Benefits of Grapeseed Oil

The health benefits of grapeseed oil make it a versatile and guilt free choice when it comes to a cooking oil. Although not as high in monounsaturated fat as olive oil, it has a higher concentration of these "heart healthy" fats than most other forms of oil. Even more importantly, a 1993 study showed that an ounce and a half of grapeseed oil per day decreased LDL cholesterol by seven percent and raised HDL cholesterol by thirteen percent. As you know, HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol, so you want the number to be high.

Because of its high smoke point,grapeseed oil is a versatile cooking oil. It's the perfect oil for sautéing at high temperatures and for cooking popcorn on the stove or grilling meat where a high heat is required. The smoke point of grapeseed oil is around 485 degrees Farenheit in comparison to olive oil which smokes at about 250 degrees Farenheit. You only need about a third to a half of the amount of oil when you cook with grapeseed oil when compared to other oils. This makes it quite economical.

If you're accustomed to the rich taste of olive oil, grapeseed oil may seem blander, almost neutral with slight nutty undertones. This can be an advantage in recipes where you want the texture of fat without the overbearing taste of an oil with strong flavor. In applications where you want a more outspoken oil adding herbs and spices can give additional flavor impact.