality option. We recommend getting some that are organic or cold-pressed.
This oil is a byproduct of winemaking after the grapes are pressed. After the pressing, leftover seeds get extracted to make the oil itself. Here is a quick video briefly showing the process of the extraction:
5. Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is one of the best oils to cook steak with. It has a higher smoke point than many, reaching 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It is excellent for grilling and frying steak due to the oil's high heat and ability to add moisture to your gourmet meal.
Vegetable oil is odorless and has a mild flavor, meaning it does not take away much of the steak's taste. This oil is extracted from multiple parts of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Because of its mild taste, it is an excellent option to ensure you are not taking much of the steak's taste away.
Regarding health benefits, vegetable oil is a great energy source, which also means it is high in calorie intake and contains essential nutrients that your body needs. Vegetable oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, making it an excellent option for your heart and brain. However, vegetable oil is made from chemicals that are not good for your body, so limiting how much vegetable oil you are intaking at once is essential.
6. Avocado Oil
Lastly, avocado oil has the highest smoke point at 480 to 520 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the steak to cook perfectly without the oil burning. Refined avocado oil contains a slightly nutty flavor that helps explicitly enrich the flavor of the steak without overpowering spices or marinades.
Not only this, but refined avocado oil has many benefits, including reducing cholesterol and enhancing the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. It is high in antioxidants and is an oleic acid, a healthy fatty acid.
Refined avocado oil is extracted from the pulp of skinless, pitted, and ripe avocados. It is refined by a heating and filtering process, which helps increase the oil's overall smoke point.
How Do You Cook Steak in Oil for Best Results?
Grease your pan with oil with a basting brush or paper towel to get the best results, as you only need a little oil to cook your steak correctly. Add more oil if you are still concerned about accidentally burning your steak.
Adding a small amount of oil ensures you transfer the heat from the pan to the steak. As a result, you are ensuring you are tasting the steak instead of the oil itself. However, adding too much oil will reduce the flavor drastically.
Some of the best pans to cook your steak are cast iron or grill pans, which retain heat exceptionally well. They are also an excellent shape for searing and cooking your pans. Not only this, but both options last you years, making it an affordable and eco-friendly choice overall. Alternatively, use an electric grill or frying pan for great results.
How Do You Choose an Oil for Cooking Steak In?
You should choose the best oil from the highest smoke point. Doing so ensures two things:
- The oil is less likely to burn off, essentially burning your steak.
- You use less oil in the process.
Do You Need to Use Oil for Cooking Steak?
No, you do not necessarily need to use oil to cook steak. However, using butter means that it will burn much faster. This may mean a few things:
- You will have no butter left inside your pan to continue or
- You must keep reapplying more butter to the surface of your pan, meaning you use more butter than oil.
- The overall temperature will be cooler than cooking it with oil.
However, if you wish to cook oil without oil, then you need to make sure the surface of your pan is scorching before placing your meat down to ensure it sears nicely and the steak will be easier to turn around.
Which Oil Has the Highest Smoke Point?
Avocado oil has the highest smoke point because it can reach 480 to 520 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this also depends on the quality of the oil itself. For example, avocado oil purchased at the stores may not be the best quality, so search for one that looks green or tastes grassy, mushroomy, or buttery.
Safflower, peanut, sunflower, canola, and coconut oil also have a high smoke point and are excellent for broiling, stir-frying, and frying in general. It is essential to note that if you use any cooking oils, have a good hood range that can also draw out any smoke that may enter your home.
Final Thoughts
For our final thoughts, we hope this article was helpful to you! If you have any other cooking questions, we recommend visiting our website and checking out our other articles.
Nevertheless, with these tips and knowledge, you can better understand how to cook your steak just as you like. Nothing is better than knowing you can create the same quality steak as something you find at a highly-rated restaurant. So, go on cooking and learn how to be the best chef you can be!
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