Oil is understood to be all those substances that are structurally greasy and that are obtained through the pressing of a certain raw material.
Oils can be used in different situations or for different activities, although in most cases their function (due to their composition) has to do with lubrication and oily wetting in a space or in a combination of ingredients. Normally, the most common oils are those used in gastronomy both to unite the preparations and also to give them greater consistency and flavor.
The term 'oil' has Arabic origin and has been established since time immemorial mainly to the oil that comes from the olive or olive tree. However, today the word oil can be used for a wide variety of fatty liquids that may or may not be edible. Oils can also be present in humans as part of the skin and this is what makes a person have a tendency to have oily skin or not.
Widely used in the field of gastronomy to season salads or fry
The most popular use attributed to oil is in gastronomy, being used to fry food, as a salad dressing and also to make cooking fats or margarine.
Culinary preparations such as breaded meat or chicken, and the famous French fries are possible and tasty thanks to the oil. Any of these foods requires the use of a pot or deep frying pan in which a large quantity of oil can be placed. It should be brought to the maximum heat so that the oil reaches a good temperature and then the milanesas or potatoes will be cooked.
According to fryer experts, putting a significant amount of oil in the pan will have the opposite effect, which is to obtain a not so greasy end product.
Without a doubt, for most people, a salad without oil will not be considered a good, tasty salad. Because it is precisely that a few drops of oil are added to the final preparation of the salad, to make it tastier.
Types of oils
One of the most important characteristics of the oil is that it is not soluble in water. This means that both elements can never be mixed and must be integrated through other ingredients in the case of their use in gastronomy. When we talk about edible oils, we must mention examples such as olive oil (obtained from pressing olives or olives), sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, grape oil and some more. Depending on the aroma, its intensity and unctuousness, each type of oil will be more or less expensive.
Olive oil is the one that is most used at the request of salads and pasta. It is obtained from the crushing of olives. A thick paste is formed that is layered on mats to be pressed down by a press. In this way, virgin olive oil is obtained, which has a high content of vitamin E and phytosterols.
Sunflower oil, which is the most used when frying milanesas, empanadas and potatoes, is extracted from the seeds of sunflower flowers.
And for its part, linseed oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from flax and that is achieved after a cold pressing process that allows all the nutrients present in these seeds to be maintained.
It is a very required type in natural medicine because it is known to help lose weight, improve circulation, reduce cholesterol, hypertension and prevent various types of cancers.
Oils used to lubricate machines
Then there are also oils obtained from petroleum, which are those that are used in machinery and mechanical equipment to make them work as well as to lubricate their parts and prevent their malfunction. These oils can be highly polluting if not treated properly.
