Canola Oil is an edible oil derived from rapeseed, a bright yellow flowering plant. Canola oil was once a specialty product of Canada, but it has also become a prominent product in North America. At first, this was because of the need to use it as a lubricant for steam engines during World War II. Now, it is because of the claims that cooking with canola oil is healthy. Canola oil is now a popular choice for frying foods, for mixing into salad dressings, and as a non-stick coating for pots and pans.
The organic version of the low-calorie pot-and-pan coating product called Pam Cooking Spray is made mostly of Canola oil. Pam Cooking Spray claims that a 1/5 second spray of this pot and pan coating has less than one calorie. http://www.pam4you.com/pages/products/canolaorganic/index.jsp
The Canola Council of Canada claims that canola oil is the healthiest of all common cooking oils. They say canola oil is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, high in omega-3 fat, a source of omega-6 fat, and free from cholesterol and trans fat. They also claim that canola oil may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. http://www.canolacouncil.org/canola_oil_for_healthy_cooking.aspx
Recipe for Homemade Kettle Corn
Buy a bag of whole kernel corn, and have on hand sugar, canola oil, and salt. Put a quarter cup of oil in a stew pot. Turn the heat on high, and drop in one kernel of corn. While the canola oil heats up in the stew pot, measure half a cup of whole kernel corn and a quarter cup of sugar. You know the oil is hot when the one kernel of corn pops. Pour in the whole kernel corn and the sugar. Stir well with a wooden spoon, and then cover the stew pot. Once the kernels start popping inside the covered stew pot, pick the stew pot up and gently shake it over the heat until you stop hearing the corn popping. Quickly empty the stew pot into your popcorn bowl.
Canola Oil Books
- Barnes & Noble: Books on Canola and Rapeseed Oils
Doctors Recommend Canola Oil
Doctors recommend cooking with canola oil. They say it is a low calorie food. They also say that canola oil is a particularly healthy fat, along with fish oil, peanut oil, olive oil and nuts.http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2006/april-16.html
References
Fast Facts
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Derived from "Canadian Oil Low Acid"
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Genetically engineered rapeseed oil
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Low in Saturated Fat
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North Dakota
Produces 91% of U.S. Canola (2004)
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Has recently replaced trans fat in many restaurants and businesses
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A potential source for Biodiesel Energy.
